Strategies to Support Students with ADHD | Caroline Odom | TEDxYouth@MBJH

Summary

A student with ADHD shares their struggles in the traditional classroom, highlighting challenges like staying focused, managing time, and retaining information during tests. They reflect on how typical teaching methods often fail to accommodate ADHD, making it difficult to succeed. The student emphasizes the importance of personalized support, such as organizational tools, extended test time, and movement-based learning strategies. By sharing their experience, the student advocates for more understanding and tailored approaches to help students with ADHD thrive, not just survive, in school.

Takeaways

• 😀 ADHD affects the ability to thrive in traditional classroom environments, especially with tasks like sitting still, focusing for long periods, and completing tests within a set time.
• 😀 Students with ADHD often struggle with memory, retaining information, and applying what they've learned during tests, even after long hours of studying.
• 😀 Teachers need to understand ADHD and be equipped to recognize its symptoms in students, offering tailored strategies for success in the classroom.
• 😀 Organizational tools such as color-coded folders, binders, and specific spots for school supplies can help students with ADHD stay organized.
• 😀 ADHD affects working memory, leading to difficulties with tasks like following multi-step instructions and remembering what has just been read.
• 😀 Teachers can support students with ADHD by providing written instructions, using highlighting techniques, and offering to-do lists to aid in memory retention.
• 😀 Movement during class, like using wobble stools or yoga balls, helps students with ADHD focus and engage more effectively in lessons.
• 😀 Fidget toys and interactive learning methods, such as project-based learning, can also aid ADHD students in maintaining focus and improving academic performance.
• 😀 A personalized 504 plan provides accommodations such as extra time on tests, quiet rooms for focused work, and other tailored supports for ADHD students.
• 😀 Providing accommodations for ADHD students levels the playing field, ensuring they are not at a disadvantage compared to their peers but are instead given fair opportunities to succeed.
• 😀 Understanding ADHD's struggles and implementing strategies like movement, organization, and individualized support can help students with ADHD not just survive, but thrive in their education.

Q & A

What challenges does the speaker face in the typical classroom environment?

The speaker faces challenges such as sitting still for long periods, focusing during lengthy instructions, taking notes quietly, and meeting time limits for tests. These challenges are particularly difficult due to ADHD, which affects their ability to process information in traditional classroom settings.

How does ADHD impact the speaker's ability to study for tests?

ADHD affects the speaker's ability to retain information. Despite spending hours studying, the speaker finds it difficult to remember what they studied during the actual test, especially when faced with complex questions or time constraints.

What did the speaker's teacher say when they expressed frustration about their performance?

The speaker's teacher told them that they didn't think the speaker studied hard enough, which left the speaker feeling crushed and misunderstood. However, this response was not reflective of the speaker's effort, as ADHD impacts how information is processed.

What role does ADHD play in the way the speaker processes information?

ADHD causes the speaker's brain to process and retain information differently than their neurotypical classmates. This leads to difficulties in focus, memory, and following instructions, particularly in a traditional classroom setting designed for neurotypical learners.

What is the significance of Sandra Reif's research on ADHD in education?

Sandra Reif's research highlights that students with ADHD experience a developmental delay in executive functions, such as attention and organization. This delay makes it difficult for ADHD students to succeed in traditional educational settings that expect neurotypical behaviors and skills.

What types of strategies can help ADHD students with organization?

Strategies like using color-coded folders, providing designated spots for materials, and maintaining an organized system at home are important for ADHD students. Regularly cleaning out folders and binders also helps reduce overwhelm and disorganization.

How does ADHD impact working memory, and what can be done to address it?

ADHD weakens working memory, making it difficult for students to keep track of tasks or follow multi-step instructions. To address this, teachers can provide written instructions, use color-coded highlights for key information, and encourage the use of to-do lists and mnemonic devices.

Why is movement important for students with ADHD during lessons?

Movement helps students with ADHD focus and reduces distractions caused by restlessness. Flexible seating options like wobble stools or yoga balls, as well as activity stations or group work, allow ADHD students to move while learning, improving concentration and engagement.

What is project-based learning, and why does it benefit ADHD students?

Project-based learning involves hands-on activities that allow students to interact with the material in a practical way. ADHD students benefit from this learning style because it engages them through direct experience, which helps them retain information better than through passive learning.

How can a 504 plan support ADHD students in the classroom?

A 504 plan provides personalized accommodations, such as extra time on tests, quiet testing environments, and preferential seating. These accommodations help ADHD students manage their symptoms and perform better in school by leveling the playing field without giving them an unfair advantage.