Teacher Tips

Teaching a child with ADHD can be challenging for you and the other children in the class, but it is important to maintain a supportive environment so the child knows how to function successfully.

Using positive behaviour management and reward systems always helps, but it is important that some allowances are made as well.

Communicate your behavioural expectations with the child but make the focus about what can be achieved and how.

Using secret gestures that you have both agreed is an excellent way of correcting inappropriate behaviour without the need for a scene and, of course, reward, when behaviour improves.

With smaller children during carpet time, a ball of plasticine will give them something to handle while they listen to you and for older children, time limits to answer questions in, agreed and achievable behaviour targets alongside workspace boundaries and responsibilities for taking care of certain aspects of the classroom, such as the pencil crayon box, all help to make children with ADHD feel included and able to succeed.

Another good idea is to make certain behaviour types acceptable for all. For example, if an impulsive child can’t stay sitting down for long, make it acceptable for all children to stand as they work as long as it is done in the allotted time.

Teaching a child with ADHD can be challenging, but once you have created a sense of inclusion, it will possibly be one of the most rewarding experiences of your career.