• Emphasize organization skills to ….
• Emphasize organization skills to students. The CDC notes organizational training that emphasizes time management and planning has been tested on children and adolescents and found to be effective. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association suggests people with ADHD learn how to break down complex tasks, such as end-of-semester school projects or exams, into smaller subtasks, and the planning skills emphasized by the CDC can be employed to do just that.
• Take breaks. It’s hard for anyone to maintain intense focus for lengthy periods of time, and that’s true for people with ADHD and those who do not have the condition. A report from the American Psychological Association notes that routine breaks from challenging tasks, including coursework, can restore energy, prevent burnout and improve performance. Fatigue can compromise a person’s ability to focus, so students and parents should not see routine breaks as counterproductive in relation to the goal of improving focus. In fact, purposeful breaks that are not too long can sharpen focus.
• Adjust students’ environment. The ADDA notes that several strategies can help students optimize their environment so they can better focus on the task at hand. Utilizing noise-canceling headphones while studying in a quiet spot away from noise and distraction is one way students can optimize their environment. Turning off smartphone notifications, periodically decluttering a workspace and keeping only study materials in spots where schoolwork is done can help students with ADHD sharpen their focus.
Students with ADHD may be able to improve their focus, and thus their academic performance, with a few simple strategies.
