Education Options

Children with ADHD have many needs. Some children are too hyperactive or inattentive for a normal classroom, even with medication and help with their behavior. Such children may attend a special education class for all or part of the day. In some schools, the special education teacher works with the classroom teacher to meet each child's own needs. Yet most children are able to stay in the regular classroom. It is better for ADHD children to learn along with their peers.

Children with ADHD often need some special accommodations to help them learn. The teacher may seat the child in an area with few distractions and provide space to move around and blow off steam. They may post a system of rules and rewards for appropriate behavior. Small pictures on a student's desk can remind them to raise their hand instead of shouting answers out or to stay seated. They may also give ADHD children extra time on tests. It is helpful when teachers can help students break down homework into smaller tasks. For instance, they can go over instructions, write assignments on the board, and list books that will be needed.

Good teaching techniques are important for students with ADHD. For instance, teachers can use pictures, graphs, maps, or real-life objects to make a point. They can also give both oral and written instructions. And they can provide students with a list of what they should learn in a given class or homework assignment. These techniques will help students focus and remember the key parts of a lesson.

There are other ways teachers can help too. Students with ADHD need to learn how to be aware of their attention and behavior and control them. Teachers can show kids alternatives for how to catch up in class and how not to interrupt lessons. When a child interrupts a teacher less, s/he will get more praise than reprimands. In this way the child will feel more self-sufficient. Teachers also can encourage students to be aware of their attention span. During class teachers can ask students to note if they are listening or thinking about something else. The students record their answer on a chart. This makes children more self-aware. As students become more consciously aware of their attention, they see progress. This makes them feel good about staying better focused.

Schools demand that children sit still, wait for a turn, pay attention, and stick with a task. So it's no surprise that many children with ADHD have problems in class. ADHD children are fully capable of learning. But their high energy levels and poor attention spans make it difficult. As a result, many students with ADHD repeat a grade or drop out of school early. Fortunately, these outcomes can be avoided. The right mix of good teaching methods, medication, and counseling can lead ADHD children success in school.

Parents can take their child for a private evaluation. However, most children with ADHD are entitled to free services in the public schools. Each child with ADHD receives an education that meets his or her unique needs. Educators (the special education teacher, the school psychologist, school administrators, and the classroom teacher) and parents work together to figure out the child's strengths and weaknesses. Then the teacher creates an Individualized Educational Program (IEP). The IEP spells out the skills the child needs to learn and the best way to achieve these skills. Thus, learning is designed to build on the child's strengths. Parents play an important role in creating and fulfilling their child's IEP.

ADHD is a condition that shapes a child's ability to learn and interact with others. It can be a mildly or severely disabling condition. Under one law or another, most children can receive the services they need.