I recently attended a workshop at Somerville School about helping students with autism in regular classrooms. One important point was that 1 in every 5 students is neurodiverse, including conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism. This inspired me to find five simple ways to support these students in my classroom.
1. Offering Frequent Praise and Positive Reinforcement
I make it a priority to give regular, specific praise for the effort students put into their work. I try to encourage them during tasks instead of just praising the final result. This helps students, especially those with ADHD or anxiety, feel more confident and valued in their learning.
To support students with ADHD, I avoid negative labels and focus on building self-esteem by understanding the reasons behind their behaviours. I emphasise emotional regulation and self-control, use whole-class discussions to encourage understanding, and apply strategies that support both emotional and academic success.
2. Highlighting Students’ Strengths
Instead of only looking at what students find hard, I try to find their strengths, like creativity, problem-solving, or unique thinking. Recognising these strengths helps students feel more confident and ready to face challenges.
To help them succeed, I set clear deadlines and allow for breaks and movement to keep them focused.
3. Breaking Down Large Tasks into Small, Manageable Steps
I’ve started breaking tasks into smaller steps to make them easier in a whole class setting. Instead of having students do a big project all at once, we work on it step by step and use visual aids to help them. This makes it less overwhelming, especially for students with autism or challenges with executive functioning.
4. Creating a Sensory-Friendly Environment
After the autism workshop, I made some changes in the classroom to help reduce sensory overload. I took down extra decorations from the walls and created a quiet corner where students can go if they feel overwhelmed. These changes have really helped students who are sensitive to sensory input.
5. Collaborating with Support Teams
I’ve been in regular contact with parents and specialists who work with my students. I talk with special education teachers, occupational therapists, and speech therapists to better understand how to support each child. Working together like this has been really helpful in making sure we help our students succeed.
I would love to hear your strategies for supporting neurodivergent students! Please share your ideas so we can work together to help these students thrive. Your tips and experiences are greatly appreciated!
