Testing the ADHD Child
Testing strategies helpful when dealing with students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder
A list of classroom strategies to use when testing children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd), also known as attention deficit disorder (add).
This is a list of tips for teachers of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), addressing testing. Not all these strategies will work for every child or every teacher. Don't be afraid to try something and then admit it doesn't work. That's why there's a list of different things! Go ahead and try different things until you find what works for both you and the child.
Testing:
1. Avoid true-false tests. They require attention to details that students with ADHD and ADD may miss. Avoid questions that are deliberately worded to "trick" students.
2. Teach and test what your objectives say you will teach and test. A straightforward, no-curves approach will be much easier for students with ADHD to handle.
3. Try not to test too much material at one time. This tends to "overload the circuits." So, shorter tests that are more frequent are better than infrequent, lengthy exams.
4. Tape a test and have a student use a headset in the classroom or just the tape recorder in another room. Responses can be either written or given orally with enough time allowed on the tape.
5. Interview the student to determine what he/she knows if they did poorly on a test. Grading and evaluation should be open, not a surprise. Try to test according to individual abilities and identify which students suffer from test anxiety.
6. Teach test-taking skills and strategies.
7. Use clear, readable, and uncluttered test forms. Use the test format that the student is most comfortable.
8. Give clear, simple, and short directions. Underline or highlight key direction words. You could even make the first question of the test one that makes the student go back and circle these key words.
9. Use larger black print on tests. Leave spaces between questions.
10. Allow students with ADHD and to take tests orally.
11. Read test items orally to students.
12. Utilize privacy boards and ear plugs. It would be even better if the student could take the test in a room alone or with fewer students. Twenty-five students sitting quietly in a room can be very "loud" and distracting for people with ADHD.
13. Teach students to review frequently in small bits.
- Record basic facts on index cards that students can paste on their mirror or keep in their pocket and review while brushing their teeth, riding the bus, etc.
- Give a list of basic concepts and ideas that will be on the test. Section them in chucks that students can review in 10-15 minutes.
For more teaching strategies, see my pages on classroom environment, teaching style, writing assignments and in-class work, homework, reading strategies, and lecture rentention.
