Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Three Simple Steps and Tech Tips to Support Students with ADD/ADHD



Yes somethings are obvious,  the hyperactive child who can't sit still on the carpet, lacks self control and can blurt out compulsively, desk is completely disorganized with papers, drawings, and candy wrappers, you know these are behaviors of a child with attention deficit disorder (ADD).  





But what is not always obvious is what lies beneath the surface of a child with ADD/ADHD.  ADD/ADHD is much more than just a behavioral issue, and focusing just on what you can see and not what is going on emotionally and cognitively can have a negative impact socially and academically for students with this disability.  Students with ADD/ADHD are just as capable as other students, in fact they are likely to be good problem solvers, highly creative and have an abundant amount of energy (of course). 


What you need to know about ADD/ADHD in terms of what is going on behind the scenes (in their brain) should impact the way you teach and approach instruction. 

Students with ADD typically have weak executive functioning.  This means their working memory, (which is what kids use to remember information long enough to actually use it) is impaired and this will impact their ability to read and learn skills in math.  They are also likely to have a difficult time getting started and exhibiting effort towards a task.  Internalizing language is also an issue and that means they are probably less likely to ask for help.  
  
Other cognitive concerns includes having an impaired sense of time, so not only will they have difficulty getting started, but they will also lose track of time and have difficulty planning and executing long-term projects.

So what does all this mean for you the teacher, and how can you use this information, to get your incredibly capable and creative child to not only be, but feel successful (children with ADD/ADHD are also likely to have emotional issues including depression, anxiety and oppositional defiant disorder).

3 Steps to Support Students with ADD/ADHD
1. First start with planning: 

  • Be sure to include visuals, movement and graphic organizers to every lesson. 
  • Include learning apps such as studystack, spellingcity and quizlet to create flashcards and games to support recall and working memory. 

  • Make learning interactive with web-based games such as Kahoot and concept mapping such as Popplet to support making meaningful connections. 

2. Next Support the Student in Self-Regulation: 

  • Construct a weekly or daily monitor report that you and the  student can complete to monitor behavior and track growth. 
  • Use a secret signal such as a particular phrase or cue to attract and help redirect the students attention. 
  • Provide the student with a rubber ball or device that can be used to help them stay focused
  • Include regular busy body breaks such as stretching or using Go Noodle

3. Get Parents Involved: 

  • Create a website, blog or use Google Calendar to share important dates, homework, agendas and upcoming events.
  • Use the above monitoring form to let parents know how students are doing in your class. 
  • Share information about learning disabilities and strategies that can be used at home such as PBIS and IRIS

  • Use a webtool such as Remind to send quick messages and reminders.  

Schools should be a place where students grow and develop not just academically, but cognitively and socially as well.  Non-cognitive skills such as self-regulation, self-monitoring and reflection are extremely important to develop in young children especially before they transition to secondary schools.  For students with ADD/ADHD this requires teachers to do more than just plan for one standard but plan for all learners so they can be successful .  These strategies will benefit not just your ADD/ADHD students but every student that needs to be empowered and independent.

Leave a comment below and receive the Monitoring Report template for free.  Join our virtual discussion on Facebook   

43 comments:

  1. Thank you for this informative post, it offered me new strategies to better support my students. I especially like the section on self-regulation, do you have any specific curriculum you use with students to teach self-regulation and SEI?

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  2. I really enjoyed learning about ADD/ADHD. I have always heard about it, but have not had the chance/opportunity to work with a child who has this disability. I did not know that it can affect a child emotionally, create anxiety and depression. As I read, it was stated that teachers who have students come to them with ADD/ADHD have to do more than just plan for one , they must "Plan for all learners to be successful." Planning for all to be successful is an excellent way to run the classroom because we as teachers must all realize that every child that enters our classroom door have the potential for success. We just need to WORK HARDER to reach their potential.

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  3. I really enjoyed learning about ADD/ADHD. I have always heard about it, but have not had the chance/opportunity to work with a child who has this disability. I did not know that it can affect a child emotionally, create anxiety and depression. As I read, it was stated that teachers who have students come to them with ADD/ADHD have to do more than just plan for one , they must "Plan for all learners to be successful." Planning for all to be successful is an excellent way to run the classroom because we as teachers must all realize that every child that enters our classroom door have the potential for success. We just need to WORK HARDER to reach their potential. Shanti Anderson

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  4. I am thankful for great information that is put out about what and how to support our children with ADD/ADHD. So often they are misunderstood and mislabeled without getting the proper support they need. I wish when my son was in school more teachers had information like this on how to work and support children with ADD/ADHD. Take the extra step and work to reach every child!
    Thank you, Michelle Ahmad

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  5. I feel really lucky to have discovered the INK FOR ALL content tool. Well-designed functionality like the option to hide tips never distract me, it's helped make me super productive http://bit.ly/2DWi1K9

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  6. Hello Dr Dickenson,
    Thank you for presenting these important information in such easy to follow and positive way. I have a daughter with ADD and teachers that had a heart and understanding about her condition made a difference in her elementary years. Teachers can really make a difference in children's lives when the right perspective is gained with appropriate information. I will keep this information handy to share with others, as well as personally use it.
    Monica

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  7. Hello Dickenson,
    I appreciate the information and suggestions you give on this blog as the support to these children with ADD and ADHD is so important. I specially like the fact that you mention the involvement of parents as part of the child's success in school. I think that we are getting more children with these types of disorders and I personally can use tips and suggestions to try and do in the classroom to help all students as you mention on your blog.

    Sonia Montes

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  8. This is a very important topic to shine light on, being an educator is important to learn about ADD/ADHD. I have had the opportunity to work with children with this disability. Even though I know about the disability I didn’t know there were apps that supported communication among teachers and parents to better support the child. It is important that everyone involved in the child’s life is aware of how this disability can impact the child’s emotional state, increase their anxiety and depression. Those that understanding about this disability make a difference in the child’s life.
    Ana Ulloa

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  9. This is a very important topic to shine light on, being an educator is important to learn about ADD/ADHD. I have had the opportunity to work with children with this disability. Even though I know about the disability I didn’t know there were apps that supported communication among teachers and parents to better support the child. It is important that everyone involved in the child’s life is aware of how this disability can impact the child’s emotional state, increase their anxiety and depression. Those that understanding about this disability make a difference in the child’s life.

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  10. This topic is near and dear to my heart. My oldest daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 9 years old. As a parent that works in the field of early childhood education I knew that my daughters hyperactivity and other behaviors were due to either ADD or ADHD. I find that the steps listed above to support children with ADHD are accurate but I also feel there are many ways to support your child. I do appreciate blogs that can support parents with children that have challenging circumstances.

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  11. This is great information not only for families but for the public. Without knowledge on ADHD/ADD certain people are quick to judge without thinking about that's going to affect the child. As educators we have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of children and it is great to share different techniques and strategies that help support our students. By learning about each child we can support them and see them succeed in our classroom. As a mom of a child with special needs I agree that these strategies can help all children. I find it to be extremely important to build a trust with families in order to be able to work with each other and meet the child's needs. I personally have used the app Remind and I approve of it. With so much going on with my daily schedule it is a perfect method to stay in touch with my son's teacher.

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  12. Thank you for sharing this information. You provided great strategies to ensure that ADD/ADHD students arewell supported in the classroom. Teachers can really make a difference inchildren's lives when they are provided with the appropriate information andtools to help their students. The types of accommodations that you provided aresimple yet effective to implement in any classroom setting. Especially when settingclear learning expectations that are supported through visuals and hands-onactivities, as well as communicating daily with parents using monitoring forms. 

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  13. Loved all the information. Thank you for sharing. You provided many great ideas to use in the classroom, especially a child with ADD/ADHD. I can see these strategies being used in a classroom with Differentiated Instruction and Universal Design Learning. This article shares great ideas and concepts for an inclusive environment. I really liked your three steps of supports. It really points a teacher in the right direction. As educators, we all know communication with parents is vital. Having so many options for communication via apps are a great way to keep open communication with parents and establish a strong partnership.

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  14. Brenda Castaneda

    I enjoyed reading this important piece. Thank you for sharing in this platform. You provided many amazing ideas to use in the classroom, especially with children with ADD/ADHD that can be implemented in an inclusive environment. I have worked with children with disabilities and it is imperative not to have a cookie cutter approach when it comes to teaching all types of learners and students. Your three steps support is a great blue print for educators to implement. As an educator involving parents in their children's education is crucial especially in today's era that technology is vital and an easy platform for communication with parents.

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  15. Thanks so much Brenda for your positive feedback :)

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  16. Hello Dr. Dickenson. Thank you for sharing these powerful teaching strategies to support students with ADD/ADHD in the classroom. I find these strategies very helpful for us educators to provide a more responsive environment, differentiate instruction, and target the needs of all learners by adapting and modifying our lesson plans. The three strategies are very important for children with ADD/ADHD to learn, grow, and develop academically, cognitively and socially in an inclusive classroom environment. This success can only be accomplished if the teacher is intentional, and desired to help children with ADD/ADHD and parents are involved in their children with ADD/ADHD education. I believe these strategies can also be shared with parent to try at home specially right now with the COVID-19 Distance Learning. Children with ADD/ADHD daily school routine was interrupted because of the virus. Therefore, parents will benefit from learning these strategies to help their children at home to self-regulate, and self-monitor. I will definitely share this blog with my colleagues, and parents along with the daily monitor report template.

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  17. Children and adults with learning disabilities may struggle in all areas of the school. For example, language processing disabilities can make reading and write slow and challenging, and memory issues may result in the student having to re-read a piece of text or listen to spoken instructions several times. Due to Coronavirus, students have to face very difficult, that is why it becomes very important for your child to find an online tutor with the help of which he does not have any problem in education. Nowadays you will find many such online websites and applications on the Internet which can help your child to read. Out of all these, online Tutoring is the best way for your child. Children can share their problems with an online tutor. If you are having trouble finding an online tutor, then visit Online Disabilities Tutoring. Thanks for this beneficial article.

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  18. You have touched good quality points here. In whatever way continue writing.
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  19. Thank you for your post! I appreciate you sharing your teaching strategies. Some of which I am familiar with and use on a daily basis in my own classroom. I know many children who deal with ADD/ADHD on a daily bases. This year many of those children have struggled due to COVID-19. It is in our best interest to invest our time to help guide and support these children in the best way that we know how during this crucial time. I have also found that allowing these children to have specific jobs in the classroom, such as messenger, helps them to be able to move around. In the past, I have also made them a greeter at the door or allowed them the job of excusing children through the cafeteria door as each child goes to lunch. This makes them feel important, as all children should feel.

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  20. This is a great resource that offers information about the components and symptoms of ADD/ADHD especially in children. This resource is beneficial for understanding effective instructional practices and resources available to support students with ADD/ADHD.

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  21. This was a very helpful post to read. My daughter is 10 years old and has a friend who has ADD/ADHD. Her mom would tell me horrible stories she would go through at school because the educator would not take into consideration her disability and I think would sometimes forget. I recently told her mom that she should teach her daughter (my daughter's friend) to advocate for herself and let the teacher know when she is experiencing anxiety or other related symptoms. It got so bad one day, the teacher told her she could not join the rest of the class for Fun Friday because she did not finish all of her school work and she ran out of the classroom and locked herself in the bathroom. My daughter was the only one who could calm her down by telling her she would help her. I felt so bad for her; which is why I was interested to read this article to learn more about ADD and better ways I can teach my daughter to understand and further help her friend. Thank you for sharing!

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  22. Anthony SchannetteMay 15, 2021 at 5:52 PM

    Enjoyed reading this article. I find that people with ADHD are also susceptible to hypersensitivity with shared computing (i.e., social media, and any digital technologies that provide a platform or community for sharing between people). Along with the triggers that digital inducements create for sensitive expressive reactions, we have the added challenge of being provided less cues in a digital environment.

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  23. Hi Dr. Dickenson
    I really enjoyed this post on working with those kids who have ADD/ADH! As a special education teacher, I am often called on to help teachers support kids with ADD/ADHD. Fidgets are a great tool and I have found velcro on the underside of a desk works well too! The self monitoring tool is a great idea. So many teachers monitor the student's behavior but I like the idea the idea of having the students keep track. It allows the student to participate and make a connection to behaviors throughout the day or activity.

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  24. I enjoyed reading your post and thank you for the helpful steps to support children with ADD/ADHD. My nephew has ADHD, and students in my class are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, although they are still at the preschool level. Teachers must do differentiated activities to meet children's level and attention span. Although they share common symptoms, each child is unique for preschool-age fidgets helps in circle time, so the child keeps his hands to himself. It's interesting to see how they need social support when playing games some cannot handle the idea that they don't win and get super frustrated, so reminds are always essential to keep their anxiety level down.

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  25. I love the suggestions and information you shared. I, too, have a nephew with ADD, and as a family, we were very concerned about his academic success. He struggled throughout elementary and high school. However, with all the support, he graduated from High school and went off to college to transfer to UC Berkeley, and graduated this year. We are so proud of him. It is great to see all the advice about web-based games and other websites that encourage and motivate all students to learn. I say this because my nephew was hooked on video games, and it was a way to get him to learn while interacting with educational games. I also like that all the information targets different learning styles.

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  26. I enjoyed reading your post was very informative. My son has ADD, and I have observed these behaviors, is like you describe my son. I have done some of the strategies you shared, such as the visuals for keeping track of chores and homework. It has been difficult for him the transition from high school to college. I want him to succeed, but we are still struggling with the correct medication dose to help him stay focused. I will let him know about the web tool Remind to help him with his assignments. I believe that this information empowered parents to advocate for their children.

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  27. Good day, Dr. Dickerson. Thank you for providing such useful information. It was my first time working with two autistic youngsters who both had ADD and ADHD. They were both non-verbal when I first started working with them. It was critical for me to learn more about ADD and ADHD in the context of problematic conduct. Preschool finger fidgides, Pop Its, and laser finger lights have all been employed. I've observed a significant shift in their behavior. Aside from making a strategy and involving parents.

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  28. Dr. Dickernson, thank you for sharing this post about children with ADD/ADHD in the classroom. So often students with ADD/ADHD get written off as behavior or do not receive the necessary tools to support their success. At my school we took time to really work with families and learn what our kiddos each individually needed for success. We spent a great deal of money on tools such as wobble stools, cushions, fidgets, and moveable furniture to support many of our kids. I too have seen the brilliance that many of these babies bring into the learning environment. I commend you for speaking out for them and educating others.

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  29. Thank you Dr. Dickerson. I have been teaching for several years and relate to the student who can't sit still at the carpet, start tasks, and has unending energy. It was really an eye opener to see the visual difference between a "normal" and "ADHD" brain scan. I was unaware of how drastically different they are. I often felt as if many of the students who displayed ADHD characteristics just needed more practice in a structured setting. I didn't realize it was so much more. I also really appreciate the self monitor tracker. I teach younger children and could easily modify this with pictures. I believe in empowering students with tools to monitor their behavior and choices. This would be a great place to start.

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  30. Crystal Gordon-PollySeptember 7, 2022 at 9:39 PM

    I really enjoyed reading this post. In my past I worked with children who had different disabilities. ADD/ADHD was one of the disabilities that I work a lot with. I find it very crucial for all members of the students support team to have good communication. Having applications that help promote better communication between everyone would be very beneficial and should increase the quality of life of students.

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  31. Dr Dickinson,
    Thank you for posting these tips for supporting students with ADD & ADHD. I have used Remind before to send quick reminders and messages to parents but I have never thought about using it to send tips and strategies for parents to help with struggles at home. I also struggle with ADD and have used a couple of these strategies for myself.

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  32. Thank you so much for sharing your teaching strategies as well as the symptoms of ADD/ADHD in children. it facilitates understanding of effective instructional practices and resources to use and get to know how better educators can assist these children and cooperate with parents to facilitate their learning and advocate for the rights of children in improving skills and feel comfortable in the school. well done educating us with beneficial resources and professional knowledge

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  33. Thank you so much for sharing! In this case the ADHD/ADHD education management treatment centers may include medical, behavioral, and psychological therapies to treat learning disabilities. Effective education programs may use remedial, compensatory, or strategic (teaching the child how to learn) approaches. Based on my experience I can say that some children require specialized training in only one area and still attend regular school hours. Other children need separate and intensive educational programs. Optimally, and in accordance with US law, engaged children should participate as much as possible in inclusive classrooms with peers who do not have learning disabilities.

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  34. Thank you for sharing and explaining what causes ADD/ ADHD children to have such behaviors. Understanding weak executive functioning and impaired sense of time and how it impacts a child's development puts a different perspective on how I plan a lesson plan for all types of learners in the future. The three Steps are beneficial for the children, educators, and families. It takes a team; I appreciated the tip about using a particular word or cue to help get support for the child when needed. Great for helping our friends feel included and not singled out so they can enjoy their learning.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing and explaining what causes ADD/ ADHD children to have such behaviors. Understanding weak executive functioning and impaired sense of time and how it impacts a child's development puts a different perspective on how I plan a lesson plan for all types of learners in the future. The three Steps are beneficial for the children, educators, and families. It takes a team; I appreciated the tip about using a particular word or cue to help get support for the child when needed. Great for helping our friends feel included and not singled out so they can enjoy their learning.

      Delete
  35. Thank you very much for expanding your post to include both clues and helpful solutions for teachers of students with ADD. I find the part about "internalizing language" extremely significant since unfortunately, our schools still use praise for academic achievements and standing out in classrooms repetitively. Most ADD students could be impeccably wonderful and excel academically if they were treated properly and given the appropriate chances to demonstrate their genius. That is one of the reasons why I am a big supporter of project-based learning, as I have witnessed students who used to suffer and struggle with their academic performance due to having ADD/ADHD while being enrolled in typical public schools. Whereas when they transferred to project-based learning schools they bloomed and their true abilities were unveiled. That does not only affect their academic achievements, but also has a massive effect on their self-image, and overall mental health.

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  36. This post was extremely interesting for me to read since I’m raising a child with ADHD. He also has mild oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and I’m learning more about that each day. Early in our journey, I read a lot about executive functions and how challenging they are for him. I actually used executive functioning as a topic for more than one paper in my Master’s program so far. His teacher this year is incredibly supportive and communicative. She and I communicate regularly on a messaging app (Class Dojo) and he has weekly occupational therapy sessions through our insurance that help him work on executive functioning skills like working memory. In the classroom, this year and last year, his teachers have allowed flexible seating, seating close to the door since he struggles with emotional regulation, and breaks whenever needed, especially for snacks/eating. He is excelling academically and is finally (in second grade) forming friendships that he talks about on a regular basis. Thank you for encouraging regular communication with the parents, as this is a vital piece of every child’s success at home and in the classroom.

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  37. Thanks so much for this fascinating and informative post! I am currently in the home stretch of finishing my masters in early childhood education and my credential in ECE special ed, and I found this to be a very helpful post. Definitely saving it to refer back to when I am in the classroom full time!
    Chelsa Tillman

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  38. Thank you so much for sharing this information. ADD/ADHD are a common challenge I experience in the classroom. I found your strategies for support and parent involvement to be helpful. My young students need my help to grow both academically and socially. This information will assist me in my teaching immediately.
    Julie Berg

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  39. Thank you, Dr. Dickenson, for sharing some of the best strategies to support students with ADD/AHDH because I have three newly enrolled students with ADD/AHDH in my center, and one of them is in my classroom. My greatest fear is misunderstanding or mislabeling them and not providing them with appropriate support to perform well socially and academically. However, your blog post has definitely given some of the great insights into supporting them. I will definitely use these apps study stack, spelling city, quiz let, Kahoot, Poppler, Go Noodle, and Remind to support students with ADD/AHDH and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

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  40. Hello DR. Dickenson,
    Thank you for sharing some simple steps and strategies that educators can use to support students with ADD/ADHD in their classrooms. This blog post shared many insightful and meaningful ideas that can be incorporated into daily classroom practices that support student learning. Including these strategies can benefit all students in the classroom, not just those with ADD/ADHD. I really enjoyed the blog and the information provided.

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  41. Thank you, Dr. Dickenson, for this valuable information. It is so important that educators see the emotional and cognitive side of ADHD. We need to remember that this is exhausting for the student as well. I love the strategies that you have recommended. Brain breaks and fidget items are so important to support these kiddos with ADHD. It is also important to create a monitoring form (I really like the one you posted), parents need to be involved in every step of their child’s education. The monitoring form also allows the child to visually see how their day is going. Such important information, thank you.

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  42. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. I have multiple students this year with ADD/ADHD and have been struggling to find ways to support them. I think the use of a monitoring form will be helpful for myself and parents to understand exactly what is going on with their child in the classroom. I also think it can be helpful for the child to observe how their day is going and if they might need to adjust.

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