Teacher Recommended: ADHD Classroom Strategies and Resources

  • Jill Rockwell
  • Feb 16 2020
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Teacher Recommended: ADHD Classroom Strategies and Resources

From graphic organizers for math to literacy-based yoga exercises, teachers work endlessly to determine ways to help students learn and succeed. Outlined below are valuable resources and strategies to support students with ADHD in the classroom shared by educators in our online course ADHD: Teaching and Learning Strategies. 

 


Math

Because students with ADHD have vast learning styles and needs, a high school math teacher shared that he provides multiple pathways for students to engage with the content – including group discussions, utilizing graphing calculators and Chromebooks, drawing on whiteboards, problem-solving with a partner, and Desmos-based lessons. Desmos is a free online tool used in classrooms all over the world that makes learning math interactive, visual, dynamic, and even joyful.

Graphic organizers are not just for writing. A fourth-grade teacher uses graphic organizers to help students stay focused while organizing their thought process and sorting through the vocabulary and problem-solving involved with their new math program. Understood.org provides incredible (and free) math graphic organizers that can be tailored for students of all ages. Check them out!

 

English Language Arts

Writing is often a challenging process for students with ADHD. An upper-elementary special education teacher has her students utilize SpeechTexter in Google Chrome to complete writing tasks. SpeechTexter allows students to let their ideas flow more freely and cohesively without having to worry about spelling, punctuation, and even fine-motor concerns. What a great way to reduce frustration involved with writing for many students. 

Movement and stretching can be effective ways to refocus students with ADHD. A sixth grade English language arts teacher implemented a program called Literary Yoga (which connects movement and stretching to the reading curriculum). For example, after completing a long reading passage, students might be asked to stand up and get into “eagle pose” to discuss the point-of-view of the story. (I love this concept!) 

Audio books help to level the playing field for students who struggle with reading by enabling them to access the same popular titles as their peers. Because ADHD and learning disabilities often co-exist, a middle school special education teacher takes advantage of online programs such as Bookshare and Learning Ally which provide hundreds of thousands of audio books for students with learning disabilities at no cost. (Epic! is another digital library for children ages 12 and younger.)

 


All Content Areas

A high school biology teacher shared that she uses EdPuzzle in several classes to keep her students engaged when watching online videos. EdPuzzle is a free resource that allows teachers to edit YouTube, Khan Academy, and other online videos by adding questions and voice narration throughout. The customized videos enable students to work at their own pace – pausing and viewing segments as many times as necessary to enhance and solidify understanding within any content area.

A middle school social studies teacher utilizes QUIZZIZZ to create and customize engaging quizzes, (complete with Bitmojis) for his students. This platform also allows students to work at their own pace and retake quizzes until they reach mastery.

An elementary special education teacher’s classroom is furnished with a dry erase whiteboard table for students to stay active with learning. For example students use the table to demonstrate how they solved math problems, to draw “mind maps” before writing, and to share ideas with peers. Students with ADHD are known to be creative and appreciate opportunities to use markers and other art supplies besides pens and pencils. 

Finally, a middle school special education teacher recommends the 30/30 app to combat procrastination and to enhance time management and productivity among students. 30/30 allows users to add tasks and set estimates for how long it will take to complete those individual tasks – providing a visual schedule. Students report feeling accomplished and satisfied when they complete a task and “swipe” it away. (Who doesn’t love crossing an item off a to-do list?!)

 

Looking for more ideas to support your students with ADHD in your classroom? Join us in ADHD: Teaching and Learning Strategies to continue the conversation today!

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Jill Rockwell
Jill has over 13 years of experience as a licensed teacher in the areas of Special Education, Reading Education, and Health Education. She embraces diversity and has worked with students in grades K-12 in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California. Jill completed her Master of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls while teaching full time. She fully understands the soaring demands of today’s teachers. Her courses are designed to maximize the time of all educators by providing engaging, meaningful, and applicable activities which can be used to enhance teaching practices. She focuses on research-based best practices and technology integration throughout her own instructional practices. Together with her husband and two young boys, Jill enjoys traveling, biking and the changing seasons of the great outdoors in Wisconsin. 

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