As The Washington Post recently reported, the Adderall shortage is causing disruptive and frustrating ripples in the academic and social lives of students with ADHD.

New limits on controlled drug supplies, paired with increased demand for that supply and lingering supply chain disruptions, have touched millions of patients prescribed ADHD stimulant medication. The medication shortage, now entering its eighth month, has had a jarring effect on families, especially the parents who are expected to manage their kids’ modified treatment plans and adapt to the pain points of tracking down and trying out new medication options.

Recently, ADDitude asked parents and teachers: Have you noticed the impact of the ongoing Adderall shortage on any of your students’ school and homework performance? Their classroom behavior?

Their answers point to a domino effect wherein the Adderall shortage has caused constrictions in other medications’ supplies. The cost of alternative, name-brand drugs can run significantly higher than Adderall, causing a financial burden that not every family can sustain.

Inadequate medication coverage is causing some children to experience behavioral problems in the classroom. Some students are not consequently showing up for school, or they’re being kept home, according to caregivers, roughly half of whom also have ADHD. Adults who relied on Adderall, including teachers, say they are struggling to attend to their own responsibilities — many of which directly impact their kids. That includes getting to school on time, reviewing homework, and sticking to a consistent routine.

[Download: Free Parenting Guide for Caregivers with ADHD]

The Adderall shortage may be temporary, but the repercussions could have a lasting emotional, social, and academic impact on developing kids. Hear what caregivers had to say about the Adderall shortage, below, and contribute your experience in the Comments section, above.

Adderall Shortage: Impact on Students with ADHD

“Some children who had used Adderall in the past have been changed to a different medication. The interruptions, resets, and resumption of new medications is noticeable in the classroom. Management tools and strategies are very helpful at these times.” — Jo Ann, Missouri

“The Adderall shortage is creating huge anxiety in my daughter, which leads to migraines. She does not function as well on other medications.” — Lisa, New York

“We couldn’t get the medications we needed, and had to get Vyvanse. It’s working, but the first fill was $400 with insurance. Not everyone can bear that, which may stop people from taking their medications at all. Neither of our two kids can do homework well without ADHD medications.” — An ADDitude reader

[Read: Could You Be Saving Money On Your ADHD Medication? Find Out Here]

“I am a teacher who has ADHD. For myself, luckily, I haven’t experienced a shortage for the slow-release Adderall, yet. For my students, absolutely. I noticed a huge increase in the number of students who fail to turn in assignments on time or fail to come to school.” — Noelle, New York

“We were briefly affected by the Concerta shortage prior to Adderall and, yes, it was difficult. My son relies on his daily medication to function. If I cannot give it to him, I will keep him home from school because I cannot send him into battle without the proper weapons to be successful. During those few months, I had to be proactive in contacting different pharmacies within short periods of time. I was also prepared to pay for the name brand out of pocket if we could not access the generic, as insurance would not cover the name brand.” — Amanda, North Carolina

“I have not noticed this, but the high cost of Vyvanse has definitely affected some of the lower-income high school students that I teach. Many lower-income families simply cannot afford it and are forced to use a drug that is less effective.” — Donna, Texas

“As a person, I need my Adderall to function. As a mom, I need my Adderall to support my kids. The shortage has left me unable to drive for field trips, get my kids to school on time, or even get out of bed at times.” — Lacey, California

“I am not always made aware if/when my students are on medications and/or when they stop, start, or change. However, I have observed changes in certain students’ behaviors (e.g. increased inattention, increased physical impulsivity).” — Theresa, Georgia

“As a teacher, it is a difficult (and blurry) line when it comes to medications and students. I have to assume a lot of students are medicated, but because their parents have not shared this with the school, I may not know for certain. And even if the information has been shared with the school, that doesn’t mean I am privy to that information as a classroom teacher. So, at this moment, I really don’t know if there are students who are being impacted by the Adderall shortage. What I know is that personally I am, and it makes my days very difficult.” — Brianna, Iowa

“My 14-year-old son started a generic Concerta this year for the first time. A few weeks ago, I couldn’t find a pharmacy to fill the generic. Eventually, I figured out that my insurer’s online pharmacy could fill a brand name Concerta prescription. In the meantime, about three weeks went by when my son struggled more with homework and tests. I am told the Concerta shortage is a result of Adderall patients seeking alternatives.” — An ADDitude reader

“Our oldest son with ADHD is already out of college and working. I know the shortage has affected his ability to feel like he’s performing well at his new job. He’s developed other strategies that he’s implementing (through years of CBT), but I have noticed that things seem to be more of a struggle than they were a year ago for him.” — Jenny, South Carolina

“I am a preschool teacher; my students are largely unmedicated. However, the shortage has affected my co-workers and some of the parents of my students in a noticeable manner. One parent-teacher conference devolved into hysterical laughter because everyone forgot all the important paperwork. I’m lucky I found a non-stimulant option for myself.” — Holly, Washington

“I am no longer a teacher, but I can say that for me, personally, I am having a hard time completing any tasks, and I am surprised I am even completing this task right now. I suppose it’s because I have other, what I might consider more important things to do, and answering this question is a distraction.” — Marisa, Georgia

“I was worried for my son, but his psychiatrist worked out other medication options with him.” — Cathy, California

Adderall Shortage: Next Steps

• Download: ADHD Medication Tracking Log
• Read: What Do You Mean You’re All Out?
• Read: A Patient’s Guide to Overcoming ADHD Medication Disruptions

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Hi Procrastinating Mom,

As an ADHD student coach for teens and college students, I have worked with kids labeled “procrastinators” or called lazy, weak, and even stupid (I hate all those words!) for as long as they can remember. I routinely challenge those students’ parents — and the students themselves — to look at “procrastination” through a different lens.

Here’s the definition I use when coaching my student clients and their parents:

Procrastination is the act of putting something off or not doing something despite knowing that a negative consequence is likely to happen.

When we describe procrastination, we often leave off the second part of my definition — knowing a negative consequence is likely to happen.

Delaying something (particularly from someone else’s point of view) doesn’t necessarily make your son a procrastinator. Think about it: We all put off things occasionally; we say we’ll do it later; we don’t always finish what we start. When that happens, there’s often no horrible, earth-shattering, life-is-over consequence. This is important for students with ADHD to hear.

[Free Download: How to Focus (When Your Brain Says ‘No!’)]

Why Procrastination Works for ADHD Brains

Waiting until the last minute works for some students with ADHD and executive functioning challenges. A looming deadline activates and jumpstarts their engines, making them uber-focused on completing their work with their creative juices flowing freely.

Procrastination may be a hard pill to swallow for parents who get things done two weeks in advance (I’m like this.), but that doesn’t mean it’s ineffective or bad. When my son was younger, I had to remember that he worked best as a “last minute kind of guy,” and getting him to do things way in advance stunted his creativity and productivity. It made the work harder for him and the tension in our house harder for me. (I’m not proud.)

I constantly hear from my students that they feel powerless and want control over their time and tasks. In other words, they want agency as to when and how they accomplish their work. Remember, getting motivated to do what someone else determines is important or timely is truly difficult for all of us — even more so if that structure clearly doesn’t work for you.

A Different View of Procrastination

Let me share one story to illustrate my point.

Many years ago, I was parent coaching a mom of a 16-year-old, who shared with me a conversation she had with her son that changed her mindset and how she viewed her son’s “perceived procrastination.”

[Self-Test: Does My Child Have ADHD?]

It was Thursday afternoon, and he had a short paper due by Monday at 11:59 p.m. He didn’t feel the urgency to work on it during the weekday, although he had free afternoons. He was planning to write it on Sunday morning. It was his only assignment that weekend, and he liked knowing his deadline loomed close. The paper didn’t require research, just reflection, and he was confident that this plan worked best for him. His mom voiced her frustration repeatedly as he tried to explain his thought process. After a bit of back and forth, her son quietly said, “You can yell at me all you want at midnight on Monday if my paper isn’t done. But not a minute before.”

Quite powerful, no?

Here’s my advice: Allow your son to trust his instincts. Give him the choice and control to make his own decisions and let him lead the way. You’ll know — and he’ll know — if it’s the right path.

Good luck!

Procrastination: Next Steps

• Read: Why Procrastination Is OK
• Read: Procrastination Guide for Parents
• Download: 5 Powerful Brain Hacks for Focus & Productivity
• Watch: This Video Explains How to Combat Procrastination

ADHD Family Coach Leslie Josel, of Order Out of Chaos, will answer questions from ADDitude readers about everything from paper clutter to disaster-zone bedrooms and from mastering to-do lists to arriving on time every time.

Submit your questions to the ADHD Family Coach here!

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Tell any reluctant reader that it’s time to tackle summer reading and you’ll endure groans, moans, and major eye rolls. Though it’s sold as “fun and stimulating,” summer reading is anything but for many readers with ADHD and learning differences. For these kids, who dread cracking open a hardcover, audiobooks may be the secret to unlocking summer growth.

Audiobooks can build and bolster reading skills for a wide range of kids, a fact supported by research. A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience mapped the brains of participants while they listened to content vs. read it in print, and it found the brain responded the same way to the content, regardless of its format.

For kids with dyslexia who struggle to decode books with grade-level content, audiobooks offer the ability to access more sophisticated (and often more engaging) writing, which strengthens reading abilities and nurtures an interest in books. For some kids with ADHD who find sitting still and attending to the page tedious, an audiobook can provide just the right kind of stimulation and motivation.

Not all audiobooks are created equal, though. So, we’ve amassed a list of 10 amazing middle grade audiobooks that combine attention-grabbing voice talent with attention-keeping story lines and characters. While the books span genres — from fantasy to historical fiction and everything in between — what they all have in common is engaging writing and narration that will pull reluctant readers right in and keep them hooked.

Hi PlanningMom:

Studying for exams is a juggling act, especially when it needs to happen alongside a student’s daily assignments and activities. It’s easy for students to drop a ball. This is why planning is essential for productivity and time management. I teach my student-coaching clients how to study by creating a plan using the following seven steps.

Building an ADHD Study Plan: 7 Steps

Step #1: Create a Calendar

I always start my study planning sessions using 8 1/2 X 11 unlined paper or my preprinted Study Planning Guide, which you can download for free on my website. Using paper allows you to easily see the whole picture immediately.

Working backward from the exam day, I have students create a two-week calendar if the exam is scheduled for the beginning of the second week. If the exam is toward the end of the week and they’re only planning for one exam, a one-week calendar beginning on the weekend may be all they need.

Next, I have students add the exam date and mark off any days or times they cannot study — Saturday afternoon, Tuesday after school, etc. This allows them to visualize available blocks of time and anything that might get in their way of studying. Finally, I tell students to enter the days and times of study groups or review sessions on the calendar.

[Free Download: Learning Tools that Improve Productivity]

Step #2: Define What Topics Will Be Covered

I caution students to be careful with this next step. Referencing an exam as “Study for ancient history test” or “Study for Mesopotamia exam” is too vague and can cause overwhelm or task avoidance.

Instead, students should break studying into manageable parts and hone in on specific topics. I have students answer this question: What topics will be covered on the exam?

The answer may look like this:

• The seven gods
• System of government
• Religious system
• Inventions
• Cultural influences on other empires

See the difference?

Students can then assign each specific topic to a study block.

Bonus tip: Students unsure about what will be covered on an exam should head back to the syllabus, textbook chapters, or old homework for clarification and confirmation.

Step #3: Take Stock of Study Tools

Students often miss this step. Study tools, especially non-boring ones, are essential to a successful study plan. (Read more about study tools and how to incorporate different modalities or experiences into the study practice in the ADDitude article “Q: Why Does My Son Meltdown When It’s Time to Study?”

[Free Download: What Are Your Teen’s Weakest Executive Functions?]

Students can take stock of their study tools by asking three questions:

1. What tools will I use?
2. What tools do I already have?
3. What tools do I need to create?

The answers may include:

1. What tools will I use? (Flashcards, YouTube videos, attending study groups, review sessions, etc.)
2. What tools do I already have? (Old homework, teacher’s study guide, etc.)
3. What do I need to create? (Flashcards, outline, etc.)

Step #4: Determine the Time Needed to Study

This step takes practice to perfect because there are many factors for students to consider, such as:

• Do I feel confident in the material?
• Do I need to create many new study tools?
• Is this exam cumulative? Will it cover material from the beginning of the year?
• Did I finish all the reading required for the exam?

Step #5: Assign Subject Blocks to Specific Days

There are a few rules of thumb to follow when assigning blocks of time to a study schedule:

1. Start studying at least three to four days before an exam. Doing so gives students extra padding if the unexpected rears its ugly head. What happens if there’s no time to study on Tuesday, but Monday is wide open? This also allows students the flexibility to make necessary adjustments. Study time can be doubled on Monday if Tuesday is jam-packed, or students can begin studying on Sunday, for example.
2. Only schedule study blocks for 45 minutes to one hour. Students’ brains need a much-needed break after focusing for that length of time.

Bonus tip: A study group or teacher-led review session counts as a study block.

Step #6: Assign Specific Tasks to Each Block

The calendar might look something like this if the test is on Friday.

• Monday: Create flashcards.
• Tuesday: Review old homework and quizzes. Answer textbook questions. Redo old homework.
• Wednesday: Watch YouTube videos. Review study guide. Attend the 4 p.m. study group.
• Thursday: Take the practice exam. Review all material.

Bonus tip: On the first day of a study plan, set up and create any needed study tools. My student-coaching clients find that separating the setup from the actual studying prevents procrastination and eliminates the difficulty of “getting started.”

Step #7: Transfer the Study Plan to Planners or Electronic Calendar

This is a crucial last step! Students must have easy access to their study plans to see when, where, and how they will study. Make sure to add study plans to paper planners, phone calendars, tablets, etc.

Good luck!

How to Study: Next Steps

• Learn: How to Study Effectively with ADHD – Tips for Students
• Read: Smart Study Techniques for Any Type of Test
• Download: Smart Homework Strategies for Caregivers & Teachers
• eBook: The Parent’s Guide to Raising a Teen with ADHD

ADHD Family Coach Leslie Josel, of Order Out of Chaos, will answer questions from ADDitude readers about everything from paper clutter to disaster-zone bedrooms and from mastering to-do lists to arriving on time every time.

Submit your questions to the ADHD Family Coach here!

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

In ADHD grandfamilies, grandparents are raising or helping to raise their grandchildren for a variety of reasons — while simultaneously learning how to parent and support a neurodivergent child, often for the first time. So much has changed in our understanding of ADHD and its comorbidities, and grandparents are working hard to catch up and help out.

If your grandchild has ADHD, you likely struggle with kickstarting the morning routine, tackling and turning in homework, doing chores, and even sitting at the dinner table. Navigating your role as a grandparent—whether you’re raising your grandchild or just contributing to childcare—requires patience and energy when your grandchild presents with inattentive, hyperactive and/or impulsive behavior.

In this webinar, grandparents will learn:

• About the three presentations of ADHD and how each can affect a child’s life at home, at school, and in peer relationships
• About evidence-based behavior management strategies to improve interactions with your grandchild
• How to address everyday struggles, such as getting ready in the morning, starting and completing homework, following directions, and balancing screen time
• How to avoid common pitfalls, such as yelling and using escalating threats

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

More on ADHD Grandfamilies

• Download: 3 Rules for Organizing Your Child (or Grandchild)
• Read: “Let Me Tell You How ADHD Runs in My Family”
• Read: A Strong Foundation

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on April 26, 2023, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Caroline Mendel, Psy.D., is the Senior Director of Clinical Services for School and Community Programs and a psychologist in the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of youth with ADHD, disruptive behavior, and other co-occurring conditions. She is skilled in behavioral parent training approaches and is a certified parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) therapist. She also has experience providing evidence-based interventions including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

Follow ADDitude’s full ADHD Experts Podcast in your podcasts app:
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Amazon Music | RadioPublic | Pocket Casts | iHeartRADIO | Stitcher

Dear HelpMyDaughter:

I spend my days coaching college students (most of whom feel overwhelmed and disorganized) and I’m always looking for ways to make school — especially organization, studying, and note-taking — more manageable for them.

I’m not a huge fan of most apps. I find them (as do many of my students) distracting, clumsy to use, or time-consuming. So, if I recommend one, know it’s been thoroughly vetted and is intuitive and user-friendly. And I do recommend Evernote. It’s one of the best note-taking apps for organizing schoolwork and, in all my years of coaching, it’s the only tool my students universally love.

How Evernote Helps ADHD Brains

Learn how to use five, key features of the cloud-based app.

[Free Download: Learning Tools that Improve Productivity, Reading, and Writing Skills]

1. How to Organize Class Materials.

Using Evernote to organize notes, slides, and other course materials is like hitting the motherload! Evernote lets students create an electronic “notebook” for each class, where they can save scanned notes and documents for that class. It’s like having electronic binders without all the excess weight. Each semester’s notebooks create a stack for easy reference. This makes everything super easy to find, which means it’s super easy to use.

2. How to Integrate Experiential Experiences.

I advise my students to use different modalities to learn new information. I want students to pick study tools that allow them to see it, say it, hear it, and do it. Students can add website links, or download videos, pictures, audio snippets, and music to a notebook in Evernote. This provides them with a variety of study tools at their fingertips.

3. How to Customize Study Strategies.

Students like to have choices and control when it comes to homework and studying in college. With Evernote, they can take notes in many different formats, such as text, photos, audio, videos, and more. Evernote also allows students to customize titles, add emojis, and change colors.

4. How to Find the Exact Right Resource.

Everything in Evernote is searchable, including the contents of notes, notebooks, tags, and attachments. Evernote’s search lets students get very granular by using keywords and tags, helping them find exactly what they need when they need it.

5. How to Collaborate.

Most of my students have group projects where they must share materials and their works in progress. Students can share documents and PDFs in Evernote, without losing hard copies or forgetting important documents.

My students say that the ability to sync notes across all their devices no matter where they are on campus is another key feature of Evernote that helps them manage their homework and studying. So, if a student starts working on a history paper on her laptop in the library and later switches to a desktop computer in her dorm room, she doesn’t lose a thing. It truly takes “remembering” out of the equation.

Plus, allowing students to review notes on their smartphones before a major exam as they walk to class is a major win!

Bonus Feature: How to Prime Your Brain for Learning

.
I saved the best for last: My favorite Evernote feature is the ability to download professors’ slide decks as notes. This feature is a major game-changer. You wouldn’t take a run or play a soccer game without warming up your body. Similarly, students need to warm up their brains, so they’re ready to receive the information presented. The best way to do this is to read over and familiarize themselves with the slides for an upcoming lecture before class. By doing so, they’re not going in stone cold.

[Free Download: What Are Your Teen’s Weakest Executive Functions?]

Having the slides downloaded and ready to review, students can preview them before class, annotate, take notes, jot down questions, and add images — right on the slide. Everything is connected in one place.

Evernote even also allows you to set reminders for yourself. And who doesn’t need that help? Now if the app could only do my students’ laundry and get them to call home occasionally, it would be pretty much perfect.

Good luck!

Evernote
(evernote.com; iOS, Android; free for the basic version, $7.99/month for personal, or $9.99/month for professional)

Evernote Note-Taking App: Next Steps

• Read: College Life: 3 Tools to Help Students with ADHD
• Read: College? There’s an App for That
• Download: Teacher-Approved Apps & Tools for School
• Watch: Help For College Students with ADHD

ADHD Family Coach Leslie Josel, of Order Out of Chaos, will answer questions from ADDitude readers about everything from paper clutter to disaster-zone bedrooms and from mastering to-do lists to arriving on time every time.

Submit your questions to the ADHD Family Coach here!

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Ninth grade is a big leap for kids with ADHD, whose emotional maturity and executive functioning may lag a few years behind that of their neurotypical peers. Your teen will be navigating a new school (and the stress of finding classrooms), new teachers, new peers, and more advanced classwork while undergoing hormonal changes and new social dynamics. These pressures can exacerbate ADHD symptoms or reveal related difficulties.

6 Tips for 9^th Grade

Help your teen meet the new challenges of high school with the following tips:

[Free Download: Transform Your Teen’s Apathy Into Engagement]

1. Build skills. Identify your teen’s true emotional maturity. For example, does your 8th grader relate to others on a 5th-grade level? Consider what skills will be essential in high school and what you can do together to build them. For example, you might coach your teen on how to respond to teachers and role-play the interactions so he can practice using a respectful tone. Reflecting on situations your teen has navigated successfully in middle school also builds confidence. Offer reassurance and support.
2. Get organized. Buy school supplies early, if possible, and set up a desk or a quiet place in the home for your teen to do his schoolwork. Create a routine for organizing your teen’s backpack and notebooks. Get familiar with the school’s website and apps for viewing classes, assignments, events, and grades.
3. Review accommodations. You and your teen should review his IEP or 504 Plan before school begins to ensure he has appropriate accommodations. If these supports fall short, your teen should be prepared to advocate for himself.
4. Listen up. After a tiring day of holding it together in school, your teen’s anxiety may worsen when he gets home. Be calm and accepting. Ask open-ended questions to gain insight. Create an atmosphere where your teen feels heard and can safely express his fears and concerns.
5. Work on time management. Help your teen assess the time required to complete a project or assignment. Then use time-tracking apps that let your teen set time markers for each step of a task from beginning through completion.
6. Encourage study buddies. Study groups and tutors can help lighten your teen’s memory load. Peer support and mentor programs may also help teens with ADHD navigate the social dynamics at school. Is your teen interested in tennis or swimming? Joining a sports team and pairing up with an older student on that team can foster a feeling of belonging and support.

9th Grade Readiness: Next Steps

• Learn: 50 High School Accommodations for Every ADHD Challenge
• Read: Your High School Get-It-Together Guide
• Free Download: Boost Your Teen’s Executive Functions
• Watch: High School Success: How to Prepare for the Transition from Middle to High School
• Sign Up: ADDitude’s Free Parenting Class: Everything You Need to Know About Raising a Child with ADHD 

Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., ACCG, PCC, is the author of Why Will No One Play with Me?

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Dear StudyHelpMom:

This question resonates with me as I spend all day working with my student-coaching clients on study skills. That means not only teaching them HOW to study but also helping them understand what “studying” means and that they have (for the most part) complete choice and control over how to accomplish it.

Let me explain.

My students, especially those with ADHD and executive functioning challenges, often express frustration over the rigid rules around how and when a homework assignment needs to be completed. (Excluding those with IEPs or 504s who receive certain modifications or accommodations.) Mostly, they are given instructions to follow with little to no wiggle room to complete their assignments in a manner that works for them. And I empathize with them greatly on this point.

However, I take a very different point of view regarding studying. Studying is the art of teaching yourself information and/or skills. “Yourself” is the operative word. In my coaching practice, it means you have complete choice and control over how the learning gets done. Other than perhaps an assigned study guide, students are usually given agency to determine how, when, and what tools they can use for studying.

I firmly believe they just need permission to make those decisions.

When I explain to students that they have total control over their study tools, it’s a big win for them. (“You mean I don’t have to make flashcards?”) And when I gently suggest that they tap into their personal interests to create those tools, it’s an even bigger win! (“You mean I can make up a dance to learn the periodic table?!”)

[Free Download: What Are Your Teen’s Weakest Executive Functions?]

I can see their creative juices flowing. Writing songs to learn foreign language vocabulary, drawing cartoon pictures or mini graphic novels to memorize ancient gods or empires, or creating a mock website to map out current events or ancient history are examples of how my students put their own personal spin on their study methods.

To your point, the act of studying can be very overwhelming. You asked why your son can activate on homework. It’s because homework is very task driven. Here’s an example: Let’s say your son’s math homework for the evening was problems 1 -5 on page 52 in his textbook. Pretty straightforward, right? There’s no room for interpretation, so his brain doesn’t need to work overtime figuring out what he needs to do. Say your son was told to “keep studying” for his science test on Thursday. These questions may flood his brain:

• What tools do I use?
• What do I have to study?
• When do I study?
• How long do I study?
• How much do I study?
• When am I done?

How to Study for a Test

In this scenario, everything is left up to interpretation. A child with ADHD and weak executive functioning skills may find these questions difficult to answer, become overwhelmed, or shut down, which I believe is how your son feels.

To help, I introduce students to a process I call “Your Four Core.” When studying for a test, I ask my students to choose a “See It, Say It, Hear It, and Do It” study tool. When we bring in different modalities or experiences, students are more likely to truly understand what they’re studying. And the more active studying becomes, the more likely students will learn and retain the information.

[Free Handout: Solve Your Child’s Homework Problems]

What does a Your Four Core look like? Here’s a recent example from one of my students.

• See It: Creating a timeline and reviewing/redoing homework problems.
• Say It: Study Group (Where they teach each other.)
• Do It: Teacher Study Guide (required)
• Hear It: YouTube videos

The process of picking one of each study tool category gives my students a roadmap to follow, eliminates some decision-making and overwhelm, and even invites a little fun in the studying process.

I invite you to check out our Study Skills Videos at products.orderoochaos.com, where we cover everything from effective note-taking to planning for and taking exams.

Good luck!

Study Skills for ADHD Brains: Next Steps

• Learn: How to Study Effectively with ADHD – Tips for Students
• Read: Smart Study Techniques for Any Type of Test
• Download: Smart Homework Strategies for Caregivers & Teachers
• Watch: Stress-Free Homework Tips, Tools, & Solutions

ADHD Family Coach Leslie Josel, of Order Out of Chaos, will answer questions from ADDitude readers about everything from paper clutter to disaster-zone bedrooms and from mastering to-do lists to arriving on time every time.

Submit your questions to the ADHD Family Coach here!

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Hi FrustratedMom:

I totally understand your frustration, especially if you and your son are doing everything you can to stay on top of his homework and class assignments. You have many different concerns: You don’t know soon enough when homework is missing, your son thinks he’s getting everything turned in, and you’re also worried about his grades.

Some seventh graders don’t need help remembering homework. However, for students with ADHD and executive functioning challenges, being organized, remembering to do homework, and knowing how and even where to turn it in are all tasks that can be extremely difficult to manage. So, your son may really need help! Seventh grade, for many kids, is a transition year — from elementary school to middle school, from childhood to adolescence. There’s much more going on than just weekly homework. In other words, it can be an overwhelming time.

[Free Download: Proven Homework Help for Kids with ADHD]

The good news is that because you already have a 504 Plan in place, you can expect his seventh-grade teacher to implement a system to help him remember to do and turn in his homework.

Before I suggest changes to your son’s 504 Plan, I think it’s important that your son knows you believe he is doing the best he can. It can be really demoralizing for a child to feel like he’s doing everything he’s supposed to, only to discover something went wrong. It could be that your son is turning in the work, but it’s going to the wrong spot, or the teacher has misplaced it. And while it’s possible that your son hasn’t turned in anything, avoid placing blame and instead focus on establishing a system that will help your son be more successful, more accountable, and keep his teacher accountable, too.

Begin by contacting your CSE (Committee for Special Education) point of contact to request an amendment to the 504 Plan. Depending on the district, this may require a CSE meeting, but in some schools, they can just add the amendment and send it to the teachers.

Top 504 Plan Homework Accommodations for ADHD

Here are 504 Plan accommodations that I recommend:

1. A prompt from the teacher to turn in assignments. A 504 Plan is not an IEP — it has fewer teeth. 504s work more like recommendations than the enforced rules of an IEP, but it’s often enough to have it in writing that the teacher should prompt the student to turn in work.
2. A homework checklist can also help keep your son accountable — not just the online grading system but a physical piece of paper that the student has the teacher initial when he turns in the assignment.
3. A paper planner that is checked daily by the teachers to ensure your son has all his assignments noted as well as completed and turned in.
4. A special accommodation, such as taking a photograph of his homework or submitting homework via email to eliminate that extra step in class the next day.
5. Communication! You can build it into your 504 Plan to have the teacher reach out to you promptly if a certain number of assignments are missing or your son’s grades have dropped to a certain GPA.

[Free Download: Sample Letter to Request an IEP or 504 Plan Evaluation]

You can also talk with your son’s team about having extended deadlines for turning in assignments if your son is feeling overloaded and overwhelmed. And many schools offer a second set of textbooks to keep at home to ensure the student has what they need to do homework.

As your son gets older, you may find that the 504 Plan simply isn’t enough. Then you may need to move to an IEP, which gives you more tools to help support your son’s educational needs and stronger requirements for following the ADHD accommodations. Remember, any accommodation that makes it more likely your son will succeed is worth putting in writing!

It sounds like you’re doing all you can from your end. Hang in there, FrustratedMom.

504 Plan: Next Steps

• Free Download: Sample 504 Plan for Students with ADHD
• Learn: “Is My Child with ADHD Entitled to a 504 Plan?”
• Read: Common Problems & Helpful Solutions for Your IEP/504 Plan
• Sign Up: Free Back-to-School Master Class for Parents and Educators

ADHD Family Coach Leslie Josel, of Order Out of Chaos, will answer questions from ADDitude readers about everything from paper clutter to disaster-zone bedrooms and from mastering to-do lists to arriving on time every time.

Submit your questions to the ADHD Family Coach here!

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Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Most of us make New Year’s resolutions. Children with ADHD often wish for things to be different at school. However, they feel they don’t know how to make things better because it’s hard to transform intentions into reliable action.

But focusing on building specific strategies and routines rather than achieving big, unattainable goals can help students stay focused and motivated for the second half of the school year.

This approach can empower your child (whether they’re in elementary, middle, or high school) and make a huge difference in personal and academic outcomes. Routines and strong study habits help students build essential life skills, including planning ahead, staying organized, and doing it without a fight.

Ann Dolin, M.Ed., has more than 30 years of experience with students with various types of learning and attentional issues. During her January 24th webinar, she will share insights to help students impacted by ADHD emerge and shine to make 2023 a Happy New Year!

In her workshop, she will discuss:

Strategies to increase your child’s focus, productivity, and time management
Simple ways to create daily routines that can make the difference in getting and staying organized
Strategies to foster independence and responsibility, so it doesn’t fall on the adults’ shoulders
Research-based ways to prevent the disconnect between what a parent sees as the problem and the areas a child is willing to accept help
Conversation starters to facilitate an improved mindset, build trust, and help your child break free of the “doom loop”
Ways to help resistant kids (common in those with ADHD) overcome roadblocks and achieve what they set out to do (Yes, it’s possible!)

Plus, you’ll receive free downloads to help your family stay organized and plan ahead, as well as word-by-word scripts for what to say when your child is resistant or struggling with motivation.

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Google Podcasts; Stitcher; Spotify; Amazon Music; iHeartRADIO.

More on School Goals and Strategies for ADHD

• Download: Solving Disorganization at School
• Read: ADHD & the Art of Persistence: Teaching Goal-Setting Skills
• Read: Behold the Magic of a Consistent Routine
  

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on January 24, 2023, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Ann Dolin is the President and Founder of Educational Connections, a company that specializes in helping students with ADHD and executive function issues build confidence through virtual, one-to-one sessions. Ann is a former public school teacher, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology and a master’s degree in Special Education (from Boston College). Ann has spent more than 25 years in education, teaching and tutoring students from kindergarten to college. She founded Educational Connections in 1998. Her team now includes 125 highly credentialed and caring subject tutors, test prep tutors, and executive function coaches.

Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this ADDitude webinar is…

Play Attention: Improve executive function & self-regulation with NASA inspired technology. Tufts University School of Medicine found Play Attention significantly improved attention, executive function, academic performance and behavioral control of ADHD students. Your program will include a Lifetime Membership and a Personal Executive Function Coach to customize your plan along the way. Home and professional programs available. Call 828-676-2240 or click here to schedule your free 1:1 consultation! | www.playattention.com

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Hi Nell:

There is no one-size-fits-all homework solution. Students’ individual preferences and work styles vary. Instead of randomly deciding when and where your son should do homework, work with him to maximize his efforts. You may be surprised to learn that he knows what environment works best for him. He just may need your help defining and creating the optimum situation.

Homework is the last thing kids want to do — especially after a long day at school. This is especially true for those with ADHD or learning differences. Here’s what I tell parents and teachers when describing neurodivergent students who must expend more energy than neurotypical students to get through the long school day. “Suck in your stomach. Now do that for eight hours. That’s your student.” They are usually depleted and exhausted when they come home and finally “let it all out.”

Therefore, tapping into your son’s best practices is critical for homework success.

Homework Help for ADHD Brains

Consider the story of a student client, Jake, who was constantly at odds with his parents over how long it took him to finish his homework. Jake’s parents demanded that he start work immediately after arriving home. Yet Jake would find a million reasons not to get started.

When I quizzed Jake’s parents about his demeanor and energy level after school, they revealed that he was wiped out and extremely cranky. He could barely muster the energy for a conversation. This was very telling. Jake needed a homework solution that included time to replenish his tank, eat a snack, and in his words, “Just be.” Pushing back his homework start time gave Jake a much-needed opportunity to reboot. This also enabled him to focus more effectively and finish his work in a reasonable time frame.

[Free Download: Proven Homework Help for Kids with ADHD]

Let me provide you with another example. Most parents (not all) think the best place for their students to do homework is quietly at a desk in their bedroom with the door shut. Now for some, that works. For others, a secluded bedroom can feel isolating and make concentrating harder.

Those students prefer being close to the action in the house. They need a feeling of connectedness to activate and focus. My client Randy was that student.

Randy preferred doing homework at the kitchen table in the middle of the hubbub. He would either wear earplugs to listen to light music or drown out his siblings’ noise. Allowing Randy to work in the center of all the commotion enabled him to stay focused and promptly attend to his homework.

Personalized Homework Help Solutions

To help you determine which type of homework help is most likely to get the best results, download this free “Personal Homework Profile.”

The Homework Profile takes the whole student into account. It is a series of questions that help to uncover students’ homework preferences and personalities — from space and pace to energy and noise — so they can tap into THEIR best practices for getting schoolwork done.

Good Luck.

Homework Help: Next Steps

• Free Download: The Top 5 Homework Frustrations — and Fixes
• Learn: 15 Tips for Reducing Homework Stress and Completion Time
• Watch: Stress-Free Homework Tips, Tools, & Solutions
• Read: The ADHD Homework System That Really Works

ADHD Family Coach Leslie Josel, of Order Out of Chaos, will answer questions from ADDitude readers about everything from paper clutter to disaster-zone bedrooms and from mastering to-do lists to arriving on time every time.

Submit your questions to the ADHD Family Coach here!

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

Welcome to ADDitude’s self-guided master class designed to explain and solve the Top 10 learning hurdles facing students with ADHD and other learning differences.

This course, featuring instructional videos from the world’s foremost experts in neurodivergent education, will guide parents and educators through a full syllabus of 51 webinar replays, 72 essential articles, 33 expert Q&As, 39 downloadable resources to share, 17 self-tests, 33 expert Q&As, 15 supplemental videos, and more.

Each lesson revolves around a common challenge for neurodivergent students:

• Learning Hurdle #1: ADHD Misinformation (How to educate educators on ADHD and recognize early signs of ADHD in the classroom)
• Learning Hurdle #2: ADHD Accommodations (How to advocate for your child, secure an effective IEP or 504 Plan, and ensure it’s being followed)
• Learning Hurdle #3: Distractibility and Inattention (How to help students hear and follow directions without losing focus or interest)
• Learning Hurdle #4: Weak Executive Functions (How to bolster executive function skills commonly impacted by ADHD, including working memory, prioritization, and time management)
• Learning Hurdle #5: Behavior Challenges (How to address and prevent the classroom behaviors that interfere with learning such as interrupting, hitting, and fidgeting)
• Learning Hurdle #6: Homework Problems (How to help students accurately log, prioritize, complete, and hand in assignments on time)
• Learning Hurdle #7: Learning Differences (How to best serve and teach students who have dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory processing, dyspraxia, and other learning differences)
• Learning Hurdle #8: Social Struggles (How to teach social and emotional-regulation skills so that kids can make and keep friends more easily)
• Learning Hurdle #9: School Collaboration (How to facilitate and participate in parent-teacher-student cooperation and communication, particularly around accommodations)
• Learning Hurdle #10: Motivation and Resilience (How to build internal and external motivation to encourage resilience in students when they face school challenges)

NOTE: This resource is for personal use only.

Hi BacktoSchoolMom:

Getting ahead of back-to-school preparation is an overwhelming concern felt by many parents — regardless of their student’s age. We are very good at knowing we need to purchase school supplies (usually because we’ve been given a list). However, few of us instinctually know how to truly get our students and homes back-to-school ready.

Here are my top 10 tried-and-true back-to-school tips to prepare your student (and you!) for the new school year.

10 Back-to-School Tips for a Successful Year

1. Make Study Playlists. Music can help activate the ADHD brain. It can also bolster attention and focus. Some students need it to drown out distracting sounds. Others need it to get their adrenaline going. If your daughter needs music to get activated, suggest that she create a playlist of familiar songs that is 30 to 45 minutes long. (Some of my older students create different playlists for different subjects.)

My students tell me that this is one of their favorite tools for getting started on homework. It acts as a true motivator and timekeeper, it’s portable, and the list goes on and on. When it’s time for your daughter to begin her homework, switch on the playlist, and she’s ready to (literally) rock!

[Free Resource: Back-to-School Playbook]

2. Create a Personal Homework Profile. Homework is the last thing any child wants to do after a long school day, especially if the child has attention deficits and learning challenges. Creating a < ahref="https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-homework-plan-for-child/">Personal Homework Profile will help strengthen her homework muscle. Your daughter can note what strategies, tools, resources, environment, etc., she needs to get started, stay on task, and feel more productive. Having a plan when she begins homework takes the guesswork out of “What has worked for me before?”

Download a free copy of our Personal Homework Profile (additu.de/personal-homework-profile).

3. Review your daughter’s IEP or 504 Plan. A new school year ushers in change — new classes, new teachers, possibly a new school, etc. Now is the perfect time to review how your daughter’s learning needs have changed. Make sure her IEP or 504 Plan clearly states the goals, accommodations, and services you want for the coming year.

4. Set up a meeting with her guidance counselor or related professionals to start school on the right foot. Address expectations and concerns that you might have for your daughter during the upcoming school year and formulate a plan together. If it’s a new school, arrange a tour before the first day so your daughter can familiarize herself with the building.

5. Choose organizing supplies WITH your student. I know. I know. Most teachers send home a supply list. However, just as every student learns differently, not every organizing system works for every student! I firmly believe that teachers would prefer students use a system that allows them to be organizationally successful rather than use supplies that simply don’t work. If the suggested system doesn’t fit your daughter’s needs, have her explore alternatives. Visit an office supply store or order supplies online, so she feels and sees different options firsthand. Trust me. Students have a real sense of what feels “right” to them. Once she finds what works for her, compose an email to the teacher with all the details.

[Free Download: The Big List of ADHD School Resources]

6. Hang analog clocks in every room of your house where your daughter spends time. Analog clocks help you see the actual passing of time, allowing her to see the overall sweep of time as it passes. Why is this important? Because your daughter needs to be able to SEE her time so she can manage it. And a digital clock or phone only gives you one time: the present.

7. Create a landing zone. Every student needs a landing zone — that one place in the home where every item that travels in and out of the house lives. Think backpacks, soccer bags, dance tote, clarinet… you get the idea. Hang a whiteboard and clock in your landing zone, and make sure there is an outlet nearby for charging devices like phones and tablets. A landing zone will help improve organization for the entire family!

8. Set up the calendar. Whether your daughter chooses a planner, calendar, or electronic app, it’s the perfect time for her to load up her calendar with back-to-school plans, dates, appointments, after-school activities, etc.

9. Purchase alarm clocks. Yes, alarm clocks. Your daughter should NOT be using her phone as an alarm clock. Just make sure to choose one without a snooze function. My favorite is the Sonic Boom (#CommissionsEarned). It gets even the deepest sleepers out of bed!

10. Create a school supply zone. How will you know if your child is prepared for school? When your daughter finally sits down to do her work, does she have everything she needs? All in one place? Most likely not. There is a simple solution: Your daughter needs a school supply zone. This is not necessarily where students will do homework (You know I like students to move around while working), but a place in the house where their printer, textbooks, and supplies are located.

And a tip within a tip! When shopping for back-to-school items, stock up on all the essential supplies to avoid late-night trips to the store.

The first days of school are challenging for most students as they adjust to new routines and surroundings. Getting your “sea legs” takes time. I hope these tips help make the transition easier for you and your daughter.

Good Luck!

Back-to-School Tips: Next Steps

• Free Download: Sample Schedules for Reliable Family Routines
  
• Learn: Back-to-School Guide for ADHD Families
• Read: 3 Back-to-School Assignments for Parents

ADHD Family Coach Leslie Josel, of Order Out of Chaos, will answer questions from ADDitude readers about everything from paper clutter to disaster-zone bedrooms and from mastering to-do lists to arriving on time every time.

Submit your questions to the ADHD Family Coach here!

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication

“I feel like I’m always nagging my child about their writing assignments!”

As most parents know too well, math and writing are complex subjects made infinitely more challenging by ADHD symptoms like difficulty sustaining focus and mental effort. Math and writing also require extensive working memory, or the ability to mentally juggle multiple pieces of information to execute a task. And working memory deficits, as we know, are common in ADHD.

These unique barriers to learning require equally novel strategies and techniques to effectively improve your child’s math and writing performance, boost their confidence in school, and reduce frustration at home on all sides. Here are some of my favorites.

Math Strategies for Students with ADHD

1. Fill in learning gaps

Math is cumulative. A child with ADHD may be a “Swiss cheese student” if they have holes in their learning. With incomplete foundations, they might get lost and frustrated as they try to learn advanced concepts. Avoidance and math anxiety typically follow.

• Talk to the teacher to understand where your child is struggling the most. Reinforce those skills at home. (Depending on your child’s needs and grades, hiring a tutor might be best.)
• Good old-fashioned practice. Math workbooks that emphasize repetition are great for reinforcing skills and boosting confidence over the summer. A few minutes a day is sufficient. Avoid workbooks that preview skills your child hasn’t seen.
• Math websites and apps also help build skills at the user’s pace. Some favorites:
  • Starfall.com (pre-K to grade 3)
  • Arcademics.com (math games for younger students)
  • IXL.com (best for middle and high school students)

[Get This Free Download: Proven Homework Help for Kids with ADHD]

2. Revisit basic homework and study habits

Strong homework and study habits help close learning gaps or prevent them from forming. If math is a struggle for your child, begin by teaching them to do the following:

• Refer to class notes. Have your child review examples of similar math problems they’ve already solved if they’re stuck on homework. Too often, students with ADHD operate under an “I either know it or I don’t” mentality, and they give up when they see something new. Reviewing previous work will instill a growth mindset and teach your child self-sufficiency.
• Compare notes with classmates. Confer with friends to fill gaps and reinforce learning, especially if your child’s notes are unreliable. (The Cornell Notes system, I’ve found, works well for students with ADHD.)
• Create and take practice tests to study for upcoming exams. Glancing at a study guide or class notes doesn’t count as “studying.”
• Draw out word problems. Visuals can help your child understand the question and work out an answer.
• Use graph paper to keep digits and lines organized, which can help eliminate careless mistakes.

3. Practice math outside of the classroom

Keep your child’s math skills sharp by pointing out all the everyday situations where math comes in handy. Some ideas: Ask your child to…

• …measure out or chop up ingredients for meals.
• …calculate prices based on listed discounts.
• …write the grocery list and estimate the total.
• …figure out the tip after dinner at a restaurant.

Go further with each situation. Ask things like:

• Is a three-fourths cup of flour closer to zero or one?
• What would 25% of the bill be?

[Read: 10 Fun Ways to Keep Math Skills Sharp]

Writing Tips for Students with ADHD

Writing is a multi-step, multi-faceted process that requires students to think about grammar and punctuation; spelling; clarity; structure; and vocabulary — not to mention understanding and fully responding to the prompt. That’s why writing can be so overwhelming for many students with ADHD.

1. Organize thoughts to reduce overwhelm

• Graphic organizers (like Venn diagrams and flowcharts) are visual frameworks that show relationships between things. These tools are great for externalizing ideas, creating outlines, and giving working memory muscles a break.
• Act as a scribe. Write (or type) as your child speaks. Best used in elementary or middle school, this technique helps students get over the hump of starting on an assignment and can be augmented by asking guiding questions to encourage thought.
• Speech-to-text tools are increasingly common (think of the voice typing feature in Google Docs) and work well for students who are overflowing with ideas, but struggle to put them in writing. Transcription services like Rev can clean up raw text, making it easier for your child to edit their work.

2. Look for writing (and reading!) opportunities

• Start a dialogue journal. Spark a conversation (about anything) with your child through a notebook where you both write responses daily. Do not correct grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Keep the activity light and fun to encourage writing.
• Schedule DEAR time. “Drop Everything and Read” for about 15 minutes a few times a week. Make it a family activity to increase buy-in.
• Audiobooks are just as enriching as books.
• Turn on TV captions to sneak in more reading time.

3. Don’t forget handwriting and typing

• Pencil grips teach students how to properly hold writing tools to reduce fatigue and increase functionality.
• The right keyboard can boost focus and productivity. Raised keys are great for tactile feedback, but flatter, quieter keys may decrease distractions.

How to Do Better in School: Additional ADHD Tips

1. Devise a homework formula that avoids burnout.

• Let your child have down time before they start work.
• Some students focus better with a bit of background noise and bustle. Noise-canceling headphones can reduce distractions in a busy area.
• Fidgets are ever-popular options that can help increase focus.

2. Trick the brain.

Often, the toughest part about getting started on homework or studying is overcoming negative emotions around it. Short spurts of effort, followed by breaks, are great for escaping the brain’s self-preservation mode.

• Encourage your child to use timers, even if only for 5 or 10 minutes of work at a time.
• If countdowns make your child anxious, focus on completing one task – like getting two sentences of an essay down – at a time.

3. Encourage self-advocacy.

Knowing how to speak up and ask for help is an important life skill. The email template on this page will guide hesitant, shy kids in politely but firmly asking teachers for what they need.

4. Focus on a positive parent-child relationship above all else.

• Avoid passing judgment. Overreacting about incomplete assignments or poor study habits will only cause your child to shut down. Instead, start a dialogue: “I notice you have five overdue assignments. Tell me about that.”
• Avoid power struggles. Give your child space and options when tensions run high. Say, “I know math and writing are frustrating. Come find me when you’re ready for help.”
• Seek outside help. You don’t have to be your child’s teacher. Somebody else – an older student, a professional tutor, etc. – can take those reins. Outside help offers one-on-one attention and consistency, and it reduces family stress and conflict.

The content for this article was derived, in part, from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “‘I Can’t Focus!’ When ADHD Impacts Your Child’s Math & Writing Performance” [Video Replay and Podcast #397] with Ann Dolin, M.Ed., which was broadcast live on April 20, 2022.

Math Strategies and Writing Tips for ADHD Students: Next Steps

• Free Download: 20 Learning Strategies Designed for Students with ADHD
• Read: How to Remove Hurdles to Writing for Students with ADHD
• Read: 18 Tips to Sharpen Your Child’s Math Skills

SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.