Anyone who has ever been in a classroom with a student with ADHD has probably noticed his tendency to act before thinking. They interrupt teachers with brusque responses, cannot sit still for a moment, and distract other students who sit near them. Researchers believe that children with ADHD in elementary school have self-control problems, which are more serious than their ability to pay attention. How do you help a child with school behavior problems with ADHD? Here are some tips for reducing impulsivity in the classroom.

Establish clear rules in the classroom

Classroom rules must be defined and agreed upon at the beginning of each trimester. Write down the rules and post them on a bulletin board so that students with ADHD will remember appropriate behavior in the classroom. Alternatively, you can give students an incentive to behave by implementing a reward system; Provide small rewards, such as gold stars, to students who follow the rules. You can encourage good behavior outside of the classroom by allowing the class to earn rewards based on feedback from other teachers and school staff.

Encourage students to think aloud

You can better understand how students with ADHD reason by asking them to “think aloud” when doing problem-solving tasks. Doing so will encourage them to slow down a bit before blurting out responses. You can also give students with ADHD a 15 or 20 second pause before they are allowed to answer a verbal question.

Teach conflict resolution

Although it may not be part of the curriculum, children with ADHD can greatly benefit from learning some conflict resolution skills so that they can work together in peace. Consider attending workshops on conflict resolution management and apply the approaches you have learned in the classroom. Some approaches to consider include the peaceful classroom approach, where students work in groups to achieve similar learning goals, and the mediation program approach, which teaches children to mediate among other children who are fighting.

Give time to accept negative consequences

Students with ADHD can be volatile and stubborn, and may initially refuse to do a negative consequence like going to a time out. If this happens, set a timer for 1 to 2 minutes after the first rejection. Explain to the child that this time can be used to decide whether to voluntarily accept the consequence or reject it and face more serious consequences. Many teachers report that this method reduces the effort they have to enforce negative consequences and prevents further conflict.