Schoolwork and ADHD

(adapted from phelan et al)

Common Sense ADHD School Accommodations

Any teacher can institute the following suggestions, even without formal student classification:

I. Understanding Children with ADHD

 Learn about ADHD. Typically, teachers in the higher grades have a harder time
“believing” in the condition. The older students no longer appear physically hyperactive.
Organization and planning problems are frequently misinterpreted as lack of preparation
and motivation.
 Don't take the ADHD behaviors as personal challenges. The answer to the question
"Why can't he listen to me like all of the other children?" is that he can't turn off his
ADHD at will. It isn't personal.

 Take a realistic outlook at the child you get every day. Periodically, rate the ADHD
behaviors using Dr. Phelan's brief checklist (1 means very little; 10 means a lot)

 Inattentiveness _____

 Impulsivity _____

 Difficulty delaying gratification _____

 Emotional overarousal _____

 Hyperactivity ______

 Non compliance _____

 Social problems _____

 Disorganization _____

This is your starting point. Not a typical child. This is what you can likely expect from him every
day. Once teachers (and parents) accept this starting point (which I assure you the child does
not exactly want, either), it is easier not to take everything so personally. Also, anger on the
care-giver's part is reduced--since anger arises when there is greater discrepancy between
what you expected versus what you got. The parents can also fill out the checklist, and discuss
it with the teacher. They will realize that they are allies.
 Provide help for deficits at the moment it is needed, not negative feedback when it is already
too late. Unfortunately, the simple reality is that punishment does not usually teach the needed
behaviors. This is because many children with ADHD have difficulty “doing what they know,”
not “knowing what to do.” They already “know,” for example, that they should come to class
prepared. Once we understand that punishment has not been working, we are ready to provide
relief for their disabilities by guiding them at the moment guidance is needed—rather than
continued disbelief that they did it wrong again.

II. Presenting Material to ADHD Children

 Have child sit in the front of the class.

 Tap on the desk (or use other code) to bring the child back into focus.

 Alert child’s attention with phrases such as “This is important.”

 Break down longer directions into simpler chunks.

 Check for comprehension.

 Encourage students to underline the key words of directions.

 Encourage students to mark incorrect multiple-choice answers with an “x” first.

 Allow physically hyperactive children out of their seats to hand out and pick up
papers, etc.

III. Organizational Help

 Recognize that disorganization is a major disability for almost everyone with ADHD. In
fact, it is difficult to diagnose ADHD in the absence of organizational problems. Yes,
ADHD students can--and frequently do--write a wonderful assignment and then forget to
hand it in. This striking unevenness in skills is what makes it a learning disability.
 Ensure that parents and child all know the correct assignment.

 Yes, most students can take this responsibility upon themselves. Those with ADHD,
though, usually cannot. It is unfair and counter-productive to let intelligent students
flounder because of this disability. Once informed of the needed work, the child is still
responsible to work (with his/her parents) to get it done. The following options can be
used. This part will take work, especially to keep the system going:

1. Inform about typical routines (such as vocabulary quizzes on Fridays).

2. Hand out written assignments for the week; or,

3. Initial student’s homework assignment folders after each period. Please do not expect
the student to come up after class for the signature on their own. If they were organized
enough to do that, we would not need to be doing this. And, yes, the typical student is
organized enough to come to the teacher; but this is not the typical student.
  Notify family immediately of any late assignments by one of following. Waiting for the
submission date notices is too late to correct the problem, and too late for the student to
behaviorally notice the connection between his/her performance and the consequences.

1. A phone call takes the child out of the loop, and works best.

2. The parent could call the team leader each week for an update.

3. The parent could mail weekly a card to each teacher. The card would
simply have spaces for missed work and comments, and is dropped back
into the mail.

IV. Simple accommodations for other frequently associated problems

 Dysgraphia (hand writing problems)

1. Use of a computer.

2. Graph paper helps line up math problems.

3. Provide a copy of class notes, or arrange for peer to make carbon copy.

4. Minimize deductions for neatness and spelling. Instead, give extra points
for neatness.

 Dyscalculia (math problems)

1. Liberal use of a calculator.

2. Consider doing every other problem if homework takes too long.

Dr S Jayanti