Differentiated Instruction for ADHD Learners: Adapting English Lessons for Success

Differentiated Instruction for ADHD Learners: Adapting English Lessons for Success

If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to keep your ADHD students engaged while also tackling the mountain of material in the middle school English curriculum, trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve been there as a middle school ELA teacher, juggling the diverse needs of my students, including those with ADHD.

The key to success in these classrooms? Differentiated instruction—tailoring your lessons to meet the individual needs of each student. And the best part? It doesn’t mean more work for you! In this post, I’m sharing some practical, easy-to-implement strategies to adapt your English lessons for ADHD students—and your whole class will benefit too. By the end, you’ll have a clear outline to get started today!

What Is Differentiated Instruction?

Differentiated instruction is all about flexibility in your teaching approach. It’s adapting your lessons to meet the diverse learning needs, strengths, and challenges of your students. For ADHD learners, that might mean giving them choices in how they learn, breaking tasks into smaller chunks, or building movement into your lessons to help them focus.

Let’s dive into some simple ways you can start differentiating your instruction for ADHD students without adding more to your plate.

1. Vary How You Present Information

ADHD students often struggle with traditional teaching methods like lectures or long reading assignments. To keep them engaged, present your lessons in different formats, incorporating visuals, multimedia, and interactive elements.

Here’s how:

• Use visuals and graphics: Whether it’s a diagram of plot structure or a visual timeline of a story’s events, ADHD students will benefit from seeing the information, not just hearing it.

• Incorporate multimedia: Bring in videos, podcasts, or audiobooks to supplement your lesson. For example, play part of an audiobook while your students follow along in their books. This variety will keep your ADHD learners engaged, even when reading feels daunting.

Pro Tip: Interactive presentations like Google Slides with embedded questions or visuals keep students actively involved in the lesson.

2. Offer Choices in How They Learn and Show What They Know

ADHD students thrive when they feel a sense of control. Providing choices allows them to engage with the material in a way that works best for them, whether that’s working independently, in groups, or demonstrating understanding through creative projects.

Try this:

• Choice boards: Give students a variety of ways to complete an assignment. For example, during a unit on figurative language, they might choose to create a comic strip, write a short story, or make a video that demonstrates similes and metaphors. Choice boards let ADHD students engage in the way they’re most comfortable.

• Flexible grouping: Let students work independently or in groups, based on their learning preferences. Some ADHD students may prefer working solo, while others find collaborating with peers keeps them on track.

3. Break Assignments into Manageable Chunks

For ADHD students, looking at a large task like writing an essay can be overwhelming. Breaking assignments into smaller, manageable chunks can help them focus and stay organized.

Here’s an example: Instead of assigning a five-paragraph essay all at once, break it down into steps:

• Day 1: Write a thesis and outline.

• Day 2: Write the introduction and first body paragraph.

• Day 3: Complete the remaining body paragraphs.

• Day 4: Write the conclusion and edit.

This chunking method prevents students from feeling overwhelmed and allows them to focus on one task at a time.

Pro Tip: Provide ADHD students with a visual checklist of these steps, so they can track their progress as they go.

4. Use Timed Focus Sprints

Long, uninterrupted work sessions can be difficult for ADHD students to manage. Instead, use timed focus sprints, which break up tasks into smaller, concentrated work periods followed by short breaks.

How it works: Set a timer for 10-15 minutes of focused work, then allow a 3-5 minute break. Repeat this cycle a few times throughout the lesson. This method helps ADHD students focus without feeling overwhelmed by long work sessions.

Why it works: ADHD students respond well to short, defined timeframes. The upcoming break also serves as motivation to stay on task during the focus period.

5. Incorporate Movement into the Lesson

ADHD students often need to move to help maintain focus. By incorporating physical activity into your lesson, you can help them channel that energy in a productive way.

Ideas to try:

• Use learning stations where students move around the room to complete different tasks—like answering questions, filling out sentence stems, or collaborating with a partner.

• Try a game like “Four Corners”, where students move to a different corner of the room based on their answer to a question. This not only keeps them moving but also engages them in the material.

Pro Tip: Even a quick movement break—like stretching or walking around the room—can help reset focus and attention, allowing students to return to the task with more energy and concentration.

Structuring a Differentiated Lesson Plan for ADHD Students

Ready to put these strategies into practice? Here’s an outline for structuring a lesson plan that incorporates differentiated instruction, designed to keep your ADHD students engaged and on task.

1. Introduction (5 minutes):
Start with a visual or interactive presentation to grab their attention. Use Google Slides, a short video, or an infographic to introduce the lesson topic.

2. Mini-Lesson (10 minutes):
Present the core concept in a short, engaging way. Mix up your presentation style—use visuals, videos, or even a quick class discussion.

3. Independent or Group Work (15-20 minutes):
Give students choices for how they complete the task. They can work alone, with a partner, or in small groups. Let them select a creative or written option to demonstrate their understanding.

4. Movement Break (2-3 minutes):
Plan a quick movement break, or tie movement into the lesson. Have students rotate between stations or participate in a standing discussion activity to reset their focus.

5. Check-Ins/Progress Check (5 minutes):
Provide students with a checklist to monitor their progress and give quick feedback. Break tasks down into manageable steps to avoid overwhelming them.

6. Wrap-Up/Reflection (5 minutes):
Close with a brief discussion or reflection activity, allowing students to share what they learned or review the main points of the lesson.

By building in varied instruction, choice, movement, and manageable chunks, you’re creating a lesson plan that’s ADHD-friendly, engaging, and supportive for all students in your classroom.

Final Thoughts

Differentiated instruction doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. By making small adjustments—like offering choices, breaking down tasks, and incorporating movement—you’re creating a classroom environment that supports ADHD students while benefiting everyone.

Here’s my challenge for you: Try implementing just one of these strategies in your next lesson, whether it’s using choice boards or chunking assignments into smaller steps. You’ll be amazed at how much smoother your class runs—and how much more engaged your students will be.

If you found these tips helpful, don’t forget to download my free differentiated lesson plan template to help you get started. Let’s make ADHD-friendly classrooms a reality!

Thanks for reading, and happy teaching!