Classroom Strategies Series from My Attention Coach: #1 The Classroom

I want to thank Penny for the invitation to share some classroom strategies here at {a mom’s view of ADHD}. Our goal is to share practical strategies that teachers, social workers and school psychologists can easily implement with students that have ADHD. This post focuses on the classroom and placement within it.

Location
It honestly surprises me that this is even something that comes up anymore, but I have heard feedback that this strategy is sometimes not used. If a child is distracted or diagnosed with ADHD, I really encourage the teacher to make sure that the child is:

1. placed away from students that they love to interact with and who are easily distracted by, and 
2. that they are seated close to the teacher. 

If you have a student that has ADHD, I do not care if he is the tallest kid in the class, there is a large benefit that you are going to get if you place that student close to you and away from the distractions at the back of the room.


Walls
I also encourage teachers to think about what is distracting your students on the walls and on the desks. This is probably more of a concern that I would have in elementary schools, but I think it can apply for older students as well. When you look at your classroom, you may have every single wall full of information and I know it is all valuable information. I would suggest, however, having either a part of a wall or even a full wall that is really blank. The child with ADHD can allow their eyes to rest in that place if they need a break from so much of the busyness that can be going on in a typical classroom. I would say the same thing for desks as well. Again, especially thinking about the younger students.

Please share your feedback in the comments and stay tuned for the next post!

Laura Rolands is an ADHD Coach, the founder of My Attention Coach, and host of Practical ADHD Strategies.  She works with students, adults and families to find effective solutions to their ADHD challenges.