The Mayo Clinic explains that ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a mental health disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Students with this disorder have difficulties paying attention during important tests, suppressing impulses such as answering questions without being called on and making and maintaining friendships with peers. Treatments for this disorder include therapy, medication and lifestyle changes. Students can implement specific techniques to improve their school performance.
Create Specific, Measurable Goals
Students with ADHD become overwhelmed when they have a large project they need to complete, such as a book report or science project. To make the task easier, break the project down into smaller goals that are specific and measurable. For instance, an assignment to read and study five chapters for a big history test in five weeks could be broken down: one chapter each week. This makes the task seem more manageable.
Students also can do this with daily homework. The student should write down each assignment that needs to be completed, set a timer for 30 minutes and work on homework until the timer buzzes. If the student still has more work to complete, he should set the timer for a 10-minute break and then return to homework for another 30 minutes until it's complete.
Implement Rewards
Students, no matter what grade they're in, should reward themselves for meeting their goals. Even college students who struggle with ADHD will be more apt to work hard if there is a motivation for completing the work. An elementary school student might be rewarded for completing her homework every night by being allowed to play with her dolls for 20 minutes after dinner. Parents could reward a middle school student by giving him lunch money for the next day instead of packing a lunch. A high school or college student could reward herself by getting a manicure at the end of a week after completing all assignments.
Make Learning Fun
According to Helpguide.org, parents should assist their children in making learning fun. If your child has an upcoming test, help her learn the material with funny acronyms or by playing games. For example, have your child roll dice to determine which spelling word she needs to spell out loud for you. If you help your child enjoy the learning process, she'll be more likely to focus. Reading is a skill that can be extremely frustrating for a child with ADHD. You can make it more enjoyable by asking your child to predict the ending after reading a couple pages or by acting out the story together.
