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If your child with ADHD requires a tutor, it is essential you find the right tutor to meet their needs. Tutoring a student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder requires unique skills and knowledge.
Because finding a tutor with specific skills and knowledge is necessary for kids with ADHD, we’ve put together five great tips to follow that ensure you'll find a well-equipped person to help your child.
Read on to learn how to find a qualified tutor that knows the strategies needed to support children with ADHD in their education.
Where Can Parents Find an ADHD Tutor?
If your child requires tutoring services, start by asking your child's teacher and school for recommendations. For example, the school may offer some type of school services or after-school homework clubs, or the teacher may be able to recommend a private service or individual.
Another place parents can seek tutoring assistance is by speaking with their pediatrician or another service provider their child sees, such as their speech or occupational therapist.
A third option is to contact local colleges or high schools to see if students offer tutoring services. Look for those studying education, pre-med, psychology, or other related fields who will have an understanding of ADHD. Students at the college level are often an affordable option!
Private tutoring schools like the Huntington Learning Center are nationwide and offer ADHD tutoring services. You can also check out wyzant.com to search for local private tutors.
Lastly, you can look at the Association of Education Therapists or the National Institute for Learning Development, as both sites have a list of certified therapists
Tip #1: Look for Tutors with Experience in an ADHD Tutoring Program
Because attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects a person's executive function skills, ADHD students lose focus quickly, may struggle with motivation, and often find it challenging to complete simple tasks. Therefore individuals with experience and an understanding of the learning disability are beneficial!
Advantages of hiring someone with experience
One of the benefits of working with someone trained in ADHD is they understand the science behind how your child's brain works. Therefore they can develop activities and challenges that will motivate your ADHD student and keep them focused on their homework.
Some tutors may have gone through an ADHD tutoring program; others may be former classroom teachers who worked with learning-disabled children. Another person may have years of experience as a private tutor, while others have worked in the classroom.
However, experience is only part of it, and you may find a young adult who works well with your child despite limited formal experience. More important than their experience is their understanding of kids with ADHD and how they click with your child.
Questions to ask prospective tutors
- What is your education and background in ADHD tutoring?
- How many students with ADHD have you tutored?
- Do you have experience working with any other learning disabilities?
- What do you enjoy about working with kids with ADHD?
- Can you tell me about another student with ADHD you tutored with success?
- What types of ADHD tutoring services do you offer?
Tip #2: Find ADHD Tutors Who Will Make Learning Fun
All kids learn better when learning is fun. But students with ADHD have a tough time establishing healthy study habits. Tutors who make learning fun and engaging best support kids with ADHD!
Why an engaging teacher is beneficial
Because kids with ADHD struggle with motivation, especially when it comes to homework or school-related tasks, they need a tutor who can make learning fun! They're more likely to stay focused when learning is fun and engaging.
Tutors who understand ADHD will add games, brain and movement breaks, hands-on learning, and other fun activities to their tutoring sessions.
Questions to ask prospective tutors
- What are some fun ways you might motivate my child to complete assignments?
- What types of movement or brain breaks do you use?
- What if my child simply doesn't want to work one day? How will you motivate them?
Try Joon to Increase Motivation
Of course, only some of the responsibility to motivate your child comes from the tutor. Both you and your child need to stay involved in the process. Joon helps students stay motivated and on task by functioning as an ADHD coach!
Parents assign their children specific tasks, and Joon provides instant gratification through a reward! In addition, the gamification set-up of Joon keeps kids with ADHD motivated and enhances their executive function skills by teaching time management and organization.
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Tip #3: Hire Someone Respectful and Patient
Respect is key when hiring a tutor. You want someone who will respect you, your kid, and your time! Additionally, you'll need a patient individual who understands that students with ADHD learn differently than their peers.
Why respect and patience are crucial
Often, a tutor comes into your home to work with your child. To be successful, they need to respect the guidelines of your home and your time. Likewise, as the parent, you need to give the tutor space and freedom to do their job as trained without overstepping.
Having an in-home tutor presents challenges because your kid may become easily distracted by toys, siblings, or even their pet! Limit distractions by creating a quiet zone for tutoring sessions.
Even if the tutoring session happens in their elementary or middle school as part of an in-school or after-school program, you still need to develop a relationship built on respect.
Patience is another critical aspect. ADHD tutors must possess the patience to provide adequate academic support. Students with ADHD often lack executive function skills like time management, organization, and task completion. To teach these kids, tutors need patience.
Questions to ask prospective tutors
- How do you effectively manage time during tutoring sessions?
- Do you offer flexible scheduling?
- How far in advance do we need to schedule or cancel a session?
- What do you need from me in order to be successful in teaching my child?
Tip #4: Look for Someone Able to Accommodate Special Needs
Under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), students with ADHD can be considered disabled. Therefore, tutors who work with individuals with ADHD should have training in special education.
Benefits of hiring a tutor who can accommodate special needs
Because ADHD typically falls under special education, someone tutoring students with ADHD should be able to accommodate special needs, within reason. A reasonable accommodation may include offering students fidgets or movement breaks during tutoring sessions.
However, if tutoring services are happening in the school or at a tutoring facility, in addition to portable fidget, there are supports in place. Some support options are standing desks, wobble chairs, chair bands, yoga balls, or other items to aid learning through sensory input.
Questions to ask prospective tutors
- What tools can I provide to make tutoring my kid go smoothly?
- What assistance can you offer when my kid is over or under-stimulated?
- What are some accommodations you've used in the past that have helped students?
Tip #5: Hire a Tutor Who Can Set Realistic Goals for Academic Success
Your child's teacher may have specific academic goals in mind at the start of the school year. Students with ADHD may or may not be able to meet these goals depending on how far behind they are in grade level. Tutors who understand age and developmentally-appropriate goals will work with your child's teacher in various subjects to affect success!
Benefits of hiring someone who sets realistic goals
Most teachers are ready and willing to offer support to students with ADHD and their parents. They may even have ADHD tutoring services they recommend or specialized assignments they can send home.
Nonetheless, you'll want a tutor who understands realistic academic goals and focuses more on progress than test scores. Teachers at the elementary level may have more experience and strategies than those working with kids with ADHD at the middle or high school level.
Typically older students with ADHD have better control over their executive functions, can focus better, and require less teacher assistance.
However, there are more middle and high school subjects, so your child may excel in one area but need help in another. For example, they have excellent math skills but require additional support in writing. Or a student may need help organizing their schedule, free time, or after-school responsibilities and require more of an ADHD coach than tutoring.
Questions to ask prospective tutors
- What is your plan to get my child to grade level by the end of the year?
- Are you a subject-specific tutor, or can you help in multiple areas, such as writing and math?
- How do you measure academic success?
Takeaway
Tutoring students with ADHD requires specific training and skills. When looking for a tutor, search for an individual with training or experience working with ADHD who understands special needs and will make learning fun!
Have a list of questions ready to ask any applicants and know what answers you're looking for; after all, you know your child best. At the same time, keep an open mind if their response isn't what you expected. You may find someone with teaching ideas and techniques you hadn't considered.
No matter the student's age, children with ADHD may require tutoring in specific subjects or to increase executive function capabilities. No matter the case, look for a respectful individual who can accommodate your child's needs and has helped students build healthy habits and lifelong skills.
About
Dr. Carrie Jackson, PhD
