An educator’s guide to creating an ADHD-friendly classroom
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed in Canada, affecting approximately 5% to 7% of children, according to the Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada (CADDAC). While it frequently manifests itself through challenges in maintaining concentration and managing impulses, ADHD can also impact the mental and emotional health of students; it can be associated with higher risks of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and other disorders and behaviours that can profoundly affect social relationships, behaviour and academic performance.
While prescribed medication helps many students with ADHD manage the condition, implementing certain changes in the school environment can also lead to a positive response in other students with ADHD. The classroom strategies and accommodations that educators employ to make the environment more conducive to learning for them can also enable other students to learn better. Here are some tips for educators that can help support learning and mental health for all students in the school community.
Creating an ADHD-friendly learning environment
One of the most commonly cited behaviours of students with ADHD is that they are easily distracted. However, difficulty focusing is certainly not limited to those with ADHD — many teachers will tell you that virtually every student experiences this issue at some point. That’s why the same supports that help a child with ADHD stay attuned to their work can help all students. Simple changes that can optimize the learning environment include:
1. Providing structured routines.
Students thrive on routine and consistency. Posting schedules and notifying them before transitions help them know what to expect throughout the day. If you need to veer from the daily cadence occasionally, alerting students during the morning meeting can give them time to acclimate.
2. Allowing movement.
Kids naturally get restless when they sit too long. Taking all-class stretching breaks and allowing students to stand, walk, or use stress balls or fidget toys allows them to channel excess energy so they can focus on their work. Encouraging them to run, jump and play at recess, rather than indulging in screen time, can also help.
3. Offering seating choice.
Where a student sits in the classroom can affect learning. Allowing kids to select their seat — whether it’s an alternate location in the room or a different type of seating, such as an exercise ball or a blanket on the floor — can help ensure they are where they feel they learn best.
4. Reducing stimuli.
From bright lights to noisy chatter, distractions can make it hard for students to concentrate. Some students might prefer to take their classwork in the hall or wear headphones to minimize exposure to distractions and better focus.
5. Supporting different learning styles.
Students learn in different ways. Leveraging multiple approaches to provide instruction — such as verbally explaining an assignment and handing out written instructions — helps reach all students.
Designing a classroom to help students adapt socially and emotionally
It can be particularly difficult for students with ADHD to recognize and regulate their emotions, which can lead to them being easily frustrated or angered. They also may struggle to form positive relationships with peers, which can further affect their mental health, potentially exacerbating symptoms of anxiety and depression. Some ways to help all students — including those with ADHD — build healthy coping strategies include:
1. Establishing community norms.
Invite your class to brainstorm behaviours that display respect and compassion. Using their ideas as the basis for classroom guidelines that emphasize those qualities helps get all students invested in promoting a culture of care.
2. Celebrating wins both large and small.
You don’t need to wait for a large victory to mark progress. Work with students to create a series of steps that will help them reach a large goal, then acknowledge achievements along the way so they see that each positive milestone makes a difference.
3. Helping children develop empathy.
Encourage students to see situations from different perspectives by role playing or reading literature that includes diverse points of view. Offering time for self-reflection allows them to connect with their own emotions, which can make it easier to understand the emotions of others.
4. Promoting a spirit of collaboration.
Create opportunities for students to work with partners or small groups and encourage them to choose new classmates for each assignment. Facilitate assignments where they listen to one another and build on the ideas they hear to reinforce the power of group synergy, where the whole can be stronger than the sum of the parts.
Setting up students with ADHD for mental health success
Fostering a more supportive and productive classroom ecosystem can empower students with ADHD and can contribute to a more positive school experience for all children.
Becoming familiar with behaviours and tendencies common to those with ADHD can make it easier to create a classroom environment that supports those students, as well as the entire school community. In fact, a report from CADDAC shares that students have better outcomes when educators are provided with information and professional development on ADHD.
Learn more about how you can support the mental health needs of your entire school community by visiting Pearson’s Mental Health Resource Centre.
Mental Health Resource Centre
Our top tools, all in one place.