ADHD Classroom Strategies

Summary

In the video, a teacher discusses strategies for managing students with attention and hyperactivity issues in a classroom of 20-24 kids. Key strategies include preferential seating to reduce distractions, providing fidget tools like Rubik's Cubes to channel energy without losing focus, using checklists and graphic organizers for organization, and breaking down complex directions into manageable chunks.

Takeaways

• 📚 **Strategic Seating**: Teachers use preferential seating to manage distractability, placing students either at the front for constant supervision or at the back for less noise and activity.
• 🔄 **Fidget Tools**: Providing fidget tools like Rubik's Cubes, stress balls, and bumpy seat cushions helps students with ADHD manage their energy and focus.
• 🚫 **Limiting Distractions**: It's important to monitor how fidget tools are used to ensure they don't become more distracting than helpful.
• 📋 **Checklists for Organization**: Using checklists can help students with ADHD stay organized and remember to bring home assignments.
• ✏️ **Graphic Organizers**: Employing graphic organizers assists students in managing their thoughts and ideas when writing, reducing the challenge of ADHD-related distractions.
• 🗂️ **Homework Organizers**: A homework organizer helps establish a routine for students to record and remember their daily assignments across all subjects.
• 📝 **Breaking Down Directions**: Teachers chunk complex directions into smaller, manageable steps to prevent students from becoming overwhelmed.
• 👥 **Class Discussions**: Open discussions about making good choices with fidget tools help students understand when a tool might be detracting from their focus.
• 👂 **Listening Skills**: For students who struggle with following directions, having them repeat instructions back to the teacher can reinforce their understanding.
• 🏫 **Classroom Environment**: The overall classroom setup and the teacher's strategies significantly impact how students with ADHD can manage their symptoms and succeed academically.

Q & A

What is the average classroom size discussed in the script?

The script discusses an average classroom size of 20 to 24 kids.

Why is preferential seating used as a strategy in the classroom?

Preferential seating is used to help reduce distractions for children with attention issues by strategically placing them either in the front where the teacher can easily remind them to focus or in the back where there is less noise and activity.

How does the teacher manage fidgeting and hyperactivity in the classroom?

The teacher provides a box of fidget tools such as Rubik's Cubes, stress balls, and bumpy seat cushions, which allow students to channel their energy without distracting from the lesson.

What is the purpose of the fidget tools mentioned in the script?

The fidget tools are meant to help students with ADHD manage their energy and focus by providing a physical outlet for their fidgeting, which ideally helps them stay seated and attentive.

How does the teacher handle situations where fidget tools become more of a distraction than a help?

The teacher discusses the importance of making good choices with the class and if a fidget tool is found to be distracting, it is identified as not a good choice for that student.

What strategies are used to help students with ADHD stay organized?

The teacher uses checklists and homework organizers to help students keep track of assignments and maintain organization.

How does the teacher assist students with writing difficulties associated with ADHD?

The teacher uses graphic organizers to help students structure their thoughts and ideas, making the writing process more manageable.

What is the approach to following directions, especially complex ones, in the classroom?

The teacher writes directions on the board and breaks them down into manageable chunks, focusing on one part at a time to prevent students from becoming overwhelmed.

How does the teacher ensure that students understand and follow complex directions?

By chunking the directions and focusing on one part at a time, the teacher helps students to understand and follow each step without feeling overwhelmed by the entire task.

What is the role of routine in helping students stay organized according to the script?

The routine of using a homework organizer helps students develop a habit of staying organized by having a consistent place to record assignments for each subject.

How does the teacher monitor whether the fidget tools are effective for each student?

The teacher monitors the effectiveness of fidget tools by observing the student's behavior and listening to feedback, adjusting the tools as necessary to ensure they aid focus rather than distract.