Successfully Teaching Children with ADHD in the Free Online Homeschool Classroom

If you are a parent of a child that has ADHD and you are responsible for educating them through one of the free online homeschool programs, it is important to learn the steps for successfully teaching children with ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is considered to be one of the most common neurobiological/behavioral conditions that affect children. While it is not considered to be a learning disability, it has been established that it could negatively impact the academic success of the child that suffers from it. This is because of the fact that the core characteristics of ADHD, which are inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, often result in the child’s inability to focus on the instructions and lessons that are provided to them. However, by learning your child’s specific learning style, you may be able to successfully go about the process of teaching children with ADHD in the free online homeschool classroom.

Sensory Modality Preferences

If you are teaching your child through a free online homeschool program, it is essential that you understand that everyone learns in a unique manner. While there are many different factors that determine how we learn as individuals, a person’s cognitive style and their sensory modality preferences are the most prevalent factors. These preferences are the methods that a person finds it most easy to learn new information and process that information. The three common sensory modality preferences that you should be aware of when teaching children with ADHD are visual learning, auditory learning, and tactile-kinesthetic learning. If you have an ADHD classroom set up at home through one of the free online homeschool programs, it is essential to learn your child’s learning style. By knowing this information, you will be able to customize the curriculum and maintain your child’s interest while teaching them.

Visual Learning in the ADHD Classroom

If you are teaching children with ADHD, it is important to determine if they are a visual learner. These children learn most effectively when they are observing, watching, reading or engaging in other forms of visual stimulation. Since children with characteristics of ADHD have a difficult time staying focused and engaging in other cognitive functions, you should consider utilizing the following strategies in the free online homeschool in order to ensure their academic success:

1. There are many productive tools that you may use in order to teach concepts and other facts. These include flash cards, multimedia presentations and boards that are designed from flannel, are dry-erase or are magnetic.

2. It is important to write out the directions for a visual learner that has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. You may also utilize organizers that are graphic in nature. Many parents that teach their children through a free online homeschool program may also utilize charts, maps, and an assortment of diagrams in order to teach the ADHD child.

3. When teaching children with ADHD that learn best visually, it is important to provide handouts, use an overhead projector in order to draw attention to the material being covered and to encourage organizing material through the use of coloring systems such as highlighting.

Auditory Learning in the ADHD Classroom

When teaching children with ADHD, it is important to determine if your child learns best by verbalizing, discussing and/or listening. If so, there are many distinct steps that you may take in the free online homeschool program that you are using to enhance their comprehension of subjects being covered. You may use the following techniques to optimize success in the at-home ADHD classroom:

1. Using music CDs, instruments and other products that provide rhythm, beats, and an assortment of melodies may prove to be highly effective in both teaching information and reinforcing information that has already been presented.

2. There are many different types of entertaining games such as word games, those that involve phonics and discussions may assist in optimizing the academic success of the ADHD student.

3. Utilizing books, plays, stories that are presented on CD or DVD as well as speeches may prove to be highly effective in maintaining the interest of a child in the free online homeschool classroom that has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.

Tactile-Kinesthetic Learning in the ADHD Classroom

If you are interested in learning the process of teaching children with ADHD, it is important to understand that there are many that are considered to be tactile-kinesthetic learners. These students learn best when they are able to engage in physical activities, touch objects, and perform other “hands on” activities. Children that experience high levels of impulsivity and hyperactivity are often tactile-kinesthetic learners. The following strategies may help you properly educate in the free online homeschool classroom:

1. Provide many opportunities for the child to move frequently. Using physical education toys and other types of physically therapeutic toys may help teach a child important facts and details.

2. It is important to ensure that you have a lot of classroom manipulatives on hand that will help a child learn basic skills. Examples include word and letter blocks, shapes, and other types of math manipulatives.

3. You should provide puzzles, crafts, and other items that may be constructed in a “hands on” manner to draw the interest of the child and maintain their focus while educating them.

Teaching children with ADHD is a challenging endeavor. Whether you are an educator that works in a traditional classroom, or a parent in the free online homeschool classroom, you will discover many challenges. However, it is essential to hold on to the fact that this is a very rewarding experience as well. By learning about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and determining what type of learner that you are dealing with, you will find that the challenge is quickly omitted from the tasks at hand. Using the techniques outlined in this guide will allow you to get the child’s attention and keep it long enough that they will be able to comprehend the subject matter being presented to them. As a result, teaching children with ADHD will go from a complicated task to an enjoyable, rewarding experience.


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