ADHD and Homework

Neuro-Linguistic Learning Center

Helping Children, Teens and Adults Succeed in the 21st Century

ADHD and Homework

Homework can present a number of challenges for the ADHD or visual student. Let’s keep in mind that the student has already spent 5 or 6 hours “holding it together’ in the classroom. He or she has been struggling to pay attention, to keep up with the pace of the classroom assignments, and often to simply fit in with the other children.

One particular teaching practice that is most disheartening to the ADHD or visual student is that of allowing the children some class time to work on their homework assignments.

The underlying presumption is this seems to be a good way to motivate students to get their homework done in class and, for many students it works just that way. However, for the ADHD or visual student that does not have the focus and organizational skills to actually complete the assignment, he is left with the knowledge that he has homework while most if not all of the other children do not.

The picture he then carries home in his head is of him sitting down to do more schoolwork (which he doesn't like to do in the first place) while all his friends are outside playing and having fun.

It is no surprise that these children feel resentful and resistant towards homework. So every day they spend an exhausting two or three hours struggling with themselves and fighting with their parents to complete 30 or 40 minutes of actual homework.

For many ADHD or visual children there is the knowledge that the on-going experience that the reason they aren’t able to complete the homework in the classroom (or in a timely manner) is because they simply don’t understand at least some piece of the assignment.

This is often expressed as resistance, unwillingness, and/or procrastination. The common interpretation is that the child is just being difficult or willful or defiant. And the typical outcome is conflict, anger and punishment.

In addition to providing the student with new skills to help them understand and complete their class work and other assignments in a timely manner, we also provide parents with information and resources on:

· Testing and Diagnosis;

· Assessments for ADHD and other challenges;

· Consultants to help with the IEP and 504 process;

· Behavior and Discipline;

· Communication;

· In-home strategies to reduce conflict and stress;

· And much more…

The sad part is that research has show little or no benefits for the use of homework. It is perhaps analogous to ‘preaching to the choir’. The student who will be successful with homework really don't need the extra work.

The students who actually do need extra assistance or attention to master the subject matter are either unable to complete the assignment or receive no additional insights in trying to complete the work on their own.

What they do need is someone to sit down with them and make sure they actually understand the assignment and can complete the work.