Organizational Skills Training for Students with ADHD
Course Description:
Planning, organization and time management are some the biggest hurdles that students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder face in school. Lack of these skills often prevent students from realizing their academic potential. In this class, educators will learn evidence-based strategies for teaching these skills, as well as how to track their assignments, manage their materials and workspace, plan for long term projects and regular routines, track the passage of time and use task planning strategies. This course provides practical, manageable lessons in each organizational skill that teachers, social workers and counselors can readily use in their classrooms. Ideas for helping parents implement these skills at home will also be explored. The text provides numerous materials that may be photocopied for use in the classroom. The focus of the class is to provide educators with the strategies they need to teach any of their students the organizational skills to be successful learners. After studying the empirical evidence for each targeted strategy, educators will have the opportunity to create their own lessons using the provided materials for use with their students.
Goals and Objectives
As a result of participation in this course, students should
- Understand the research supporting each organizational skill taught and how to assess for student mastery of the skill.
- Explain the importance and implications for teaching students with ADHD the organizational skills needed to succeed in the classroom.
- Develop strategies to teach students how to manage and track assignments.
- Develop strategies to teach students how to manage their class materials, backpacks and workspace.
- Develop strategies to teach students how to manage their time, such as understanding time and calendars, homework completion time-lines and regular routines.
- Learn how to encourage parent support to help students use their new skills at home.
Texts/Readings
The required text is:
Abikoff, H. B., Gallagher, R. & Spira, E. G. (2014). Organizational Skills Training for Children with ADHD: An Empirically Supported Treatment. New York: Guilford Press.