Attention Problems in the Classroom

With each passing year, teachers report greater challenges maintaining student engagement in the classroom. New technology gets touted as a solution, but it’s also part of the problem. And more students every year seem to be diagnosed with clinical attention problems. Using a lens of both classroom practice and child development, this workshop will explore the rise in ADHD diagnoses and offer effective models for addressing attention challenges in school settings. We will examine prevention-focused strategies at the whole-classroom level as well as individualized targeted interventions and offer guidance on when, and how, to implement appropriate accommodations in response to clinical diagnosis. We will also clarify the school’s role in supporting students with ADHD within a responsive, research-informed framework. Educators will leave with practical tools and strategies to confidently navigate the evolving landscape of attention in today’s classrooms.

Agenda:

• 8:30-9:00 am - Light refreshments, coffee available
• 9:00-9:30 am - Setting the context: National trends and current challenges
• 9:30-10:00 am - What is attention? What affects it?
• 10:00-10:30 am - Prevention: Specific classroom practices that support attention
• 10:30-10:45 am - Break
• 10:45-11:15 am - How is ADHD different from “normal” attention problems?
• 11:15-11:45 am - The school’s role in managing ADHD
• 11:45-noon - General Q&A