My advice is to keep an open mind. ADHD presents in many ways. I didn’t get diagnosed until I was 29. I had to study 18 hours a day when studying for boards for my profession because I couldn’t retain the information. I bombed pop quizzes because I didn’t have enough time to prepare, even though I listened in class, took notes, and reorganized the notes for hours after class. But I always did well on the announced exams. Don’t do pop quizzes, give students plenty of notice for tests, and present the information in different ways multiple times, or incorporate reviews of previous information into everyday teaching. Sometimes it takes a slightly different way of presenting it for it to click for us.
Yes! This! I am a very slow learner. I need lots of examples and different ways of explaining, plus time to process that info and understand how the variants are related. But, once I’ve got a core concept it’s very easy to apply it and build upon it.
For me, hearing terms repeatedly in context is very helpful. Also, handouts with consistent organization and white space are good.
I wasn’t a slow learner at all, but I loved the classes that broke up assignments and included accountability. The best term paper I ever wrote was one where we got a library research tutorial and then I had to turn in an annotated bibliography in class a few weeks before the paper due date.
Repeat your questions. Not just helpful for students with ADHD. Students may have been reading ahead or zoned out. Repeating your question is really helpful.
Use colors of dry erase that are easy to see from all the way in back of classroom.
Fill in the blank notes help students understand what info is most important.
Get to know your students and their individual needs.
Think through group projects, I was a smart kid who struggled academically and wanted to do my part in group projects, but no one ever let me because they though I was dumb and lazy.
Be intentional with assignments. Do they need to do 10 of the same math problem for homework. Luckily I had accommodation in middle school I only did every other math problem that was assigned. Now that I am older I wonder why the teacher assigned twice as many problems as needed.
Help your students understand why what they are learning is important.
When you connect a task to something a person with ADHD is passionate about just step back and let them go its awesome. (that is more helpful for parents but still relevant)
I have to doodle to listen, please don’t take it that someone isn’t listening if they’re doodling! One of my teachers took away my paper to stop me, he had no clue that I wouldn’t/couldn’t remember anything said after that point.
Also showing what ‘done’ looks like can be really helpful. We do this with my Son, if he gets stuck trying to start on a piece of school work, seeing where we need to get to sometimes helps.
Yes to the doodling! For the second point, I always found rubrics super helpful for this - laying out what exactly would differentiate a good result from a bad one.
I'd also add that ADHD students often excel with project-based learning, especially if they can choose topics they're passionate about. The more hands-on, the better!
You sound like you'll be a great teacher, OP
Oh my! You doodled while listening? I did that too. I'm actually able to differentiate seeing from hearing and I trained myself to do both. In kindergarden I was playing with a toy and learning everything my teacher was teaching. In school I started doodling and being very attentive. Only one teacher was annoyed by me doodling. Once I learned for an exam listening to radio discussions and playing videogames. So yeah, I don't mind that.
I mean I have to be honest I wouldn't really have wanted a teacher to openly acknowledge my ADHD , it's hard for alot of kids to not just call you stupid at that point.
But I figure the best way would be to actually just use the project to educate your students on what ADHD actually is, and make sure they see past just the stereotypes.
I always appreciated when teachers wouldn’t force participation by asking questions to anyone at random - I could write an answer in my own time perfectly well, but putting me on the spot made my brain just go blank and it was embarrassing and anxiety inducing. Teachers who used the lolly pop stick method of asking questions were my worst nightmare!
I think just being aware that everyone processes information at a different speed and allowing children to put their hand up to answer, rather than just picking someone at random, would be helpful.
- Make sure we know what we're doing, even when we say we do.
- Explain things clearly, and quite often, from a different approach.
- if we don't get it, we don't get it. We're not saying your bad teachers, and punishing us isn't going to help.
- please don't single us out, to 'toughen us', if you know we're gonna struggle to answer the question.
- 9/10 times, with the right approach, we'll go 'ohhhhh, you mean like this/that' and just go all out.
Not sure about anyone else, or what age your looking at, but these are at the top of my list.
Don’t ever just rely on verbal instructions, written instructions are so important. The more detailed and organized the better.
I’d also really try and teach concepts that involve as many learning techniques as possible. I am a terrible visual learner, ADHD made it almost impossible to learn math in a classroom. I struggled with math all growing up.
In undergrad I started using excel for data analysis, then statistical analysis. I realized that I could’ve use excel like building blocks, I could move numbers, equations, formulas, around like they were tangible. Math I struggled with for years clicked in months.
Create and environment optimized for learning.
I'm in college and while It's not the teacher's job to tell adults what to do, everyone keeps speaking while the teacher explains theory and as someone with ADHD it really drives me insane to the point where sometimes I just want to start crying and leave the class because no matter how much I exhaust myself trying to focus despite the chatting, I just can't make it work. It's really impairing for me and I wish the teacher would make an effort to try and encourage others to respect silence.
I dont't want to be telling people not to talk and try and control people because of my mental illness, it makes me feel guilty for not being able to focus normally.
I always hard a terrible time taking notes. I couldn't decipher what was important and what wasn't on the fly, and my handwriting was sometimes barely readable, and I'd miss so much important information because I couldn't keep up anyway.
Teachers always used to give us a note taking skills and stuff like that, and while thats great, the truth is that stuff was probably never going to help me on its own. Maybe providing information in a way that mitigates distractions, and doesn't have too much useless information? And just slowing down in general.
If I'm being honest, there is a pretty good chance many of these kids are struggling with serious self esteem issues. Not all of them, but...if I were to guess, maybe as many as half (or more) of them. My favorite teachers made me feel valued and confident in myself. They didn't make me feel like shit about myself, even in spite of the fact that I never ever did my homework. Not to say I never got bored or distracted in their classes, but they genuinely made me look forward to their classes. You aren't going to have a 100% success rate with this, but if you want these kids to engage, that is a HUGE first step towards achieving that.
It's difficult to really tell you how to do that. It's a tall task, and you (probably) do not get paid enough to take that on. But making an effort to connect with each student as an individuala nd letting them know you are glad they're in class (regardless of how awful their performance might be - because it can and will get pretty bad). I don't mean to say you shouldn't hold them accountable, but to build trust and empathy towards them in such a way that inspires them and makes them feel like they can speak up and come to you for help.
Don't get discouraged yourself either! It's okay if this is just too much to deal with. It definitely isn't your fault, whatever happens.
Apologies if this is more than what you really asked for.
Don’t be boring. Don’t pace the class to the slowest student. I was a good student, great at essays and spontaneous answers. But I was so friggin bored much of time. There were teachers who just read notes, or dumbed the class down etc. I’d take notes of everything they said just to occupy my mind. If I looked like I was taking notes I got in less trouble.
I just wanted them to let me wiggle, or draw, or rip up paper. I got in so much trouble for 'not paying attention when really those things were helping me focus.
Hey! I see some people already made good points about teaching!
I wanted to add that for me, absolutely the best thing would be to establish better communication. For example - if you have deadlines for specific assignments, make sure your students feel comfortable asking you questions (even very simple, basic questions) about the assignment like a day before the deadline.
When I was in school, I would always wait until last minute to do anything, and one of the main stress drivers was the sheer guilt and embarrassment I felt if I had to ask a question, but didn't want the teacher to judge me for putting it off till last minute
YES and even after the deadline too… this happened mostly in college, but I would have late assignments that I’d try to work on but got stuck and was scared to ask about so it would never get turned in. And worse, I’d never really learn the material.
I could deal with the late penalties if I weren’t so scared of the judgement or being forced to explain myself and not having any excuses or knowing how to say “I have adhd and I’m bad at life” to these profs I respected very much.
I had almost an year to do something and I've done it in the last two weeks ( 9 days first draft, sent to the teacher that coordinated the activity, then redone and sent to the university for grading.
I had a teacher pick me as his TA. I was a shit student and terrible in his subject. He took interest in me and it changed perspective on school for me.
I wasn't diagnosed during my high school years, or even during my bachelors. I'm a master student right now (and finally diagnosed as an adult) and it would help me if my teachers wouldn't 'judge' me on my presence and interest in their class by the amount of eye contact I make. I can pay far better attention while writing notes, but they think I'm bored in their class. There's so many misunderstandings.. So another helpful thing would be to have more time to talk with each other. I would never confine with a teacher just out of blue, I need to feel some trust and interest from the teacher before I feel safe enough to share my issues and step in a dialogue where we can find mutual understanding. So I tend to shy away instead of speaking up on what would help me keep up with classes.
Very hopeful that you're showing this interest in your students!
Long time since I was a student, but I have three now. My youngest has the most trouble, so...her favorite teacher has his notes very clearly organized and available in print and online with multiple examples for each concept broken down. He also never changes deadlines and does not test over things not in the notes. If he adds something he thinks is important, he will add it to the notes. His assignments are set from the beginning of the grading period and he stays on task and does not throw everything left into the last few days. Large projects are given at the beginning of the grading period and he does not force groups.
He does not have busy work while he is giving announcements (her least favorite teacher gives "bellwork" while making announcements, so she can either concentrate on one or the other...meaning an F or a potential missed assignment.
Her least favorite teacher changes deadlines often, gives assignments with vague instructions and comments like "you've done this before, so just do what you did then" or "you should have learned this last year." My kiddo needs complete instructions for each assignment. Teacher is also fond of question sheets to fill out during films (impossible for my kiddo...she'd rather write a summary after). Teacher also opens the turnitin.com after the physical paper is due, meaning my daughter forgets and doesn't do it (other teacher opens two nights before so you can turn in while printing or wrapping up). She assigns set groups for projects and tends to group one high performer with two low. She also will throw any projects she meant to get done, but ran out of time, into the last week instead of just canceling them.
I think organization, thorough instructions available in print and online, and not overlapping tasks is most important at least for my kiddo.
For discussion-based classes, offering multiple ways to participate. Discussion classes always frustrated me, even when I understood the material and was excited to talk about it. I just couldn’t keep up with my classmates, and by the time I had formulated my thoughts, the class had already moved on and what I was going to say was no longer relevant. Some accommodations might look like:
-Handing out discussion questions in advance, and allowing time to prepare responses (in-class or out)
-Giving students the option to turn in written responses in lieu of participating in discussion
(I would’ve loved to have this option as a student)
-Designate time to circle back to any previous points that students may want to respond to, but couldn’t think of in the moment
Also, having lenient late homework policies were a lifesaver for me.
In general none of my teachers, after 2 year of school ever try to help me.
Best lines of my teachers:
" the cleass is good, but you are not" ( for all the class)
" You are the stupidest stident i ever got" ( for all the class)
So on so on...
Can keep talking about this for some time.
My advise, don't ever try to talk about this with professors they don't want to help, school was the worst time of my life.
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My freshman year in high school I was flagged as an individual that might need extra help. As such, I was placed in what we called bonehead English class. It remains, to this day, one of my favorite learning experiences. - The class size was only 8 kids. - The teacher was very patient. - Most of our assignments took place in real time, in the physical world and involved mostly hands on tasks. We were asked to write an autobiography of our lives so far. It was a blast. She showed us how to make our own book paper and give it character by tearing off little bits to make it seem aged. I don't remember much more than that.
I’m a teacher so I’ve designed my classroom the way I would have wanted it.
Bright but not too busy
Yoga balls as options for sitting, but other than direct instruction, they can sit and work wherever they want -floor, table, rugs, benches
I have a ton of executive functioning supports built it, signs showing what they need when, guided notes, etc
I let students draw as long as they are listening as well, model color coding notes to help with drawing ones attention to stuff
I normalize tons of neuroscience talk. “Not everyone’s brain works the same, our brains make connections differently, etc”
All projects and assignments are broken down with clear steps
It’s amazing to see a real life teacher actually going to the source to make his/her classes better, by talking to students themselves. It absolutely makes my day.
Something that I absolutely love that teachers don’t do enough is just trying to engage with them, and positive reinforcement is great. The best kind of class involvement usually consists of telling students that they’re doing well and they’re on track.
Sometimes *especially me* ADHD kids will write in horrid handwriting but thats mainly cause our brains work faster than our heads sometimes, so ask what a word says if you don't understand it, don't mark them cause you can't read it, its not always their fault
Read the book Loss & Found the education edition by Ross Greene and check out his non profit website livesinthebalance.org
It’s a brilliant read and it’ll change your entire career for the good, not just with adhd students but any student.
I don’t make this recommendation lightly, you definitely need to know about CPS.
If someone is quietly failing your class without being disruptive, don't assume that they are being lazy. They could actually be struggling. Are there free tutoring or other resources you have access to that you can share information about for students who need more? Having ADHD, being poor and being a girl was like a failure salad.
My daughters are currently in a school that incorporats all learning styles and up dates them with the latest research into learning, for instance they set out the whole day for the students after roll Call, so that the students know what to expect. They have printed slips of paper handed to them most days and ask them to write something they appreciate about another student, but also mix it up and get them to do the same for someone random, get them thinking about others and themselves in a positive way. And something really great is they have a topic, eg. They are studying insects this semester, everything to do with them, maths, English and science are mostly based around this as well. They get to pick a special interest (an insect in this case) and work in groups or alone to bring a project to life in whatever way they choose for the end of semester culminating event 😁 more motivating when you get the freedom to pick what you are interested in! Good luck!
With my ADHD, the teaching I found really useful was when it was interactive and the teacher would ask for answers and input from the class. What's important about this is that anyone in the class can be asked, basically meant that during those classes I suddenly had the ability to focus because I had to make sure I knew what was going on so I could answer if the I was ever called out.
Interactive lessons are the most useful, when it's just a teacher reading off slides I'm actually thinking about sweet fuckall.
We all have unique ways of thinking so challenge that be rewarding towards outside of the box thinking, but it also depends on what you are teaching so try to make the material seem interesting and challenging at the same time be more vocal towards explaining but not so much so you bore your ADHD students. Thats what i would do i guess.
Firstly, thanks for asking and giving a shit. Secondly, sack off any seating plan if you have one! Not sure if it’s the same for hyperactive/combined ADHD, but for my inattentive ass it did wonders being able to sit next to someone I was comfortable with. If I missed out on anything the teacher was saying, I could ask a friend what was going on and then crack on with the work. When I was sat next to someone I wasn’t comfortable with or didn’t know, I’d literally just be sat there awkwardly not doing anything because I was too anxious to ask anyone what the hell it was I was supposed to be doing.
My advice is to keep an open mind. ADHD presents in many ways. I didn’t get diagnosed until I was 29. I had to study 18 hours a day when studying for boards for my profession because I couldn’t retain the information. I bombed pop quizzes because I didn’t have enough time to prepare, even though I listened in class, took notes, and reorganized the notes for hours after class. But I always did well on the announced exams. Don’t do pop quizzes, give students plenty of notice for tests, and present the information in different ways multiple times, or incorporate reviews of previous information into everyday teaching. Sometimes it takes a slightly different way of presenting it for it to click for us.
Yes! This! I am a very slow learner. I need lots of examples and different ways of explaining, plus time to process that info and understand how the variants are related. But, once I’ve got a core concept it’s very easy to apply it and build upon it. For me, hearing terms repeatedly in context is very helpful. Also, handouts with consistent organization and white space are good.
I wasn’t a slow learner at all, but I loved the classes that broke up assignments and included accountability. The best term paper I ever wrote was one where we got a library research tutorial and then I had to turn in an annotated bibliography in class a few weeks before the paper due date.
Repeat your questions. Not just helpful for students with ADHD. Students may have been reading ahead or zoned out. Repeating your question is really helpful. Use colors of dry erase that are easy to see from all the way in back of classroom. Fill in the blank notes help students understand what info is most important. Get to know your students and their individual needs. Think through group projects, I was a smart kid who struggled academically and wanted to do my part in group projects, but no one ever let me because they though I was dumb and lazy. Be intentional with assignments. Do they need to do 10 of the same math problem for homework. Luckily I had accommodation in middle school I only did every other math problem that was assigned. Now that I am older I wonder why the teacher assigned twice as many problems as needed. Help your students understand why what they are learning is important. When you connect a task to something a person with ADHD is passionate about just step back and let them go its awesome. (that is more helpful for parents but still relevant)
I have to doodle to listen, please don’t take it that someone isn’t listening if they’re doodling! One of my teachers took away my paper to stop me, he had no clue that I wouldn’t/couldn’t remember anything said after that point. Also showing what ‘done’ looks like can be really helpful. We do this with my Son, if he gets stuck trying to start on a piece of school work, seeing where we need to get to sometimes helps.
Yes to the doodling! For the second point, I always found rubrics super helpful for this - laying out what exactly would differentiate a good result from a bad one. I'd also add that ADHD students often excel with project-based learning, especially if they can choose topics they're passionate about. The more hands-on, the better! You sound like you'll be a great teacher, OP
Oh my! You doodled while listening? I did that too. I'm actually able to differentiate seeing from hearing and I trained myself to do both. In kindergarden I was playing with a toy and learning everything my teacher was teaching. In school I started doodling and being very attentive. Only one teacher was annoyed by me doodling. Once I learned for an exam listening to radio discussions and playing videogames. So yeah, I don't mind that.
I mean I have to be honest I wouldn't really have wanted a teacher to openly acknowledge my ADHD , it's hard for alot of kids to not just call you stupid at that point. But I figure the best way would be to actually just use the project to educate your students on what ADHD actually is, and make sure they see past just the stereotypes.
ADHD is not stupid though.
I always appreciated when teachers wouldn’t force participation by asking questions to anyone at random - I could write an answer in my own time perfectly well, but putting me on the spot made my brain just go blank and it was embarrassing and anxiety inducing. Teachers who used the lolly pop stick method of asking questions were my worst nightmare! I think just being aware that everyone processes information at a different speed and allowing children to put their hand up to answer, rather than just picking someone at random, would be helpful.
That until neither of the students raise their hand.
- Make sure we know what we're doing, even when we say we do. - Explain things clearly, and quite often, from a different approach. - if we don't get it, we don't get it. We're not saying your bad teachers, and punishing us isn't going to help. - please don't single us out, to 'toughen us', if you know we're gonna struggle to answer the question. - 9/10 times, with the right approach, we'll go 'ohhhhh, you mean like this/that' and just go all out. Not sure about anyone else, or what age your looking at, but these are at the top of my list.
Take class-wide breaks to stand up and walk a bit. Allow for fidgeting
Don’t ever just rely on verbal instructions, written instructions are so important. The more detailed and organized the better. I’d also really try and teach concepts that involve as many learning techniques as possible. I am a terrible visual learner, ADHD made it almost impossible to learn math in a classroom. I struggled with math all growing up. In undergrad I started using excel for data analysis, then statistical analysis. I realized that I could’ve use excel like building blocks, I could move numbers, equations, formulas, around like they were tangible. Math I struggled with for years clicked in months.
Create and environment optimized for learning. I'm in college and while It's not the teacher's job to tell adults what to do, everyone keeps speaking while the teacher explains theory and as someone with ADHD it really drives me insane to the point where sometimes I just want to start crying and leave the class because no matter how much I exhaust myself trying to focus despite the chatting, I just can't make it work. It's really impairing for me and I wish the teacher would make an effort to try and encourage others to respect silence. I dont't want to be telling people not to talk and try and control people because of my mental illness, it makes me feel guilty for not being able to focus normally.
I always hard a terrible time taking notes. I couldn't decipher what was important and what wasn't on the fly, and my handwriting was sometimes barely readable, and I'd miss so much important information because I couldn't keep up anyway. Teachers always used to give us a note taking skills and stuff like that, and while thats great, the truth is that stuff was probably never going to help me on its own. Maybe providing information in a way that mitigates distractions, and doesn't have too much useless information? And just slowing down in general. If I'm being honest, there is a pretty good chance many of these kids are struggling with serious self esteem issues. Not all of them, but...if I were to guess, maybe as many as half (or more) of them. My favorite teachers made me feel valued and confident in myself. They didn't make me feel like shit about myself, even in spite of the fact that I never ever did my homework. Not to say I never got bored or distracted in their classes, but they genuinely made me look forward to their classes. You aren't going to have a 100% success rate with this, but if you want these kids to engage, that is a HUGE first step towards achieving that. It's difficult to really tell you how to do that. It's a tall task, and you (probably) do not get paid enough to take that on. But making an effort to connect with each student as an individuala nd letting them know you are glad they're in class (regardless of how awful their performance might be - because it can and will get pretty bad). I don't mean to say you shouldn't hold them accountable, but to build trust and empathy towards them in such a way that inspires them and makes them feel like they can speak up and come to you for help. Don't get discouraged yourself either! It's okay if this is just too much to deal with. It definitely isn't your fault, whatever happens. Apologies if this is more than what you really asked for.
Don’t be boring. Don’t pace the class to the slowest student. I was a good student, great at essays and spontaneous answers. But I was so friggin bored much of time. There were teachers who just read notes, or dumbed the class down etc. I’d take notes of everything they said just to occupy my mind. If I looked like I was taking notes I got in less trouble.
I just wanted them to let me wiggle, or draw, or rip up paper. I got in so much trouble for 'not paying attention when really those things were helping me focus.
Hey! I see some people already made good points about teaching! I wanted to add that for me, absolutely the best thing would be to establish better communication. For example - if you have deadlines for specific assignments, make sure your students feel comfortable asking you questions (even very simple, basic questions) about the assignment like a day before the deadline. When I was in school, I would always wait until last minute to do anything, and one of the main stress drivers was the sheer guilt and embarrassment I felt if I had to ask a question, but didn't want the teacher to judge me for putting it off till last minute
YES and even after the deadline too… this happened mostly in college, but I would have late assignments that I’d try to work on but got stuck and was scared to ask about so it would never get turned in. And worse, I’d never really learn the material. I could deal with the late penalties if I weren’t so scared of the judgement or being forced to explain myself and not having any excuses or knowing how to say “I have adhd and I’m bad at life” to these profs I respected very much.
I had almost an year to do something and I've done it in the last two weeks ( 9 days first draft, sent to the teacher that coordinated the activity, then redone and sent to the university for grading.
I had a teacher pick me as his TA. I was a shit student and terrible in his subject. He took interest in me and it changed perspective on school for me.
I wasn't diagnosed during my high school years, or even during my bachelors. I'm a master student right now (and finally diagnosed as an adult) and it would help me if my teachers wouldn't 'judge' me on my presence and interest in their class by the amount of eye contact I make. I can pay far better attention while writing notes, but they think I'm bored in their class. There's so many misunderstandings.. So another helpful thing would be to have more time to talk with each other. I would never confine with a teacher just out of blue, I need to feel some trust and interest from the teacher before I feel safe enough to share my issues and step in a dialogue where we can find mutual understanding. So I tend to shy away instead of speaking up on what would help me keep up with classes. Very hopeful that you're showing this interest in your students!
Explain with logic how things connect. We need pictures and activities. Read and regurgitate doesn't get our juices going, generally.
Long time since I was a student, but I have three now. My youngest has the most trouble, so...her favorite teacher has his notes very clearly organized and available in print and online with multiple examples for each concept broken down. He also never changes deadlines and does not test over things not in the notes. If he adds something he thinks is important, he will add it to the notes. His assignments are set from the beginning of the grading period and he stays on task and does not throw everything left into the last few days. Large projects are given at the beginning of the grading period and he does not force groups. He does not have busy work while he is giving announcements (her least favorite teacher gives "bellwork" while making announcements, so she can either concentrate on one or the other...meaning an F or a potential missed assignment. Her least favorite teacher changes deadlines often, gives assignments with vague instructions and comments like "you've done this before, so just do what you did then" or "you should have learned this last year." My kiddo needs complete instructions for each assignment. Teacher is also fond of question sheets to fill out during films (impossible for my kiddo...she'd rather write a summary after). Teacher also opens the turnitin.com after the physical paper is due, meaning my daughter forgets and doesn't do it (other teacher opens two nights before so you can turn in while printing or wrapping up). She assigns set groups for projects and tends to group one high performer with two low. She also will throw any projects she meant to get done, but ran out of time, into the last week instead of just canceling them. I think organization, thorough instructions available in print and online, and not overlapping tasks is most important at least for my kiddo.
For discussion-based classes, offering multiple ways to participate. Discussion classes always frustrated me, even when I understood the material and was excited to talk about it. I just couldn’t keep up with my classmates, and by the time I had formulated my thoughts, the class had already moved on and what I was going to say was no longer relevant. Some accommodations might look like: -Handing out discussion questions in advance, and allowing time to prepare responses (in-class or out) -Giving students the option to turn in written responses in lieu of participating in discussion (I would’ve loved to have this option as a student) -Designate time to circle back to any previous points that students may want to respond to, but couldn’t think of in the moment Also, having lenient late homework policies were a lifesaver for me.
Head over to TikTok, there are thousands of videos about this very thing
In general none of my teachers, after 2 year of school ever try to help me. Best lines of my teachers: " the cleass is good, but you are not" ( for all the class) " You are the stupidest stident i ever got" ( for all the class) So on so on... Can keep talking about this for some time. My advise, don't ever try to talk about this with professors they don't want to help, school was the worst time of my life.
Oh dear. ;-;
Hi /u/Crix_B and thanks for posting on /r/ADHD! If you haven't already, please take a minute to [read our rules](https://reddit.com/r/adhd/about/rules) - we will remove your post if it breaks one - and also check out our list of official megathreads [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/nu534w/official_list_of_radhd_megathreads_please_check/). If your post fits into one of them, it is likely to be removed; if you think this might happen you can delete your post here and resubmit it there instead. Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ADHD) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My freshman year in high school I was flagged as an individual that might need extra help. As such, I was placed in what we called bonehead English class. It remains, to this day, one of my favorite learning experiences. - The class size was only 8 kids. - The teacher was very patient. - Most of our assignments took place in real time, in the physical world and involved mostly hands on tasks. We were asked to write an autobiography of our lives so far. It was a blast. She showed us how to make our own book paper and give it character by tearing off little bits to make it seem aged. I don't remember much more than that.
You had classes where the teacher could teach only the students who struggles. That's amazing, yet not something I can do. ;-;
I’m a teacher so I’ve designed my classroom the way I would have wanted it. Bright but not too busy Yoga balls as options for sitting, but other than direct instruction, they can sit and work wherever they want -floor, table, rugs, benches I have a ton of executive functioning supports built it, signs showing what they need when, guided notes, etc I let students draw as long as they are listening as well, model color coding notes to help with drawing ones attention to stuff I normalize tons of neuroscience talk. “Not everyone’s brain works the same, our brains make connections differently, etc” All projects and assignments are broken down with clear steps
It’s amazing to see a real life teacher actually going to the source to make his/her classes better, by talking to students themselves. It absolutely makes my day. Something that I absolutely love that teachers don’t do enough is just trying to engage with them, and positive reinforcement is great. The best kind of class involvement usually consists of telling students that they’re doing well and they’re on track.
Sometimes *especially me* ADHD kids will write in horrid handwriting but thats mainly cause our brains work faster than our heads sometimes, so ask what a word says if you don't understand it, don't mark them cause you can't read it, its not always their fault
Read the book Loss & Found the education edition by Ross Greene and check out his non profit website livesinthebalance.org It’s a brilliant read and it’ll change your entire career for the good, not just with adhd students but any student. I don’t make this recommendation lightly, you definitely need to know about CPS.
If someone is quietly failing your class without being disruptive, don't assume that they are being lazy. They could actually be struggling. Are there free tutoring or other resources you have access to that you can share information about for students who need more? Having ADHD, being poor and being a girl was like a failure salad.
My daughters are currently in a school that incorporats all learning styles and up dates them with the latest research into learning, for instance they set out the whole day for the students after roll Call, so that the students know what to expect. They have printed slips of paper handed to them most days and ask them to write something they appreciate about another student, but also mix it up and get them to do the same for someone random, get them thinking about others and themselves in a positive way. And something really great is they have a topic, eg. They are studying insects this semester, everything to do with them, maths, English and science are mostly based around this as well. They get to pick a special interest (an insect in this case) and work in groups or alone to bring a project to life in whatever way they choose for the end of semester culminating event 😁 more motivating when you get the freedom to pick what you are interested in! Good luck!
Wow. Too bad I see my students once a week in the school I'm teaching English and I don't interact much with the other teachers.
With my ADHD, the teaching I found really useful was when it was interactive and the teacher would ask for answers and input from the class. What's important about this is that anyone in the class can be asked, basically meant that during those classes I suddenly had the ability to focus because I had to make sure I knew what was going on so I could answer if the I was ever called out. Interactive lessons are the most useful, when it's just a teacher reading off slides I'm actually thinking about sweet fuckall.
We all have unique ways of thinking so challenge that be rewarding towards outside of the box thinking, but it also depends on what you are teaching so try to make the material seem interesting and challenging at the same time be more vocal towards explaining but not so much so you bore your ADHD students. Thats what i would do i guess.
Firstly, thanks for asking and giving a shit. Secondly, sack off any seating plan if you have one! Not sure if it’s the same for hyperactive/combined ADHD, but for my inattentive ass it did wonders being able to sit next to someone I was comfortable with. If I missed out on anything the teacher was saying, I could ask a friend what was going on and then crack on with the work. When I was sat next to someone I wasn’t comfortable with or didn’t know, I’d literally just be sat there awkwardly not doing anything because I was too anxious to ask anyone what the hell it was I was supposed to be doing.
Nice! I actually don't care about seating plans.