ADHD at School: What Your Child’s Teacher Needs to Know

By Leanne Tran | Psychologist | Parent Like a Psychologist

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Parent Like a Psychologist! I'm so glad you're here. Today we’re diving into a topic that comes up frequently in my practice—ADHD at school—and more specifically, what your child’s teacher really needs to know.

This topic comes from working with several kids who already have an ADHD diagnosis. I've been doing assessments to explore other potential developmental challenges or learning difficulties, and one pattern keeps standing out: how schools handle ADHD varies wildly.

Why This Matters

As a parent, you want your child to be supported at school—but it’s hard to know what to suggest if you’re not a teacher or don’t work in this space. That’s why I’ve been creating fact sheets for teachers—tailored for both primary and high school settings—to help bridge this gap. You’ll find a download link in the show notes, including the resource:

Copy and Download: file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/ADHD%20for%20Primary%20Teachers.pdf

Now, let’s get into what teachers need to understand—and what you, as a parent, can do to support that conversation.

Why School Is Harder Than It Looks for Kids With ADHD

Let’s take a walk in your child’s shoes.

A child with ADHD is often asked to:

• Sit still for long periods

• Follow multi-step verbal instructions

• Tune out distractions

• Begin tasks independently and persist until completion
  All without movement breaks and often with minimal support.

That’s a huge cognitive load for a brain that struggles with executive functioning. Here are some core difficulties:

1. Regulating Attention

It’s not just about paying attention—it’s about knowing what to focus on and what to ignore. This is extremely difficult for an ADHD brain, especially when the content is unengaging.

2. Working Memory

This means holding onto information long enough to act on it. If a teacher gives four instructions, your child might only remember the first—or none.

3. Impulse Control

Kids may blurt out, fidget, or move around the room—not because they’re misbehaving, but because they’re struggling to self-regulate.

4. Hyperactivity

Difficulty regulating physical movement makes sitting still even harder.

And all of this effort is happening before they’ve even started learning the academic content.

Common Misunderstandings Teachers May Have

Many teachers genuinely want to help but may be guided by misconceptions:

“They can focus when they want to.”

Your child might hyperfocus on Minecraft but struggle with writing. That’s not a motivation issue—it’s about regulating attention, not choosing it.

“They’re being disruptive on purpose.”

Most disruptions are signs of dysregulation, boredom, or sensory overload—not willful disobedience.

“They’re not trying hard enough.”

In fact, many kids with ADHD are working twice as hard just to meet the basic demands of the classroom. They don’t need more pressure—they need better support.

What Helps: Practical Strategies for Teachers

These are just a few of the strategies included in the downloadable fact sheet. Teachers don’t need to use them all—but having a toolbox of options makes a huge difference.

1. Chunk Instructions

Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of giving three things to do at once, give one step, then check in.

2. Use Visual Supports

Post visual schedules, use diagrams, and add visual cues for routines. This eases the burden on working memory and helps kids stay on track.

Timers—like sand timers or digital ones—also help ADHD kids understand how much time is left on a task.

3. Build in Movement

Movement helps regulation. Standing breaks, stretching, or fidget tools can prevent dysregulation before it starts.

4. Celebrate Effort

Grades aren’t always within a child’s control, but effort is. Praise persistence and engagement, not just performance.

How You Can Partner With Teachers

Navigating conversations with your child’s teacher can be delicate. Here are some tips:

Lead with Collaboration

Start the conversation by saying, “I’d love to work with you to help my child succeed.”

Share Resources

Give them access to things like the ADHD for Primary Teachers PDF mentioned earlier. Say something like:

“I came across this short guide that explains some helpful classroom strategies. I thought you might find it useful.”

Focus on What’s Working

Frame suggestions around what helps your child, rather than what isn’t working in class.

Final Thoughts

School is genuinely more exhausting for kids with ADHD. Their brains are working overtime just to show up and stay regulated. They need support—not shame.

If you’re feeling unsure how to advocate without overstepping, that’s completely normal. Just remember: your voice is part of the team around your child. And when parents and teachers work together, it truly makes a difference.

Thanks for listening. Be sure to check the show notes for the downloadable fact sheet, and I’ll see you in the next episode of Parent Like a Psychologist.