Many schools think ADHD support needs a budget. It does not. A 2025 paper on ADHD in Indian primary schools recommends simple tools: structured routines, task breakdown, visual aids, peer buddies and positive reinforcement. Here are ten strategies I have seen work again and again.
- Seat smartly. Near the teacher, away from the door and window, next to a calm classmate.
- One instruction at a time. "Open your book." Wait. "Turn to page 20." Wait. Not three steps at once.
- Write it on the board. Every task, every deadline, every page number, so the student can look back.
- Break tasks into chunks. Five questions, then a check, then five more.
- Use a visual timer. Seeing time pass helps the brain manage it.
- Plan movement. Let the student hand out books, clean the board or stand while working.
- Use a peer buddy. A kind classmate who checks that homework is written down.
- Give specific praise. "You finished all five without a reminder" is a coin in the piggy bank.
- Agree on a private signal. A tap on the desk instead of calling the child's name in front of everyone.
- End with a check-out. Two minutes before the bell: bag packed, homework written, nothing left behind.
Why this works for everyone
These strategies help students with ADHD, but they also help shy students, students learning in a second language, and students who are simply tired. Good inclusion is good teaching.
Sources: International Journal of Indian Psychology (2025), on ADHD in Indian primary schools.
This article is for education and awareness. It is not medical advice. Only a qualified doctor or psychologist can diagnose ADHD.