UDL Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyeractivity Disorder

Definition: ADHD is a severe and frequent inability to concerntrate and frequent periods of hyperativity that are more severe than what is expected from someone around the same age (American Psychiatric Association, 2015). 

Symptoms of ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsitivity 

Types: a. ADHD, Predominetly inattentive type

            b. ADHD, Predominetly hyperactiv type

            c. ADHD, Combined type 

(Gargiulo and Metcalf, 2013)

How Many Students are Affected by ADHD?

3-7 percent of school aged population (Gargiulo and Metcalf, 2013). 

What Challenges does Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Present? 

To consider the challenges that ADHD presents, it is easiest to catergorize the challenges by the symptoms that they originate from. 

Inattention: 

• Student may seem like they are not listening
• Student may be disorganized or may frequently lose things
• Student may be easily distracted
• Student may make careless mistakes
• Student may have trouble concentrating for long periods of time
• Student may be forgetful
• Student may not finish long tasks

Impulsitivity: 

• May interrupt others
• May yell out answers in class before the question is completed, or without waiting to be called on
• May have trouble waiting for their turn

Hyperactivity: 

• May have trouble staying in their seat
• May be very talkative
• May have trouble sitting still
• May have trouble participating in quiet activitities like study hall

(Gargiuo and Metcalf, 2013) 

Suggested Teaching Strategies for Students with ADHD

Grades K-3

• Provide a lot of breaks for students where they are allowed to stretch or talk 
• Provide lots of kinstetic materials for the student (playdough and paint to talk about primary colors, legos to learn about adding, colored blocks to teach about patterns) 
• Plan lessons that involve movement (scavenger hunts, learning activities at different stations) 
• When an activity involves taking turns, keep the student updated on when their turn is ("Ashley is going now, Brayden will go after her, and then it will be your turn." )

Grades 4-8

• Continue to allow students breaks during class to stretch or talk
• Provide opportunities where the student may choose how to express what they have learned (posterboard, play, project) 
• Avoid long lectures, include lots of hands on activities for learning, or music or dancing to teach
• Help the student to make sure that their homework is listed in a planner each day so they do not forget what they are responsible for
• Don't give a lot of timed tests
• Incorporate activities done on the computer

 Grades 9-12

• Continue to allow students different opportunties to express what they have learned (posterboard, play, movie) 
• Use lots of movies, hands on activities, and group discussions to keep the student engaged
• Allow breaks during long classes or difficult topics
• Make sure that the student writes homework down in a planner
• Avoid long lectures 
• Don't give a lot timed tests
• Incorparate activities done on the computer

Resources for Teaching Students with ADHD

http://www.ictgames.com/rhymingRockets.html

This is a fun game to help students learn about rhyming words. They have to shoot down missles that rhyme with their given word. This would be perfect for a student with ADHD because it is exciting and interactive. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/characteristics_materials_fs.shtml

I recommend this site for exciting science lessons. The link in particular takes you to an exciting science lesson about characteristics of different materials, but BBC schools has many different lessons for different age levels. The lessons include an interavactive activity, a quiz, and an interactive workshop, that helps students apply what they have learned to real life. 

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/teaching-students-with-adhd-attention-deficit-disorder.htm

This site discusses good methods for teaching students with ADHD. 

Closing Comments

Attention Deficit Disorder is a high incidence exceptionality. This means that as a teacher, you will pobably have many students who have ADHD. It is important that every student in your classroom is given an appropriate education. This means that you must make modifications ahead of time for your students with disabilities.While this may seem time consuming, it is of the utmost importance that these modifications have been well planned so that they can be executed efficently. For students with disabilities, it is important that lesson plans are modified in a way that is personal, helping each student to work towards their strengths and taking away barriers of learning. It is also important that you remember that every student has the potential to learn. Unfortunetly, some teachers do not see the potential in their students with disabilities and set the bar too low. This does not help a  student with disabilities, in fact in hurts their learning experience and hinders growth. Students with ADHD have the same ability as their peers to learn and to grow as a student, they just need the oppurtunity to learn in a different way. As a teacher, it is your responsibility to help every student in your classroom to learn and to be successful by providing student's with the tools and oppurtunities that they need.