Strategies for teaching English to YL with ADHD

Have you ever noticed that some children appear unable to remain seated during lessons and are frequently distracted? 

They seem to have a lot of energy, but it's hard to channel it in the right direction. This may indicate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurological disorder that impairs a child's ability to concentrate, manage their activity and control impulsive behaviour. 

It is essential to recognise that a child with ADHD may struggle at school, but this doesn't imply they lack the ability to learn. 

For example, their hyperactivity might prevent them from sitting still or completing tasks in a traditional manner, while inattentiveness could cause them to miss vital parts of an explanation. 

ADHD is not a verdict, but just a peculiarity that requires a special approach. The main thing is to understand the needs of such children and to adapt the learning process to them. 

The symptoms of ADHD are different for each child. Some children experience inattention, others struggle with hyperactivity and impulsiveness, while some have a combination of all three traits.

For example, a child who is often distracted may not hear important instructions from the teacher. Forgetfulness and a tendency to lose things often result in frequent misunderstandings — notebooks are left at home, pencils get misplaced, and both parents and teachers find themselves constantly reminding the child of even the simplest tasks. 

Hyperactivity presents another significant challenge.

Impulsivity further complicates matters, making their behaviour unpredictable: they may shout out answers, interrupt classmates during discussions, and find it difficult to wait their turn. 

Yes, these symptoms may seem like an obstacle to a successful lesson, but the right approach can not only minimise their impact, but also help the child to realise their strengths.

Minimising external distractions

To help children with ADHD maintain focus, it’s crucial to create a distraction-free environment. 

For example, you might play soothing background music or ensure their workspace is tidy and free of unnecessary items that could draw their attention. 

Don’t give students several tasks at once, do everything in stages, bring one task to completion, then start the second. 

This will help to keep their attention and quality of work.

Encouragement and praise for good behaviour

Praising and supporting a pupil helps them develop positive habits. Make an effort to use specific praise. 

For example, rather than a general comment like “Well done,” say: “Great job! You stayed focused on the task today and finished it on time!”

Rewards, such as points or stickers, can also be an effective way to motivate pupils. An excellent tool for this is the online platform ClassDojo. On this platform, you can create a group for your pupils, where they select their own monster avatar. 

After each lesson, you can award points to acknowledge their efforts. Pupils can then save these points and later exchange them — either as a group or individually — for engaging activities that you design yourself.

Understanding individual learning styles

To help children with ADHD achieve the best results, it is important to take into account their individual learning styles, as each learner perceives and assimilates information differently. 

Children with a visual learning style will be much more successful if you use picture cards, presentations with brightly coloured pictures.

For students who are auditory learners, incorporate videos, cartoons, and audio materials to present information more effectively. 

For instance, when teaching colours in English, you could play a YouTube song that introduces the colours or one that encourages students to repeat the words after the narrator. 

Children with a kinaesthetic learning style benefit from hands-on activities and movement, so include games that involve physical actions. 

Our blog offers a wide range of games that will seamlessly integrate into your lessons. 

Take breaks

Children with ADHD need more time to recover from intense mental exertion, and regular breaks help them recharge. 

You can also introduce short warm-ups or stretching. 

But of course each student needs different break times, so you will need to observe the children's reactions and experiment with the frequency and length of breaks.

Be patient

Students might make mistakes, feel upset, or have difficulty managing their emotions, which makes patience essential in such situations. 

Anticipate that mistakes will occur, and recognise that a child with ADHD may struggle to complete tasks.

Focus on reducing tension in the classroom and strive to maintain a calm and composed manner.

Engage with short and varied activities

Children can lose interest quite quickly, so it's best to keep tasks short. Incorporating playful formats like mini-games or team activities can make lessons more engaging for pupils. 

However, when organising team games, be sure to promote healthy competition.

All in all, the understanding of children with ADHD continues to evolve, and it is important to remain open to new research and approaches. 

Working with children with ADHD requires special attention and patience, so they need your support as a teacher. 

Start using these strategies to create a comfortable environment for your students.