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Related Topics of ADHD 

CLASSROOM TECHNIQUES FOR  A HYPERACTIVE CHILD

Teaching children who have ADD/ADHD can be very challenging, but also very rewarding. Teachers can play a significant role in helping the child with ADD/ADHD. The following suggestions may help in the classroom.

Providing Structure

  • Make class rules few in number, clear, concise, and stated in positive terms.

  • Easily enforced and immediate consequences for breaking rules.

  • Provide a written schedule so the student knows what is expected.

  • Structure class time to avoid waiting periods.

Giving Instructions

  • Give clear, specific, simple instructions.

  • Get the child’s attention before giving instructions.

  • It is good to have eye contact with the student

  • Check to make sure the student understands the instructions.

Cues and Reminders

  • Instructions are more effective if accompanied with a cue or reminder. For example, point to your eye while saying “look,” or point to your ear when saying “listen.” Develop a “secret” signal to remind the child.

  • Fix the rules and consequences for following and breaking the rules.

Dealing With Short Attention Spans

  • Provide a variety of work in short work periods.

  • Intersperse very high and low interest tasks.

  • Reduce the length of assignments, or put fewer problems on a page.

  • Break up monotony with a variety of materials and presentations.

Dealing With Hyperactivity

  • Give the student a reason to move around, such as passing out papers, or bringing a message to the office.

  • Allow for a transition period after recess and lunch time, as many students have difficulty settling down.

Dealing With Disorganization

  • Break assignments into small units.

  • Help the child use task analysis to break the assignment into sequential steps.

  • Keep materials at your desk. Have the child come for them, gradually allowing more responsibility.

Dealing With Distraction

  • Seat the student near the teacher’s desk or at the end of a row.

  • Seat the student away from distracting places such as the pencil sharpener.

  • Seat the child away from open windows or doors.

Dealing With Homework

  • Be realistic about the amount of homework for the student. If necessary, communicate with other teachers to ensure the amount of homework is manageable.

  • Help to check that the student brings home books necessary to do homework.

Using Technological Support

  • Allow the use of a calculator, especially to check answers on some mathematics assignments.

  • Allow and encourage the student to tape important classes.

  • Allow the student to use a word processor or any other application.

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