
All students experience challenges with concentration, sitting still and following directions in class but for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), these challenges can be much more frequent and have a significant impact on their learning. Their difficulties with inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity means that students with ADHD can find tasks that require sustained effort, organisation and self-regulation more challenging than their peers.
Around 6-10% of Australian students are diagnosed with ADHD. This means most teachers will have at least one to two students with ADHD in their classroom. For these students, implementing effective ADHD classroom strategies and accommodations can have significant benefits for their learning outcomes.
As a teacher, you may have concerns about balancing the needs of students with ADHD while managing your entire class effectively. Common concerns around implementing specific ADHD classroom strategies include maintaining academic standards and managing teaching time effectively. These concerns are valid, but with the right approach, supporting students with ADHD can enhance the learning environment for all students in your classroom.
How ADHD affects learning
While ADHD itself is not considered a learning difficulty, symptoms can make many aspects of learning more challenging for students with ADHD.
Concentration – students with ADHD can become easily distracted and may find it challenging to take in the learning material, miss important instructions or do not complete classwork in the set time
Memory – challenges with working memory can make tasks that involve reading comprehension, mathematical problem solving and following mult-step instructions more difficult for students with ADHD.
Executive functioning – tasks that require organisation and planning can be more difficult for students with ADHD, which can make it hard to start and finish assignments, meet deadlines and keep track of worksheets and notes.
When students with ADHD aren’t able to achieve the same results as their peers in the classroom, they may become overwhelmed, impatient or frustrated, which can lead to disruptive behaviours such as talking out of turn or moving around without permission. It is important to recognise that these behaviours aren’t an act of defiance, but a sign that your student may need additional supports or strategies put in place.
While children with ADHD can have difficulty with some aspects of learning, they can have strengths in other areas such as creative thinking, problem-solving, hands-on working and the ability to hyper-focus on topics that interest them. By adapting your teaching methods and lesson structure to work with their strengths, you will give them the best opportunity to learn with their peers.
Classroom strategies to help students with ADHD
Making small adjustments to your teaching strategies can benefit all students, not just those with ADHD. Here are some simple classroom strategies you can implement in the classroom that will help students with ADHD thrive.
Set clear classroom rules
When communicating classroom rules, keep language positive by telling students what they should do rather than what they should not do. Instead of saying: “No loud talking”, try saying, “Sit down and work quietly”. Displaying visuals, such as volume meter chart in this case, can help students better understand the expectations.
Establish a classroom routine
Children with ADHD thrive in familiar and structured environments so a daily classroom routine can help students feel more prepared for the lesson ahead and give them more opportunity to concentrate on each task. Try using a visual schedule with removable cards that can be changed to show the expectations for the lesson your are starting. Using transitional cues such as a chime sound can also help students with ADHD to redirect their attention for the next activity.
Use visual aids
Students with ADHD can be sensory learners and may respond well to visual cues. When delivering information, consider ways that you can include pictures, colours, videos and charts in your classroom to help students with ADHD more easily absorb new information. Displaying key points on the board can help to remind students of what they are meant to be focusing on.
Some visual aids that can be helpful in the classroom include:
- Visual timers to help stay on track
- Graphic organisers such as mind maps and diagrams to plan tasks and support memory
- Colour coded folders for organising work
Minimise distractions
Minimising distractions and disruptions is crucial to helping students with ADHD stay focused in class. Seating students toward the front of the classroom and away from doors can remove potential distractions from movement inside and outside the classroom.
Simplify tasks and instructions
Breaking down tasks into smaller steps gives students a series of goals to work towards, which can help to make work feel more achievable. When students with ADHD feel accomplished, they are more likely to show interest in their learning. Try creating visual checklists that display each step of assignments so students can stay on track and develop self-monitoring skills.
Allow for breaks and movement
Sitting still is a challenge for students with ADHD and may act as a barrier to their learning. Make time for regular breaks for the entire class to stretch and move between classroom activities to give students with ADHD the opportunity to regulate and refocus. Some of our favourite quick movement exercises are animal walks and wall push ups. Be mindful that some students may find it difficult to refocus after a break so explore what works for your students.
Where possible, try to incorporate movement into learning activities to keep students engaged. If you notice a student beginning to fidget, try assigning them a small task that requires moving around the classroom. This could be handing out worksheets, getting up to put away resources or helping you clean the whiteboard.
Implement flexible seating options
Moving around can help students with ADHD to maintain focus so standard school desks and chairs may not suit their learning needs. Have some alternate seating and desk options available so you can switch things up when your student becomes restless. Consider having a range of options on hand such as standing desks, wobble cushions, therapy balls and rocking floor chairs. It’s important to establish clear guidelines for using flexible seating to ensure they are achieving their purpose.
Keep feedback positive
Students with ADHD may respond better to receiving regular, positive reinforcement rather than being consistently reprimanded. Recognising their achievements, even the small ones, can help to keep them motivated. It is important to ensure that praise is also given in front of their peers.
Try not to correct or reprimand too quickly. If your student makes a mistake, use the sandwich approach to give them constructive criticism. Start by recognising what they have done well, then offer suggestions for improvement and end by reinforcing what they are doing well. Use their mistakes as an opportunity to help them learn by asking them questions such as, “Does that sound like the right answer?” or “Is that a good way or a bad way to talk in class?”
Use assistive technology
There are many digital tools and educational apps available that can support attention, organisation and planning. Timer and calendar apps can help students with ADHD to stay on track with classwork and map out larger assignments. Text-to-speech tools can help students whose distractibility impacts their reading comprehension. There are also plenty of tools available to help with study skills like digital flashcards and mind map apps.
Structuring Lessons to Support Students With ADHD
Starting the lesson
- Capture students’ attention with a visual and/or aural cue to indicate that the lesson is starting, and they are expected to listen.
- List the lesson plan on the board in simple steps for students to refer back to throughout the lesson.
- Clearly tell students what they will be learning and what they will need to participate in the lesson.
During the lesson
- Alternate between activities that capture different levels of interest to help students with ADHD stay focused and engaged in the classroom. Consider delivering high-concentration tasks earlier in the lesson or at a time you have identified as their best time of ‘alertness’. This is when they are most likely to maintain focus and retain information.
- Students with ADHD may find it difficult to move from one task to the next. You can help them transition by letting the class know a few minutes before you are about to start a new activity.
Finishing the lesson
- Capture students’ attention and summarise what has been covered during the lesson.
- If there is homework, write it on the board and have the class repeat the task and/or document it before leaving the classroom for the day.
Making some small changes to the way you approach activities or structure lessons will not just make a significant difference for students with ADHD, but can help to support other students in your class to concentrate and perform their best.
For more great strategies to empower your students to learn and reach their potential, check out our Professional Development webinars and workshops.
Resources
Department of Education, South Australia: Supporting children and students with ADHD
Department of Education and Training, Victoria: Tips for Managing ADHD in the Classroom
All Play Learn: Primary School Teacher Strategies for ADHD
Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne: ADHD – ways to help children at school and home