Students with ADHD may exhibit disruptive behavior in the classroom, especially when they are made to sit through long assignments, if rules and expectations are vague, or if they are seated in an area with lots of distractions – near a window, for example, or near other children who are too talkative or tend to misbehave.
If accommodations and slight adjustments are provided for these students in the classroom, problem behaviors and disruptions may be kept to a minimum, and discipline such as suspension or expulsion (which really doesn’t help the child) can be avoided. The student with ADHD will most often have several triggers that consistently cause him to act out. Once identified, these can be eliminated as well.
Common Reasons for Problem Behaviors in ADHD
Children with ADHD will be fidgety in the classroom. They may get up from their seats during a lesson and disrupt others. They may be verbally disruptive, or they may tap their pencils or make other noise, which will cause the kids around them to lose focus. It is important for the teacher to work with other professionals and the parents to determine the reason or reasons for these behaviors.
Here are five common reasons and triggers for disruptive classroom behavior in kids with ADHD:
- attention seeking
- schoolwork avoidance
- lack of stimulation
- boredom
- needs not being met
Each one of these issues can be attended to if identified as the trigger of the undesirable classroom behavior.
Classroom Accommodations for ADHD
Teachers can immediately improve problem behaviors in her students by enacting some very effective classroom accommodations that will not only benefit those with special needs, but also every other child. Included in this list of classroom adjustments will be clear communication with students to insure that they will listen and understand the expectations of the teacher.
Regular communication with parents is also important. When parents are aware of daily classroom schedules, homework assignments, and expectations, they can participate in their child’s education and help them perform and behave better. Additionally, teachers can try the following methods of classroom management, which have been proven time and again to improve behavior and school performance in children:
- clearly presenting behavior expectations and classroom rules
- keeping the classroom and schoolwork organized
- verbally rewarding positive behavior
- establishing a token economy system to reinforce behavior guidelines
- breaking down large assignments into simple, multiple steps
- keeping the kids moving around the classroom, using workstations and/or various areas of the class for different lessons
- giving breaks during long assignments
- adjusting seating arrangements when they are not working out
- teaching to multiple learning styles (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.)
- using clearly communicated punishments for the most disruptive behaviors, such as removing earned tokens or handing out “tickets” or “fines”
Behavior Strategies for ADHD
Children can also be taught to find other ways to replace their disruptive behavior. If the child is frequently distracted (or distracting) during lessons because he needs to take a sensory break, perhaps the teacher can try providing him with a color card that he can raise to let her know that he has to get up. The teacher can then assign him a short, active task related to the lesson plan in a separate part of the classroom.
Another way to help students within the classroom is to provide special privileges for students with ADHD who behave appropriately. Some of the most popular rewards to help manage ADHD behavior are classroom computer time, extra recesses or sitting next to a friend during snack. Teachers should try to catch the child doing something positive as much as possible so that the child gets lots of positive attention.
Students with ADHD often cause disruptions in the classroom. If teachers work effectively with parents and professionals to provide accommodations, identify the triggers of their student’s disruptive behavior, apply the appropriate behavioral management and classroom management techniques and give positive feedback when it is warranted, students with ADHD can enjoy a more rewarding educational experience.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
