Here are our favorite resources for teachers on how to recognize the signs of ADHD, where to find ADHD resources, and how to help your students with ADHD thrive in the classroom and beyond. 

<div>
  <div>
    October is ADHD Awareness Month &ndash; the ideal time for teachers and
    school support professionals to brush up on our knowledge of
    attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Here&rsquo;s a refresher on how to
    recognize the signs of possible ADHD, where to find reliable ADHD resources,
    and how to help your students with ADHD thrive in the classroom and beyond.
  </div>

  <h2>Recognizing ADHD Versus Other Issues in the Classroom</h2>

  <div>
    <a
      href="https://childmind.org/article/whats-adhd-and-whats-not-in-the-classroom/"
      >What&rsquo;s ADHD (and What&rsquo;s Not) in the Classroom</a
    >, is a must-read for teachers and school support professionals because it
    clarifies whether behaviors may be related to ADHD or to other issues like
    anxiety or trauma. Since ADHD is often one of the first conclusions made
    when a student struggles with classroom behavior or schoolwork, teachers
    should be aware of ADHD and other issues and should be ready to refer
    students for proper evaluation and diagnosis. Visit and bookmark this
    valuable resource published by The Child Mind Institute, an independent,
    national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and
    families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. The article
    covers:
  </div>

  <div>
    <strong>ADHD symptoms</strong><br />
    Inattentive symptoms including:
  </div>

  <ul>
    <li>Careless mistakes</li>
    <li>Distraction</li>
    <li>Difficulty following directions</li>
    <li>Problems listening and concentrating</li>
    <li>Disorganization</li>
    <li>Failing to finish chores or assignments</li>
    <li>Losing materials, belongings, and supplies</li>
  </ul>

  <div>Hyperactive/impulsive symptoms including:</div>

  <ul>
    <li>Trouble staying in seat (fidgeting, squirming)</li>
    <li>Impatience</li>
    <li>Excessive talking</li>
    <li>Interrupting</li>
    <li>Inappropriate running or climbing</li>
  </ul>

  <div>
    <strong>Other issues which may mimic ADHD</strong><br />
    Teachers can remember to consider other possible causes of ADHD-associated
    behaviors such as:
  </div>

  <div>Relative age and developmental level</div>

  <ul>
    <li>Anxiety</li>
    <li>Trouble at home</li>
    <li>Bullying</li>
    <li>Learning disorder such as dyslexia</li>
    <li>Gender</li>
  </ul>

  <h2>ADHD Resources and Strategies for Effective Teaching</h2>

  <div>
    Effective Teacher Resources &amp; Strategies for ADHD, published by XQ
    Institute, a national organization dedicated to rethinking the high school
    experience, provides strategies and resources to help teachers foster
    empathy for kids with ADHD. The article uses statistics, as well as
    scenarios, to share what it feels like to have ADHD. They also cover stigmas
    kids with ADHD face like being perceived as defiant, difficult or demanding.
    They suggest that teachers use the following methods:
  </div>

  <div><strong>Strategies for teaching students with ADHD</strong></div>

  <ul>
    <li>Foster organization by posting rules and routines</li>
    <li>
      List assignments and due dates in the same place on the board each day
    </li>
    <li>
      Have students with ADHD check in before they leave to confirm
      understanding of due dates
    </li>
    <li>
      Make sure students feel comfortable asking questions about assignments
    </li>
    <li>Use a reward system to encourage good behavior</li>
    <li>Seat kids with ADHD near you and away from doors and windows</li>
    <li>Pair students with ADHD with a buddy or peer mentor</li>
    <li>Help kids with ADHD write goals</li>
    <li>Use sticky notes and to do lists</li>
    <li>Be specific with feedback</li>
    <li>Praise for effort</li>
    <li>Communicate with students and family often</li>
    <li>
      Practice empathy and acceptance and be open to adapting your strategies
    </li>
  </ul>

  <div>
    <a
      href="https://www.additudemag.com/teaching-strategies-for-students-with-adhd/"
      >Teaching Strategies for Students with ADHD: Ideas to Help Every Child
      Shine</a
    >, published in ADDitude Magazine, covers strategies to &ldquo;establish a
    supportive, structured classroom that will encourage learning, enforce
    discipline, and boost self-esteem for all students&rdquo; and includes these
    teacher tips:
  </div>

  <ul>
    <li>Assign work according to the student&rsquo;s skill level</li>
    <li>Offer choices</li>
    <li>Give visual reminders</li>
    <li>Increase active class participation</li>
    <li>Encourage hands-on learning</li>
    <li>Give appropriate supervision to ADHD students</li>
    <li>Ensure students get appropriate school accommodations</li>
    <li>Prepare for transitions</li>
    <li>Allow for movement</li>
    <li>Focus on the positive</li>
  </ul>

  <div>
    In
    <a
      href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/teaching-students-with-adhd-attention-deficit-disorder.htm"
      >Teaching Students with ADHD</a
    >, published on HealthGuide.org, authors Jeanne Segal, PhD, and Melinda
    Smith, MA, describe ADHD-related classroom challenges and advise teachers
    to:
  </div>

  <ul>
    <li>
      Use hand signals or sticky notes to discreetly notify the child of
      inappropriate behavior
    </li>
    <li>Seat kids in rows rather than in a circle</li>
    <li>Give directions one at a time and repeat as needed</li>
    <li>Use color coding</li>
    <li>Create a quiet study area</li>
    <li>Allow student time to get organized before heading home</li>
    <li>Use an egg timer, cow bell, or horn to cue lesson times</li>
    <li>Use eye contact</li>
    <li>Vary the pace of activities</li>
    <li>Summarize key points</li>
  </ul>

  <h2></h2>

  <h2>Additional Resources for Teaching Kids with ADHD</h2>

  <div>
    In addition to the articles above, we found these resources to be full of
    practical tips and tools for teachers:
  </div>

  <ul>
    <li>
      <a href="https://learn.teachingchannel.com/video/teaching-adhd-students"
        >New Teacher Survival Guide: ADHD in the Classroom</a
      >
      &ndash; an 11-minute video on the Teaching Channel
    </li>
    <li>
      <a
        href="https://www.additudemag.com/podcast-teaching-students-with-adhd-jerome-schultz/"
        >Teaching Students with ADHD</a
      >
      &ndash; a podcast with Jerome J. Schultz, Ph.D. on ADDitude Magazine
    </li>
    <li>
      <a href="https://chadd.org/events/introduction-to-adhd-elearning/"
        >Training on ADHD</a
      >
      &ndash; Self-paced online courses from CHADD
    </li>
    <li>
      <a
        href="https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/10-common-challenges-and-best-practices-teaching-students-adhd/"
        >10 Common Challenges and Best Practices for Teaching Students With
        ADH</a
      >D &ndash; tips from real teachers on Scholastic
    </li>
    <li>
      <a
        href="http://file:///Helping the Student with ADHD in the Classroom/ Strategies for Teachers"
        >Helping the Student with ADHD in the Classroom: Strategies for
        Teachers</a
      >
      &ndash; resources from LD Online
    </li>
  </ul>

  <div>
    Enjoy using these resources to help all of your students thrive in the
    classroom, and thanks for reading!
  </div>

  <div>
    Find your ideal match in a
    <a href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/"
      >teaching or school support job</a
    >
    with Cross Country Education.
  </div>
</div>
