Extra suggestions for teachers

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EXTRA SUGGESTIONS for what teachers can do to encourage children with ADHD:

• Take a continuing education course that includes topics on ADHD.
• Consider doing a special topic on learning and behavioral difficulties with the class or year group.
• Engage with the child’s parents so that you are partners in the child’s education.
• Introduce the child and his parents to the timer system for homework and classwork.
• Lead children in a well-structured and organized learning experience.
• Put the child at the front of the classroom and establish eye contact frequently.
• Don’t tolerate bullying or teasing of children for any reason.
• Don’t participate in stigmatizing treatment of children with ADHD.
• Encourage the child with ADHD to discuss his or her strengths and difficulties with you throughout the school year.
• Use role-playing to reduce stigma and to invite positive peer interactions.
• Try to integrate structured physical movement during class time.
• Illustrate use of a peer buddy system in which children with a variety of learning difficulties are partnered with peers who encourage them and provide guidance through the school day.
• Encourage children to discuss local playground ethics openly, and ask children to come up with strategies to reduce bullying of, and by, children with ADHD.
• Don’t punish a child with ADHD by taking his or her free time away and replacing it with ‘sit still and do nothing’ time. Alternative punishment, ‘community service’ style, can be a useful alternative.