Study Skills . . . for the ADHD Brain

On Motivation and Mindset
Carol Dweck, creator of Brainology, has written some fascinating things, including "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success." The Stanford website has an overview of her ideas, as well as a copy of Nigel Holmes' awesome infographic. Here's some additional information from Northwestern, and Carol's fantastic lecture entitled Improving Education: The Connection Between Motivation, Mind-Set and Achievement. It's free on iTunesU... Just scroll down to #43 and download!

ADHD: Workshop Resources
Overview, ADHD Brain, Wrong Key, and Brainpower handouts are: here. There's also an Active Reading handout and Resources list. The files are a bit large, so hollar if you have any downloading issues.

ADHD: Amazing Books
The Big WHAT NOW Book of Learning Styles, How to Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and on to Learning, and If I'm Diapering a Watermelon, Then Where'd I Leave the Baby? by Carol Barnier are all fabulous... and in a class by themselves!

ADHD: The Brain

• The ADHD Brain and how it works
• Printables from ADDitude Magazine
• Brain Integration Therapy Manual and handouts by Dianne Craft
• ADHD & Brain Dominance

ADHD: Attitude

• Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily...”
• How hard work and perseverance really pays off
• Some Mr. Rogers bookmarks.
• Philippians 2:14 “Do everything without grumbling...”
• The Young Peacemaker by Corlette Sande addresses conflict resolution

ADHD: General Resources

• HSLDA's Struggling Learner Department
• NH Department of (Special) Education
• New Hampshire Family Voices
• Parent Information Center of NH
• Family Resource Connection {Loans resources for free}
• ADD Crusher is quirky -- and spot on!
• Printables from ADDitude Magazine
• Energizers! by Susan Lattanzi Roser
• Strategies for Teaching Adolescents with ADHD by Silvia L. DeRuvo
• The 6 Success Factors for Children with Learning Disabilities by The Frostig Center
• The ADHD Book of Lists by Sandra Rief
• ADHD & Teachers

ADHD: Study Skills

• Umm… Studying? What's That? By Fitzell & Fitzell
• S.O.A.R. Study Skills by Susan Woodcock Kruger, M.Ed.
• How to Study by Ron Fry
• Study Guides and Strategies
• Study Systems
• Organization & Notebooks

ADHD: Cross-Training

• Cross-training: it's not just for athletes!
• Eat a healthy breakfast--every day
• Keep a regular routine. Play to your strong time. Sleep!
• Exercise your brain!
• Chill out! Do something that delights you : ) Color a mandala. Go for a walk. Hug a dog!
• Move your body.
• Eat healthy. Stay hydrated.

ADHD: Keys to Learning

• There are many keys to learning... keep searching until you find yours!
• Keys to Learning: Review ADHD learning styles.
• Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic learners
• Learning Styles Information

ADHD: Tools

• Create an environment for learning (music, light, etc)
• Study Carrels. Easy to make, purchase, or craft!
• Dragon speech recognition software
• Accountable Kids is a great visual chore system

ADHD: Stickin' the Facts

• Better to take more time and have it stick forever. Use it!
• Read for understanding. Integrate with your existing knowledge.
• Add in rhythm, rhyme, and music
• Right brain techniques: Color flashcards, drama, story
• Use games such as Math War and Spoons
• Vocabulary: Organize your thoughts with graphics.
• Remember spelling facts with ditties, finger spelling, or a stroll.
• Try color flashcards, your DSi, or sight word boxes.
• Use a variety of learning techniques (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic) is key, and asking questions is absolutely essential.
• Creating your own board game is a great way to creatively, or simply, review.
• Times Tables the Fun Way by Liautaud & Rodriguez

ADHD: Understanding the Concepts

• Active listening through engaging your mind (notetaking)
• Active Reading: Invest in SQ3R!
• Asking questions is absolutely essential!
• Questioning worksheet one and two.
• Remembering What You Read
• Touch Math
• Chisanbop: Korean finger abacus

ADHD: Procedural Memory (ie Skills)

• Always. Show. Your. Work. Every. Single. Problem. Yeah, you!
• Creatively illustrate the steps... with flashcards, animation, lapbooks, photographs, or clipart
• Practice incrementally: Step 1; Steps 1 and 2; Steps 1, 2, and 3; etc
• Reverse chaining blends step-by-step learning with the motivator of success!
• Diagram and flowchart, carefully quantifying each step in your own mind.
• Always look for patterns.
• Teach someone else!
• Practice. Practice over and over and over again.

ADHD: Executive Functioning

• Executive Functioning at Home and School
• Focus on Time Management: Tips, keeping a task list, scheduling, and the art of doing the next right thing.
• Setting SMART goals; Evaluating progress; Reaching them!
• Since you can't "strong arm" your sense of focus, trick it instead! Time box using a visual timer. Break larger tasks into "focusable" chunks. You'd be amazed at how fast your room gets clean just 10 or 20 items at a time!

ADHD: Writing

• Handwriting: Students with ADHD may hate to write or havedysgraphia; teachers can help. Practice fine motor skills in less pressured ways...like connecting the dots.
• The Writing Process: Teach the process... Don't just issue an assignment. Guide the process. Offer grace. Use a checklist (part2) and/or a checklist based curriculum. Be sure to include explicit revising and editing instruction.

A number of these books are available at the KSC Curriculum Materials Library... it's a great resource. Also, don't underestimate the value of inter-library loan!