Teaching Techniques for Students Living With ADHD

In recognition of ADHD awareness month, I wanted to share some of my experiences as a secondary school maths teacher and I can’t help smiling as I write this, remembering the positive energy these students brought to my classes and the ways we worked together with their capabilities and not despite them.

Classrooms are, by their very nature, busy environments and when you add ADHD into the equation it can be challenging for the student to concentrate enough to learn something new.  The way an ADHD brain is wired means that a stimulus, seemingly insignificant to others, can trigger the student to suddenly break concentration and ‘click’ onto something new; it can be hard for them to get back on track.  

As teachers, it’s our role to encourage students back to the task at hand by working to their unique strengths and talents to help them achieve the best results they possibly can, and across my career I would do this in several ways.

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Classroom Positioning

There’s a lot to be gained by having the student sit close to the front. This is not because it’s traditionally associated with the ‘naughty seats’, but because it helps cut down on classmate wind-up opportunities and, more importantly, we could share non-verbal communication to help keep things focussed.  If I wanted to open a question or discussion to the whole class I often found a subtle eyebrow raise in the right direction (with a smile) would help remind them to suppress impulsivity and maybe not blurt out the answer. Perhaps non-verbal eyebrow communication skills should be a compulsory part of teacher training!  

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The Elastic Band Technique

And then there was the fun of the ‘Elastic Band Technique’ in a class of 30, ‘I hate Maths today’ teenagers!  A person with ADHD often finds fidgeting or repetitive movements helps them go into a more focused mindset, so having an elastic band to hand made all the difference to them.  You can guess the fun (read: steep learning curve) I had the first time, managing 29 other students insisting they too deserved an elastic band, and how equally determined I was that was not going to happen! What surprised me was how quickly it became the norm and I think that was down to the enthusiasm, energy and humour the ADHD students brought to the class.

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Helping Them Play to Their Unique Strengths

Some of the unique strengths and talents that come with an ADHD diagnosis took me by surprise. Creativity stood out – the students tended to show a unique way of thinking and problem solving – a powerful skill to have in maths.

Their ability to ‘think outside the box’ leading to innovative ideas opened the door for unplanned whole-class discussions where we all challenged and checked the ideas. They still rank as some of my most enjoyable lessons and I had the bonus of hearing more about how well the rest of the class understood a range of maths concepts.

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Building Their Confidence in Class

A person with ADHD is usually a risk-taker and that’s something that should always be rewarded in education.  In a class of teenagers, where peer pressure reigns supreme, having someone willing to offer a solution first and risk getting it wrong, inspired so many others in the class to try.  

The enthusiasm and energy brought to the class was contagious, motivating groups, powering forward projects and in the process, improving everybody’s self-confidence.  

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Students are Unique and That Should Be Celebrated

Over the years we have come a long way in understanding how best to understand and help students living with ADHD. The key is to approach students with a willingness to learn more about their minds and understand how they work to help them discover and play to their unique strengths and talents to achieve the best possible results, both in the classroom and in building skills for life.

I sincerely hope I understood enough about my students' challenges to bring out the best in every single one of them and those living with ADHD certainly contributed so much more to our classes and learning experiences than they will ever know.

For more resources and information on helping students and young people living with ADHD I’d suggest visiting The Scottish ADHD coalition.

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