Here are some basic strategies which have been proven to help pupils with ADHD in the classroom. Remember: don’t panic! Many children with ADHD will show great enthusiasm and energy for learning at times too.
- Try to seat pupils close to teacher and away from windows or doors or other obvious sources of distraction
- Try to sit pupil beside others who are good role models.
- Use worksheets which have broken the tasks down into simple bite-size steps.
- Try to alternate lessons, physical with sitting down activities.
- Set short, achievable targets and give immediate rewards on completion.
- Use large type and provide only one or two activities per page. Avoid any unnecessary illustrations.
- Keep classroom rules clear and simple.
- Give the child responsibilities; use him/her as a volunteer to write on board etc.
- Use praise and attention when behaviour is good.
- Maintain eye contact with the pupil during verbal instruction, but do not insist on the child making eye contact with you
- Encourage the child to verbalise what is to be done, first to the teacher and then to him/herself.
- Use checklists for each subject which the child can tick on completion.
- Try to provide a visual timetable of lessons or activities; children with ADHD like predictability. You could perhaps have the timetable symbols on velcro and when that activity is finished actually remove the symbol and place on the finished or done side. This gives a reminder of what has already happened and what is to come; it also allows for quick substitutions for the suddenlys. Build in a choice or two along the way to give the child some element of control.
- Use consistent routines for getting out and putting away equipment.
- If child has a temper tantrum, take him/her aside or remove him/her from class as quickly as possible. Remain calm, talking quietly. Do not let him/her see you are upset.
- Some pupils with ADHD will be helped by listening to soft music on headphones, although there are possible implications for the rest of the class
- Consider having a seat/area for a pupil with ADHD to move to for individual work but try to ensure that there are also plenty of opportunities for social interaction/ group work too.
- Remove all objects not required for the task from the pupil’s desk
- Assist the pupil with personal organisation as much as possible. This is especially an issue in post-primary schools where pupils may have a wider range of subjects and associated books to remember.
- Make sure that the instructions for homework are clear and that the pupil has correctly noted what is required before leaving.
- Maintain close communication with parents/guardians who can assist in organising the child for the day ahead (correct books, homeworks etc)
- Reward appropriate social behaviour whenever possible
Further Information
An excellent guide to ADHD and how to facilitate learning in the classroom for pupils with ADHD is provided in the 2004 publication of ADHD: A Practical Guide for Schools (see http://www.deni.gov.uk/adhd_-_a_practical_guide_for_schools.pdf )
A short but very insightful Teachers’ TV video looks at the challenges of meeting the needs of children with ADHD in a primary classroom (see http://www.teachers.tv/videos/primary-behaviour-adhd-in-the-mainstream)
Checklist for ADHD indicators 
(source: Questions Publishing)
Teaching Children with ADHD
Some questions to consider (Please post a comment):
- In your experience which of the above strategies are most effective in working with children with ADHD?
- Are there any further strategies you would want to add to the list?
For me it sounds a little bad to know that kids with ADHD are mixed with those do doesn’t have it. I know that there are those who excel in their academics but it doesn’t generally mean that we should get them along with normal kids their age. They have a disorder and they need a special type of attention, therefore they should go to a school made especially for them.
Having been on placement in many schools, including primary schools I have yet to come across a child with ADHD. However, when I do come across a child with ADHD (probably in the near future) I will return to this website for help and guidance on how to work with that child.
It is reassurring to know that there are a vast spectrum of strategies that can be implemented with regards to pupils with ADHD, therefore making it less daunting for teachers to think of ways in which to provide for children with ADHD. It is important not to become overwhelmed by this information but to select a few which you feel work best for that pupil/s so that they learn best as well as helping you to feel much more confident and in control of the situation.
I have had an opportunity to work with a child who has ADHD when I was a classroom assistant before starting in Stranmillis. These tips are very useful! I will refer back to these whilst I am on placement if I have a child with ADHD in any of my classes.
As of yet I haven’t used any of these strategies concerning children with ADHD. Nonetheless they seem very practical and I look forward to experiencing their effectiveness.
I believe pupils should be seated close to the teacher and therefore would be less likely to be distracted by other pupils. The teacher should also break the tasks into more manageable chunks so that it is more easy to digest. Pupils with ADHD should also be allowed to take regular breaks from their work so that they remain more focused and are able to maintain concentration for a longer period of time.
All of the above strategies appear very effective to dealing with pupils with ADHD. Teachers can learn to deal with particular situations with these helpful suggestions. I’m sure these will be very benefiticial in the classroom and can be put to good use.
Unfortunately I have not yet had the opportunity to work with children with ADHD, however, as part of my forthcoming school based work placement I have been time tabled to teach a special needs class for two periods a week. I am sure I will have the opportunity then to work with children with ADHD and the information provided in these articles will come in very useful. I have been apprehensive about teaching this class due to having no past experience, so this information has relieved my anxiety a little.
From reading the list of strategies, I feel that they would be very beneficial for the future.
I have had no one to one experience working with children who have ADHD but I feel these strategies will be extremely helpful when I am on placement in the case of me possibly having to teach a pupil with ADHD. From looking at this website and what I have learnt in lectures I feel having a strong routine for the children is an essential teaching strategy. Assisting the pupils with personal organisation as much as possible, I feel is especially an issue in my area of post-primary where pupils may have a wider range of subjects and associated books to remember. Another beneficial strategy I feel would be the rewarding of good behaviour to the pupils as this will increase confidence etc in school work.
As I have yet to start sbw I have no experience of working with a pupil who has ADHD, however i find the above stategies very helpful for when I begin sbw and may have a pupil or pupils with ADHD in my class. As i do not have a lot of knowledge regarding ADHD I do not have any further stategies to add to this list.
Within the classroom setting it has been highlighted that there are now more pupils diagnosed have ADHD. I have a lack of knowledge or experience when working with ADHD pupils, however I found this webiste benefical and provides a great in-depth understanding of ADHD. It clearly has set out structured strategies which will be helpful to my school placement.
The strategies above will all be very helpful when I begin my school based work. I especially think that the use of visual activities and active learning would be useful whilst undergoing my teaching practice.
The strategies on this site seem to be very helpful and I hope to read further for my own benefit.
i have no experience working with pupils who have ADHD thus far however, I have read through the strategies given and I think they will be very useful when I go out on placement this year.
I have read through the strategies given on this website and I think they will be very useful when I go out on placement. I have never met a child with ADHD before which makes me more apprehensive although if I refer back to these points I think I should cope fine.
Having come across pupils with ADHD during my two experiences out in schools, I feel that this would have been a really helpful list to observe and take on board prior to my experience and will certainly refer to these points in future.