To the Teachers of ADHD Students (How Can I Help?)

Hello Teachers of Brains!

I know you’re out there in the classroom every day, overwhelmed with the number of students/lesson plans/IEPs/504 plans/etc. etc. etc. you have to worry about -- I’m not here to add to your plate, I’d like to make it easier. Your ADHD students need you, whether or not they’ve been diagnosed -- let me know how I can help. Happy back to school!

(Classroom-friendly!) Fidgets:

Posters:
An all-brains-appropriate version of our "you are not alone" poster: **technical difficulties uploading this, please check back after Edward gets some sleep**

This is what it's really like to have ADHD:

Understood through your child’s eyes tool:

[ssquad]

Omg, u made me cry, I wish I had those type of teacher that whould help me with my adhd, I never watched a video that I related to this much since now. I wish all teachers see this video.

[homelybiscuit]

The part about skipping class really hit home. I remember staying home and missing whole days of school because I hadn’t finished an essay or finished a project that I honestly hadn’t even started yet.

[arjuns]

Can you please do a vid on teens with ADHD

[Palitato]

As a prior student- writing homework that's due on the board and *leaving it there* for all of class. One of my teachers did this, and I actually got into the habit of writing it down as soon as I got there, and sometimes I would even start it.
That's another one. Let students work on their homework in class. You never know what's going on at home, and the distractions that might arise. I had a chaotic home life, and more often than not would entirely forget I had homework at all until I was going to bed.

Also, if a student CHOOSES to sit in the front row- *don't move them!*
I KNEW I would have trouble staying on task if I was in the back of the room, so I chose a seat directly front and center in my English class. The teacher rearranged seating to her own liking and I ended up in the back corner. I nearly failed, and I"m pretty sure she passed me because it was the only credit I would have been missing to be able to graduate.
I had a 68 in that class and after a bomb of a final paper (52!!) I somehow got a 72 in class.

Offer extra credit that can be done if an assignment is forgotten- something to cover the same material. A student who truly forgot the assignment will be grateful and willing to work on something immediately to make up for it.

Understand that we get angry. It's almost impossible to control, and we do not need discipline when anger hits, or detention for losing our temper. We need someone to say they understand why we're angry. That they know we're upset, and that it's okay to feel that way.
Let us have time to cool off. Let us have our 8-mile long stretch of track to apply the really terrible breaks to our angry train.
Then give us other ways to express our anger. But let us BE angry. Demanding we calm down is only going to make it worse, because we literally can't.

Try and figure out what makes a student excited. Find out their interests. If an ADHDer is interested in something, you will get 10x the work out of them than another neurotypical student.
I got a 98 in Biology. A 100 in Art. I sailed through the creative writing portion of English with a 94.
But I got a 73 in Chemistry. A 71 in Algebra. But a 98.5 in Lab Geometry.

And for God's sakes, if a student speaks up in a conversation with information, even if you don't believe it and it's possibly the dumbest thing you ever heard- do not, do not EVER, say "What are you, stupid?" (Thanks for that Coach C. Btw, I was right about the fact I mentioned, you jerk.)

ALSO MRS. COOPER OF BUCKSPORT, MAINE, YOU WERE THE BEST TEACHER I EVER HAD. YOU WERE PATIENT AND KIND AND LOVELY AND IGNITED MY LOVE OF HARRY POTTER AND YOU ARE A WONDERFUL AND DELIGHTFUL HUMAN BEING I WISH THERE WERE A THOUSAND MORE OF YOU. (Mr. Mercier, you were totally epic too, but also that was 3rd grade so I don't remember much besides your cool pez dispensers, making a potato clock, that time I stapled my finger, our cursive lessons, and the READING NOOK. Loved the nook.)

[jgauz]

I am a teacher with adult ADHD. Having a daughter with ADHD who is entering kindergarten and growing up with ADHD has allowed me to have extreme empathy for students who do not have typical brains. I have implemented flexible seating and have an understanding that my lessons should be short and/or in small groups. I also think that being a teacher with ADHD has allowed me to find my strengths and be more confident in myself.

[AUnicorn]

hugs everyone who has gone though a hard time in general and at school hugs jessica and edward

[jadekempsclassroom]

I have two boys with ADHD. One in Secondary, one in Primary. Plus I am a teacher. Before them, I thought ADHD was just about behavior. Because of them, I learned about the layers of ADHD and the amazing creativity and mind that comes with it. But something is wrong with the education system because it allows little room for them to succeed because they are nontypical :( most days they come home feeling like failures. Thanks for your channel I am inspired to try and create change. For my boys and for my students.

[morganm]

I had two teachers during a summer math course who was so understanding and the biggest thing for me was that they talked to me and worked with me. “Is this noise level ok?” “Do you need some extra test time?” “Would you like a break?” “Tell us how we can help you.” These teachers were so helpful to me especially because math is my worst subject. I didn’t even have a 504 yet (I didn’t know what it was) but they listened to me and worked with me. And that meant the world to me.

[NikkiNotion]

I’m an ADHDer and a Teacher. Thank you.

[dotexemachina]

Everyone always told me that I was so chill with school, homework and test, that I never stressed assignments and said that I'll finish it when it's finished. I'd always take it easy, do everything last minute and still make it, but one of my teachers, she was the only one who saw how panicky and anxious I was all the time. How much sleep I was losing to unfinished work and how many hours I'd sit and hit my head against the wall trying to do my work. And it felt embarrassing at first that she'd noticed, growing up with what I now know is emotional dysregulation I only knew how to cope by hiding my emotions, never being honest when I struggled, but in hindsight it really felt nice that someone finally understood

[vegandumpweed]

Jeez...I teared up watching this! I'm a heart raising a brain! I took him out of public school where I had constant complaints about him not sitting still, or randomly singing, not listening etc....and I placed him in a Project based school! Since I did that his teachers tell me what a joy he is, that he's creative and kind and funny! Best choice I ever made!!!! So to the parents out proactive! If you feel the school is not right for your brain...find a place that is! Every kid deserves a chance!

[heidithomas]

I am a teacher and my daughter has ADHD/autism. What gets my fur raised is I can pick out the child who is struggling and freezes, and comes up against mental blocks, but have to hear other teachers complain about the laziness of the student. Public school hurts students who are different learners. Too many teachers want everyone to fit into a box, but that box isn't big enough for everyone. Another thing I hear a lot is everyone has to work in a group, especially uneducated teachers trying to teach using S.T.E.A.M. This is crazy considering many tech jobs are individualized and not so group focused.

My suggestion is to have ball chairs so children can bounce and work...this is good for a class, if you apply for a grant you may get them for free. Giving every student a choice of how and where they can sit for certain class activities, and if they want to work individually, or work in a group. Choices for differentiated learner's (not just adhd student) are liberating.

I had a professor in college who allowed me to sit on the floor towards the front. I wasn't blocking anyone and I could sprawl out with all my stuff. It was the first time I had a straight A average for a class.

[dylanz.]

My math teacher this last year changed the structure of tests for me and I went from getting D's to B's and A's. Sometimes a little change makes all the difference.

[HowtoADHD]

Teachers!! Make sure to share what kind of information or tools you need to better support your ADHD students, I'll do several videos over the course of the school year covering the most requested topics. Please share so other teachers can benefit as well -- thanks for all your support!

Brains!! If there's something that did or would help you in the classroom, post it here! (be nice)

[heidithomas]

For children today, who play more video games then ever and watch t.v. for hours on end, smartboards connected to the internet have been a blessing for classrooms. The students watch videos for every subject and the video demonstrates, and explains the concepts. Then, I as a teacher, can watch the class for non verbal cues of confusion. After the video, I'll ask who has questions, but I know not everyone is going to ask. Then, I'll go back over the areas individually with the students who didn't understand. I feel this eliminates the embarrassment of asking questions in front of the class. The class thinks I'm a magical mind reader, and all I'm doing is helping. If the technology is available, take advantage of it.

[bintehawwa]

My child just got diagnosed with ADHD and m in tears listening to you

[leagrths]

I wish I could show this to all my past teachers. Show them that I was trying and that I did care.

[stephb]

I have no diagnosis but... it helped so much when teachers wrote the homework assignments on the board for us to copy vs verbally giving the assignment. If it was verbal I would always miss something. And I couldn't always ask them to repeat it.

[tayloryoutsey]

I am currently a student teacher. I also have been diagnosed with adhd as an adult. I struggled so very much in school and had many apathetic teachers. As I am learning how to teach, I see students who have IEPs with ADHD and other learning disabilities. Some of these students (like myself as a kid) can be very disruptive to others and I do see things now from a teachers perspective as to how things can look like a lack of effort.

One thing that gets overlooked is many teachers, who are well intended, do not push students enough. I had teachers remove me from their class because i was so disruptive and place me in a remedial math class. It took me years to catch up because teachers never pushed me enough.

I have learned an important method for instruction is to be highly explicit and transparent about things like daily agendas, class norms and expectations, and to have small posters up that have learning objectives and content cheat sheets.

Varying the colors and maintaining relevant curriculum is a great way to engage students. But above all, building a solid relationship with all students and being able to observe them is going to be the best way to help.

I hope to learn a classroom management style that accommodates all learners and to strive for 100% of students to be at or above grade level.

[namhur]

Teachers, your job is one of the most noble important work that society desperately needs. I know the long hours, the busy schedule, the rowdy unappreciative children and the low pay grade discourage or maybe even disillusion you to see that and perhaps you couldn't be bothered with dealing with special cases like us.

But if you took your time and attention for the people who are struggling like us, we would definitely appreciate it.

For what it's worth, you already have my respect.