One of the most important components in a teacher’s job description is the ability to meet each of her students where they are. Diversity has many faces, and a teacher must be able to provide the best education she can for the students in her care.
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present a unique challenge for educators. The classroom environment is supposed to be structured, organized and relatively quiet most of the time. Children who have ADHD are usually unstructured, disorganized, and have a tendency to interrupt the teacher and their peers with their enthusiastic outbursts. These kids have an impulsive desire to shout out the answers to questions, ask for personal instruction while the teacher is working with other students, or express their opinions before they are called upon to do so.

So, what’s a teacher to do when she has 2 or 3 children in her class who enthusiastically take turns upsetting the applecart?
 

Seating is Important

Children with ADHD are very easily distracted. When planning the seating arrangement for the class, be mindful of things that may disturb the child with ADHD. Do not place his desk by the door, or he will be so busy watching the activity in the hallway that you will never have his undivided attention. The same goes for a seat by a window or by the bathroom. Students with ADHD seem to fare better if they are seated close to the teacher’s desk. This allows the student to focus on what the teacher is saying rather than becoming involved in a conversation in the back of the classroom or poking the kid in front of him.
 

Create Special Ways to Communicate with the ADHD Student

Children with ADHD want to be like everyone else. They are often unaware that their behavior is inappropriate or disruptive. It can be helpful to come up with a few simple hand gestures or signals to let the ADHD student know that it is not his turn to speak, or to ask him to wait a minute if he is flagging you down with incessant hand waving. These signals can achieve the same purpose a verbal reprimand, without embarrassing him in front of his peers.
 

Make Sure Physical Activity is Part of the Daily Routine

All children get restless if they have to sit for very long. It is especially difficult for the ADHD student to stay in one place for any length of time. If a child with ADHD seems restless or agitated, send him to the office to deliver the day’s lunch money, ask him to sharpen all the new pencils, or assign him to feed and water the class pet. A small opportunity to get up and move around may avert an anxious outburst.
The ACTIVATE™ program was developed to help children with ADHD and other similar disorders achieve success in the classroom. The program combines cognitive brain training exercises with a series of physical exercises and games. Studies have shown that students enrolled in the program thrive in the classroom and on the playground. The sessions are divided into short 20-30 minute segments that are fun and manageable for all students. The program is specifically designed with the perfect balance of physical activity to offset the time spent sitting still.
 

Fine Tune Assignments

Children with ADHD are easily overwhelmed. They often have fragile feelings and can get upset to the point of tears over insignificant episodes. ADHD students rely on your help in diverting his feelings and maintaining his self-control. Divide assignments into small, manageable chunks that are easy to understand. A little positive praise for the completion of an assignment goes a long way. Try to praise the child in the presence of his classmates so he can feel a sense of pride for a job well done. Ask the ADHD student to write the homework assignment in the board to help him focus and remember the assignment.
 

Have Clear Expectations for Classroom Behavior

Be sure classroom rules are posted and reviewed on a regular basis. The ADHD student may need ongoing verbal prompts to help him comply with classroom rules. Providing him with his own copy of the rules to keep in his notebook or tape to his desk might be beneficial. Consequences for inappropriate behavior should be clearly outlined and understood.
 

ACTIVATE™ Will Help Your Students Become Super Stars!

The ACTIVATE™ Program has been proven to be effective in teaching students with ADHD. Not only do the kids flourish with the implementation of the program, but they approach each day with an enthusiasm for learning that is unsurpassed by any other cognitive brain training program. Teachers report their satisfaction and delight as they observe the difference the program makes in their classroom. Children are engaged, eager and able to grasp concepts that were difficult to teach prior to the implementation of the program. The physical exercise component gets kids out of their seats and provides an opportunity to gain all the health benefits of exercise while learning positive life-skills. ADHD is a complex and challenging disorder. Teachers no longer have to cringe when ADHD students are identified in their classrooms. Common sense, patience, and the C8 Sciences’ ACTIVATE™ program are the tools needed to assure the success of every student in the class. Our program will help you manage and engage the students in your class as you watch them excel in all aspects of learning.