How to teach students with ADHD

It is quite challenging for teachers to accommodate students with ADHD in the classroom. Such students are usually unable to follow instructions. Besides, their inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity pose a big challenge to teachers as well as the teaching-learning process. Surprisingly, many teachers believe that small punishments—such as scolding—are the best way to deal with such students. However, punishments may have an adverse impact on kids with ADHD.

There are some proven teaching techniques that can help kids with ADHD focus on study and maintain their concentration level in the classroom. Let’s have a look at these techniques.

Before the lesson

• Use various cues to inform your students, especially those with ADHD, that you are going to start the lesson.
• At first, write down the things you will cover in the lesson on the blackboard.
• You can also write down all the activities to be covered in the class on the board.
• Before starting the lesson, make sure that you have established an eye contact with all those students having ADHD.

During the lesson

• Make sure that your content/instructions are easily understandable.
• Try to use charts and various visual aids in order to retain the attention of kids with ADHD.
• If possible, conduct various activities so that ADHD kids can get actively involved in the teaching-learning process.
• Don’t teach at the same pace. Instead, vary your teaching pace. It will enable students with special needs to follow your instructions.

Before finishing the lesson

• You must summarize all the important points discussed during the lesson.
• Make sure that the student (s) with ADHD have clearly noted down all homework assignments. You can first note down the assignments on the board and then, ask such students to repeat these assignments.

Image Credit: freedigitalphotos.net