Do you teach students with ADHD? These strategies and resources can help you better understand how to support their unique needs.
Working Memory and Auditory Memory are important executive functions. Here are IEP and 504 plan accommodations to support a child lacking this skill.
Unlock effective ADHD behavioral interventions with school-based OT expertise. Explore evidence-based strategies for positive classroom...
There are many, many things that can done to help your child be successful at school. Getting a 504 with individualized accommodations is a great start. Having this ADHD accommodations checklist at hand can be a life saver.
Challenges with focus and attention can become a huge roadblock to learning for kids and young adults. Simply put, attention is critical to learning. If students can't focus on the lesson, they are going to struggle with understanding the new content. If students can't focus on the directions, they
Strategies, interventions, accommodations, and modifications are important academic student supports. Read this guide for teachers and parents.
What strategies, accommodations, and teaching resources do you need to meet the needs of all students, including students with autism, special education needs, 504 Plans, ESL, and, really, all students? Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a neurobiological disorder. Typically children diagnosed with ADHD have developmentally inappropriate behavior, including poor attention skills, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. While there may be disagreement among professionals regarding the incidence rate and even the actual diagnosis, all teachers will agree that all students are different and a single approach or strategy will not work for each and every student. Fair is not always equal. According to the CDC, millions of United States children have been diagnosed with ADHD. The estimated number of children aged 3–17 years ever diagnosed with ADHD, according to a national survey of parents is 6 million (9.8%) using data from 2016-2019. This number includes: 3–5 years: 265,000 (2%) 6–11 years 2.4 million (10%) 12–17 years: 3.3 million (13%). Boys (13%) are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (6%). Black, non-Hispanic children and White, non-Hispanic children are more often diagnosed with ADHD (12% and 10%, respectively), than Hispanic children (8%) or Asian, non-Hispanic children (3%). Estimates for ADHD vary by state: ADHD diagnosis among children aged 3–17 years: State estimates vary from 6% to 16%. Any ADHD treatment among children with current ADHD: State estimates vary from 58% to 92% ADHD medication: State estimates vary from 38% to 81% ADHD behavior treatment: State estimates vary from 39% to 62% Differentiation is the key to any successful classroom. In this case, successful is defined as all students learning to their highest potential. Top 20 ADHD Accommodations and Modifications That Work Click HERE to view my Promoting Success store on TPT. Note: This blog post contains resources from my TpT store and Amazon Associate store. --------------------------------- Some kids (diagnosis or not) have more difficulties focusing and maintaining attention to the task. Of these students, some may have a 504 Plan with accommodations or an IEP (Individualized Education Program) with accommodations and/or modifications. In both of these cases, it is the teacher's legal obligation to follow the plan. It is important to remember the following: Students need to be specifically taught how to utilize the accommodations. Objective data must be collected regarding the effectiveness of each accommodation (progress monitoring). Ongoing evaluation is essential. Here are some accommodation ideas for any student to increase time on task: Written and posted daily schedules and assignments At least one day notice (when possible) for schedule changes Consistent schedules (as much as possible) Allowing time for movement during classroom "seat" time (all students benefit from this!) Supplement verbal directions with visual instructions (picture cues, demonstration, etc.) Chunk assignments or test questions with breaks and positive feedback in between Develop and private signal or cue to the student (imagine if the principal called a teacher out when not giving 100% at a staff meeting :) Examine expectations and compare data with same age peers. Sometimes our expectations for students with ADHD behaviors begin to exceed our expectations for other students. Provide opportunities for hands-on learning Allow the student to stand while working or listening Use a yoga balance disc (wiggle seat) on the student's chair Use transition activities, songs, bell, timer, etc., so the student can clearly identify a change in activity Provide cue (1-2 minute notifications) before an activity is about to end or begin Color is very effective in getting attention. Make use of colored dry-erase pens on white boards, colored overhead pens for transparencies and overhead projectors, and colored paper to highlight key words, phrases, steps to computation problems, spelling patterns, etc. Be aware of competing sounds in your room environment (such as noisy heaters or air conditioning unit.) Alter the way students are called on to avoid calling on students one at a time. Instead, have students respond by "telling their partner," writing down or drawing their response, or other alternative way. Be careful when always seating the student by the teacher. This may actually increase student anxiety thus increasing inappropriate behavior. Read aloud test questions. Although the student may have average or above average reading ability, have to questions read aloud helps maintain focus. Provide outlines of the lecture and discussion. Student discusses and share with other students (thus reading, discussing and learning by doing!) Allow headphones to drown out distractions. When I worked at an alternative high school, many of the students scored higher on tests and assignments when listening to music. I had two rules. I had to listen to ensure it was music. The other rule was the student was the only one who should be able to hear the music through the headphones - not the entire room! NOTE: For 175 accommodation ideas, please CLICK HERE to see this resource in my TPT store. Special Education Accommodations and Modifications Checklist Key steps to implementing any accommodation: Select only 1-2 to implement at at time. Teach the accommodation to the student. Determine how you will know if it is successful - target goals. Collect data over time (Not just a couple of days - remember sometimes the behavior gets worse before it gets better) Evaluate progress Make team decisions to keep, change, or try something else! There is one resource that allows you to easily provide many of these accommodations.... Task cards! While these weren't really a thing when I was teaching, I so wish they would have been. Let's break it down based on the checklist above. How to ensure accommodations with task cards: #4 Allowing time for movement during classroom "seat" time (all students benefit from this!) You could play a game of SCATTER. In this game, you give half of the students a question card and the other half an answer card. Students must scatter (mingle) around the room to find the partner with their correct answer. This also encourages content-rich discussions. Students may play a game of floor Tic Tac Toe. When a task card is answered correctly, the student may toss a bean back onto the game board which is taped on the floor. To play SCOOT, simply hang the task cards along a wall or set one on each desk. Students record answers by moving to the next card when a designated sound or motion cues the movement or in their own time. #6 Chunk assignments or questions. The purpose of assignments is to check for student understanding. Some students may need to do 30 problems; however, some students could adequately show this by answering five carefully selected problems. Task cards make this super easy to chunk and assign a few or many. #9 Provide opportunities for hands-on learning. Many times task cards could easily be paired with manipulatives, such as money manipulatives, fraction pieces, actual clocks, number lines, etc. #10 Allow students to stand while listening or working. As mentioned in the first example, task cards allow for standing and movement. #12 Use transition activities. Task cards are a natural transition to stay on task. When one card is completed, a natural cue is to find and complete the next card. #14 Color is effective in getting attention. Most task cards are in color. Yes, it cost more to print in color. However, you may laminate and use the cards year and after. For added interest, some students could use colorful dry erase markers to write the answers directly on the laminated cards. For more ideas on how to use task cards in your classroom, please click HERE. I love offering teachers free samples to try before you buy. Please visit my store for 270 free teaching resources, or click on any of the following: Free Place Value Tens and Ones Task Cards Free Telling Time to the Minute Task Cards Free Counting Money (Dollars and Coins) Task Cards Free Comparing Fractions Task Cards Free Order of Operations Task Cards Free Adding Integers Task Cards --------------------------------------------------------- If you are looking for additional accommodations and modifications for your students, please click HERE. You will download a checklist of over 175 ideas for students with autism, in special education or with a 504 Plan. It will be a great addition for your teaching resources and for your IEP meetings. The categories include: Textbooks and Materials Setting/Environment Presentation of Content Tests and Grades Student Response In addition, you will receive nine types of special education adaptations with real life classroom examples, definitions of terms and data collection sheets. Special Education Accommodations and Modifications Checklist --------------------------------------------------------- Section 504 Printable Student Accommodation Plan --------------------------------------------------------- You may also want to read this blog post: --------------------------------------------------------- You may also like these great resources on Amazon: Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids: 60 Fun Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate, Focus, and Succeed Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD, 2nd Edition-Revised and Updated: Tips and Tools to Help You Take Charge of Your Life and Get Organized Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential Fidget Dodecagon –12 Side Fidget Toy Cube Relieves Stress and Anxiety Anti Depression Cube for Children and Adults with ADHD ADD OCD Autism (Almost 20K reviews!) --------------------------------------------------------- A Survival Guide for New Special Education Teachers --------------------------------------------------------- Click HERE to view my Promoting Success store on TPT. Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find teaching resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!
As a special education teacher, there have been hundreds of times I have had to have conversations with parents about their child and characteristics we are seeing at school that are consistent with ADHD or Autism. Some of these conversations were harder than others, but they were never personal until I sat on the receiving ... Read More about Parent and Teacher Guide to Approaching an ADHD Diagnosis for Children in School
It's more than just 'bad handwriting.' Here are some symptoms of dysgraphia and some IEP accommodations if your child has dysgraphia.
Strategies and supports for executive functioning challenges can make all the difference, especially for students who struggle with task initiation. This is such an important skill, since it's like the motor in allowing us to get started on all tasks and assignments. When someone is struggling to in
Impulsive behavior. Incomplete homework. Inconsistent focus. Whatever your child's school challenges, these teacher-approved accommodations can put some real muscle behind his 504 Plan and put the attention back on learning.
Classroom Accommodations for ADHD: 10 strategies to support kids in the classroom to improve focus and attention
Strategies, interventions, accommodations, and modifications are important academic student supports. Read this guide for teachers and parents.
15 simple and effective strategies to use in the classroom for students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Differentiation is something every teacher integrates into their classroom. As all teachers know, it’s not an easy job to differentiate learning; considering that there are all types of learners. Most classrooms have a unique blend
It's more than just 'bad handwriting.' Here are some symptoms of dysgraphia and some IEP accommodations if your child has dysgraphia.
Challenges with focus and attention can become a huge roadblock to learning for kids and young adults. Simply put, attention is critical to learning. If students can't focus on the lesson, they are going to struggle with understanding the new content. If students can't focus on the directions, they
Strategies, interventions, accommodations, and modifications are important academic student supports. Read this guide for teachers and parents.
Strategies and supports for executive functioning challenges can make all the difference, especially for students who struggle with task initiation. This is such an important skill, since it's like the motor in allowing us to get started on all tasks and assignments. When someone is struggling to in
Impulsive behavior. Incomplete homework. Inconsistent focus. Whatever your child's school challenges, these teacher-approved accommodations can put some real muscle behind his 504 Plan and put the attention back on learning.
Kids and young adults with ADHD can be extremely bright, creative, and helpful. These are often the learners coming up with new invention ideas, filling up a journal with intricate comic book drawings, and eager to answer all of your questions in class. With that said, learners with ADHD can struggl
If you're a general education teacher, the IEP accommodations and modifications page is for you!
I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of what ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is. If you are reading this post there is an excellent chance you already know what it is because you are dealing with it in your classroom. I’m also going to go out on a limb and assume that […]
Imagine this scenario: You walk into your classroom, ready to tackle a day and have a great lesson you cannot wait to share. But as soon as your class steps through the door, you’re met with a barrage of aggression from one student. A student who seems to thrive on chaos and disruption, making it ... Read More about The Surprising Effective Approach to Dealing with an Aggressive Student in Your Classroom: De-Escalating Strategies
Inside: Browse, print, and use this comprehensive list of IEP Accommodation and 504 Accommodations. Includes a PDF.
Strategies, interventions, accommodations, and modifications are important academic student supports. Read this guide for teachers and parents.
These 4 dyslexia accommodations are a perfect starting place for parents who dont know what accommodations to ask for for their ....
I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of what ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is. If you are reading this post there is an excellent chance you already know what it is because you are dealing with it in your classroom. I’m also going to go out on a limb and assume that […]
15 simple and effective strategies to use in the classroom for students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Differentiation is something every teacher integrates into their classroom. As all teachers know, it’s not an easy job to differentiate learning; considering that there are all types of learners. Most classrooms have a unique blend
Dealing with oppositional defiant disorder at home or in the classroom? We've got 18 ODD discipline tips to help with problem behaviors in a positive way!
While reading, tracking across the page from one line to the next can be tricky when the text is small, but for students with dyslexia or weak reading skills, it can be a problem regardless of the font size. So why is this the case? Perhaps one of the problems is poor tracking skills. What Exactly is Tracking? Tracking is the ability for one's eyes to move smoothly across the page from one line of text to another. Tracking difficulties happen when eyes jump backward and forward and struggle to stay on a single line of text. This results in problems such as word omissions, reversals, eye fatigue, losing your place while reading and most importantly it can impact normal reading development. Can Tracking be Improved? Tracking can be improved by strengthening eye muscles as well as getting your eyes and brain to work cooperatively. There are three eye movements that need to be developed: Fixations: The ability to hold one's eyes steady without moving off a target. Saccades: The ability to jump to new targets that randomly disappear and reappear in a different location. Pursuits: The ability to follow a moving target with one's eyes 10 Free Ways to Improve Tracking: Use Beeline Reader to read ebooks, PDFs and web pages will assist with tracking. This free technology makes tracking faster and easier by using a color gradient to guide your eyes from one line of text to another. Play ping pong - but more importantly, watch others play the game. Sit on the side of the table and keep your head steady. Watch the ball, moving your eyes back and forth across the table. Get a book but only read the first word and the last word in each line. Continue down the page. Time yourself and try to beat your speed. If reading words is slow or labored, just read the first and last letter on each line. Go to the site Eye Can Learn and do their eye-tracking exercises. Watch a metronome or crystal pendulum. Place the metronome or pendulum about 1-2 feet from your face, keep your head steady and move your eyes with the swinging metronome or pendulum. Use a laser pointer on a wall and watch the red dot while sweeping it across the wall: go up, down, left, right and diagonally. Use Apps like Dream Reader which will highlight the words while it reads the text. You can read along with the excellent synthesized voice options, or if you prefer, read the text yourself and turn off the audio. Adjust the speed so that words are highlighted while you read. Pick a common letter of the alphabet such as the letter "A." Select a book, or article and scan through the lines of text as if you are reading, circling the letter "A" every time they see it. Read aloud. This helps the eyes and brain to work together. Play an internet version of Pong. My favorite is Garfield Tabby Tennis. Watch my Youtube Video: Are There Any Products I Can Purchase That Develop Visual Tracking? Yes, check out my Visual Tracking Assessment and Activities for Improved Learning and my Reversing Reversals series to develop tracking as well as other important visual processing and cognitive skills that will improve the foundation abilities needed to be an excellent reader. If you found this post helpful, come check out my other blog post entitled: 5 Free Ways Improve Visual Processing for Weak Readers. Cheers, Erica Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Learning Specialist Courses. Blog: https://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/warrenerica1 GSL Blog: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news Stores: www.GoodSensoryLearning.com/ Courses: http://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/ Newsletter Sign-up: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/694000
Over 100 Independent Functioning and Independent Living Life Skills IEP Goals, including ADLs, food prep, shopping, functional reading, and essential life skills.
Inside: Browse, print, and use this comprehensive list of IEP Accommodation and 504 Accommodations. Includes a PDF.
Six years ago, I didn’t know I would be searching for strategies for students with ADHD, but here I am!
Strategies, interventions, and techniques that teachers and parents can use to help kids with dyslexia improve their reading skills.
Every teacher has felt the frustration of a student who shouts out in the middle of class, disrupting your lesson, getting students off task, and driving you bananas. Here are 15 effective strategies to help you control those students, and a free reflective worksheet that will help that student stop blurting out.
This blog offers a comprehensive discussion on the difficulties, common accommodations, and remedial strategies for serving students with dyslexia.
Parenting a child with ADHD is no walk in the park. Here are some tips to help you out.
