What is the theory behind this ADHD Math Worksheet?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that is mostly diagnosed in early to late childhood. Students with ADHD have difficulty in solving Math problems because they require reading and writing skills along with recalling previous learning of mathematical concepts. The focus it requires to organise and make sense of small details is overwhelming for them. There are certain strategies that can be adopted to help students with ADHD to perform better at Math.
How will the worksheet help?
The worksheet will provide some accommodations that can help teachers make maths assignments and tests easier for their students with ADHD. It can help guide remedial teachers, those teaching in inclusive schools or even parents tutoring their kids at home.
How to use the worksheet?
This guide can be shared with teachers in teacher-training programs organised by schools. It can also be shared with parents in ADHD awareness sessions, family therapy sessions or parent-teacher meetings in the school.
ADHD Math Worksheet
Students with ADHD have difficulties in understanding and solving Math problems in particular, This is because they require attention and focus on specific details along with reading and writing skills and recalling of previously learned concepts, all of which becomes too overwhelming for them. Following are some accommodations that can be made particularly for your students with ADHD to help them perform better at Math.
- Extra time: Always offer them extra time for class assignments, homework deadlines and tests. It allows them to not be burdened by the stress of a time limit thus allowing them to use their energy to focus on the task at hand.
- Highlighting: Highlight any key concepts or key details in a word problem or mathematical question so that it is easier for them to focus on the important details needed to solve the question. Students can also be guided to keep their own color codes for key mathematical operations that they can use to highlight the information themselves.
- Minimise distractions: Allow the students to complete their work or take their tests in a separate room from the other students to help them focus on the task at hand instead of getting repeatedly distracted by their surroundings.
- Provide worksheets: Instead of letting them copy down incorrect problems from the board it will be helpful to provide them printed worksheets. This will avoid the hassle of having to correct them repeatedly and save them time to focus more on finding solutions instead.
- Break down content into smaller parts: Help them break down instructions in a question into smaller parts so that they can focus on the requirements of the question in a systematic order one at a time as opposed to getting confused with multiple directions.
- Written directions: For complex questions it can be helpful to provide them with a step by step direction checklist that can be followed to reach a solution.
- Teach through hangs-on experience: Teaching mathematical concepts through real life examples, demonstrations or experimentations can be both fun and easier to remember and understand for students with ADHD. The use of manipulatives or real life examples can be used to reinforce and test concepts.
- Flashcards: Make flashcards of information related to mathematical concepts such as multiplication tables and formulas that the student can refer to jog their memory for previously learned concepts. Focus on teaching concepts not testing their memory.
- Do not delay their checking: Make sure to check their work and make corrections as they go along so that they aren’t disheartened to find mistakes after completion.
- Calculator: Allow them the use of a calculator so they can skip the added time and pressure of having to solve calculations manually.
Reference
You can download this worksheet here.