6 Easy Classroom Modifications to Help Students with ADHD
ADDitude’s top experts recommend six proven classroom accommodations to help students with ADHD or learning disabilities stay focused and keep up with their work.
Which classroom accommodations for ADHD students would be most helpful for your child? Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or learning disabilities like dyslexia can benefit from a variety of accommodations. Seek input from the teacher and your child’s doctor, and be sure to consider the results of any psychological tests.
1. Seating the student near the teacher and away from doors and windows. This helps the child stay focused on the teacher.
2. Allowing a student to tape-record assignments. Kids with ADHD tend to have trouble remembering spoken instructions.
3. Providing the child with a note-taking partner. ADHD-related handwriting problems can make it hard to keep up when taking notes.
4. Giving a lighter homework load. This is appropriate for children with ADHD who struggle to get their homework done. The questions are just as hard — there are just fewer of them.
5. Granting extra time for test-taking. The idea is not to make the exam easier for the child but to level the playing field, by providing sufficient time for the child to show what he knows.
6. Letting the student run occasional errands for the teacher. This can help hyperactive kids burn off some energy.
