A new school year can seem like a fresh start for everyone. Kids with ADHD and other learning disabilities may be hoping that this year will be different than past years, where they fell behind and felt overwhelmed.
Talk with your child about what he or she is excited about, and what he may be stressing out about. It’s good for kids to know that their feelings are heard and valued. Then start on a positive note by explaining to your child how his or her learning differences make it important to put together a plan for success.
Kids with ADHD struggle with organization, so talk with your child about how she can deal with the various aspects that go into bringing projects and homework home from school and putting together a routine for daily homework. And of course, have a plan for making sure homework projects go into the backpack and are turned in the following day.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel in terms of planners that help students learn how to keep track of assignments and long-term projects. I’ve seen some schools start providing them for students as young as fourth or fifth grade. (For students younger than that, teachers usually provide a weekly homework sheet that the students fill out based on what the teacher writes on the board each day.)
There are also many apps available for middle and high school students to start learning to use, such as Microsoft To Do and Microsoft Planner.
Not everything will go perfectly, of course, but talk with your child about what they can do if they miss an assignment or fail a test. Encourage your child to be honest with their teachers about their struggles and ask them if they can do extra credit work if they fall behind.
Don’t overlook the importance of making sure your kids get plenty of exercise so they can better focus on schoolwork. You know your child best; perhaps getting outside and playing with friends after school or sports activities will help him or her focus later.
If, as the school year progresses, you feel like your student is not getting the needed resources from the school district, I can advocate with your family to get those extra services.
