Are you looking for strategies to help students who need to be near you to pay attention? If so, keep reading.
1. Provide a consistent manner in which oral questions are asked and instructions are given.
2. Get the student to take notes when instructions are being given following the “What, How, Learning materials, and On occasions where” format.
3. Talk regularly with the student to help them pay attention to a source of the sound.
4. Praise the student for paying attention to the information presented from any place in the classroom: (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).
5. Give instructions on a one-to-one basis before assigning a task.
6. Use the student’s name to gain their attention prior to delivering directions, explanations, or instructions.
7. Praise those students who pay attention to information from any place in the classroom.
8. Provide mobility to assist the student; regularly be near the student, etc.
9. Provide all directions, questions, explanations, and instructions at an appropriate rate for the student.
10. Provide simple, specific instructions as to what the student is to do.
11. Do not criticize when correcting the student; be honest yet compassionate. Never cause the student to feel negatively about themselves.
12. Talk regularly with the student to help them follow instructions for a learning experience.
13. Provide visibility to and from the student to keep their attention when oral questions/instructions are being delivered. The teacher and the student should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times.
14. Do not give instructions to the student from across the classroom. Go to the student, get their full attention, and explain the instructions to him/her.
15. Separate at several points during the presentation of directions, explanations, or instructions to check the student’s understanding of the information presented.
16. Provide a signal to gain the student’s attention before delivering directions, explanations, or instructions (e.g., clap hands, turn lights off and on, etc.).
17. Place the student near the source of information in the classroom. As the student shows success, slowly move them away from the source of information.
18. Show instructions following the outline of (1) What, (2) How, (3) Learning materials, and (4) On occasions where.
19. Get the student to listen and takes notes for “Who, What, Where, On occasions where, How, and Why” while ideas are presented.
20. Provide oral questions and instructions that involve only one step. As the student shows success, slowly increase the number of ideas or steps.
21. Consider using assistive technology designed to help students to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to concentrate. Click here to view list of assistive technology apps that we recommend.
