Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impacts many aspects of children’s lives, including their performance at school. Although not a learning disability, ADHD can create unique challenges for children striving to learn.
Fortunately, many obstacles to learning can be overcome with the proper support from teachers and specialized education programs. This guide explores how ADHD affects learning and strategies for supporting students with neurodevelopmental disorders. The article also explains the teacher’s role in promoting an inclusive environment and how Northern Kentucky University’s online Master of Arts in Education: Learning & Behavior Disorders program can enhance your performance in this role.
Understanding ADHD in the Classroom
For the estimated seven million children aged three to 17 in the U.S. who have ADHD, several issues can interfere with learning. Common obstacles to learning include:
- Impulsivity: Children with ADHD often act on impulse, which can lead to disruptive behaviors in the classroom. They may also struggle to get along with peers because they tend to act without thinking through the consequences.
- Hyperactivity: Many children with ADHD have difficulty sitting still. They may fidget and struggle to complete long activities or disrupt the class through their movements.
- Inattention: Students with ADHD can become easily distracted. They may miss instructions or struggle with organization as a result.
There are multiple types of ADHD, and how severely the disorder impacts children’s academic performance varies significantly. Some students may exhibit all of the characteristics outlined above, while others may have only one or two, or even none at all. Consequently, educators should approach each child individually and take the time to identify their unique learning needs.
Effective Support Strategies for Students With ADHD
Teachers can improve students’ learning outcomes with ADHD by providing proper support. Some strategies that may help children with ADHD learn in your classroom include:
- Striving for consistency: Children with ADHD often benefit from structured routines that allow them to know what to expect. Following a set schedule as much as possible can simplify transition and reduce students’ anxiety.
- Chunking large assignments: Break long assignments into smaller steps to help children with ADHD stay on task. Completing each step can provide a sense of accomplishment, encouraging them to continue.
- Building movement into the day: Physical activity can help students with ADHD expend excess energy, so that they can then re-focus and pay closer attention to academic activities.
- Delivering instructions carefully: Use simple language when giving oral instructions. Repeat the instructions several times and have students repeat them back to you to confirm their understanding.
- Employing organizational tools: Develop a simple, customized organizational system for each student with ADHD. For example, you might use a divided accordion file folder to separate homework assignments for each class.
- Working as a team: Collaborate with school support staff and students’ families when developing supports. Getting input from multiple perspectives can help you find practical solutions to challenges.
Remember that no two children with ADHD will have identical needs. What works for one student with a disability may not be effective for another. Tailor your support to each child’s individual needs and observe the results. Continue with what works and adopt new strategies when required to improve the level of support.
The Role of Teachers in Creating Inclusive Learning Environments
Students with ADHD and other disabilities often benefit from inclusive learning environments, where they learn alongside peers rather than in separate special education classrooms. With an inclusive approach, children with ADHD receive accommodations and supports to provide an equitable learning experience and foster learning and growth. Inclusivity can also help students with disabilities enjoy greater social acceptance from peers.
Learning behavior disorder (LBD) teachers play an essential role in creating inclusive learning environments. By managing their classrooms with the needs of diverse learners in mind, they can help ensure that students with ADHD and their peers have access to engaging, high-quality instruction and enriching activities that deepen learning. In addition, teachers can encourage students’ strengths to support self-esteem and confidence, while also teaching self-advocacy skills that cultivate independence.
Advancing Skills Through Graduate Study in Learning and Behavior Disorders
Pursuing a graduate degree in special education can help you strengthen key skills for supporting students with ADHD and other disabilities in your classroom. Programs that emphasize leadership, such as NKU’s online M.A.Ed. – Teacher as Leader in Learning & Behavior Disorders, prepare students to drive transformational change within their schools. As a result, you can become better equipped to identify and take opportunities for change that lead to more inclusive learning environments.
In an M.A.Ed. program focused on learning and behavior disorders, you can also expect to learn strategies for developing effective individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with ADHD. Students with ADHD will receive special education services support under either the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or through Section 504 plans. The document These services help establish goals for the student and outline what services and accommodations they will receive to support progress toward those objectives. Knowledge and skills gained through graduate study can position you to collaborate with parents and administrators more effectively and to manage IEP progress to positively affect student outcomes.
Support Your Students and Your Professional Development
As a teacher, you can make a significant difference in students with ADHD by supporting their academic performance and growth. By promoting an inclusive environment, offering practical assistance and partnering with parents to draft detailed IEPs, you can help students with ADHD and other disorders learn and achieve.
NKU’s online M.A.Ed. in Learning & Behavior Disorders program can help you develop your leadership skills and become familiar with instructional methods that can benefit students with ADHD. The affordable program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and offers a flexible online format designed for working educators. Find out more about the program and apply today.
