Writing Strategies for ADHD Students Work for Other Writers as Well

Students who have ADHD issues are often in need of extra support during writing assignments. As I look at the suggestions, I see that most writers will benefit from a review of the 6 strategies mentioned in an online #Edutopia.com article I read last fall.

1. Focus on Your Assignment

Be clear and specific in your expectations. For a suggested topic of a joyous moment, make your prompt more specific: Think about the last time you felt joyful and describe (a) when it was, (b) the event that gave you the joy, (c) how that feeling of joy felt within your body, and (d) how it compares to your everyday feelings of joy.

2. Create a Series of Deadlines for Completing the Task

Handout and post specific dates for each part of the writing activity to be completed:
Week 1: create the outline.
Week 2: submit your outline, a rough draft and suggestions from others.
Week 3: complete edits and revisions and discuss with peers as a follow-up.
Week 4: submit completed using the criteria/rubric guidelines.
Provide suggested minimum/maximum length, font + size acceptable and margins, etc.

3. Organize Your Thinking

Make a visual plan you can refer to. Map out your ideas so you can add to them and also retrieve information. It might be note cards, a list of topic details, or a web with spokes to organize the details you might consider including.

4. Break the Task Down into Manageable Chunks.

Use the deadlines as a guide. but also provide conference time for individuals to speak with others to discuss ideas, suggested changes and etc.

5. Work with a peer to edit using a checklist of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and organizational features (beginning, middle ending, use of active verbs, etc).

6. Remind of Deadlines and the Final Date the Project will be Accepted.

The follow-up can be simple (discuss the topics and the process) on up to elaborate (share the writings aloud, do class critiques and have students self-evaluate their writings).