Sticky Notes and Highlighters for Students with ADHD

From WolfWikis

Group Memebers: Daniel Yarborough, Ryan Hatley, Derek Torres

Learning Strategy—Sticky Notes & Highlighters for students with ADHD

Journal Reference:

Stormont, M. A. (2008). Increase Academic Success for Children With ADHD Using Sticky Notes and Highlighters. Intervention in School and Clinic, 43(5), 305-308.

Summary:

Within ADHD, students have selective attention problems, sustained attention problems, impulsivity problems and problems with high levels of verbal and motor skills. This strategy has different scenarios to help with each of these problems.

If a student has selective attention problems the article suggests that you use sticky notes as a way for students to focus their attention on what is most important. Have students use sticky notes to prioritize their work, by saying what they need to do first, second, etc. This allows students who might be apt to taking breaks during a lesson, the ability to know where they need to start if they get off task.

If a student has problems sustaining their attention during a lecture or activity during class the article suggests that you have students create an order of task they are to complete on a sticky note, put it on their desk and as they complete a task they can highlight it. As students work have them summarize what they learn on the sticky notes and have them reference them later. Remind students that this is a great strategy for studying at home.

If a student has impulsivity problems in class then have these students create a list on a sticky-note of things they can work on when they get stuck on a task during class. One example is write in a journal or study spelling words. If the student shares the sticky note with the teacher then the teacher will know that if the student is studying spelling words instead of working on a class assignment it is because they are confused or stuck. This helps the student eliminate impulsive behavior in class.

If a student has a high level of verbal and/or motor skills then use highlighters when reading in class, allow the student to highlight as they read. Also have this student write discussion questions on a sticky note for the teacher to use during a class discussion. The teacher can create free moving pass on a sticky note so the student can use it when they need to move around, they can go walk at the back of the classroom and leave a sticky note on their desk so the teacher knows why they are walking in the back of the room and the student will not interrupt the teacher.

Population:

This strategy can be used for any grade level but in our case we are using it in a middle school math inclusion classroom. In this classroom there are students who suffer from ADHD and they can use this strategy of sticky notes and highlighters to help them learn how to behave in a classroom full of students and help them deal with the defining characteristics of ADHD.

Potential Difficulties:

-Teacher must have highlighters that work, and enough stick notes for students to use. - Other students might want to use highlighters and sticky notes and it could embarrass students with ADHD, or it could help the students’ self-esteem if others want to use them, it depends on the student. - Could cause other students to be distracted if student makes a big deal about the sticky notes and/or highlighters.

How-to/Detailed Description:

There are many ways that teachers can use this strategy. For individual seat work the student can use the sticky note to write in order what they need to attend to first, second, third and so on. Then use a certain color highlighter to correlate with that assignment. When the student takes a break they can simply stick the sticky note in their text to mark their place.

A teacher can also use this strategy when working with spelling. Have the student cover up the word that needs to be spelled with a sticky note and allow them to try and spell the word beside the sticky note. Then remove the sticky note and let the student compare their spelling with that of the correct spelling. If the teacher or student would like they could then use the highlighters to mark the misspelled letters.

For mathematics a teacher can use a highlighter to highlight the operation signs to make sure that the student has clearly identified it. The teacher could use different color highlighters for different operations.

Another strategy with sticky notes is to have two different color sticky notes in the students take home folder. One sticky note is for what the student is supposed to take home and their homework for the night. The other sticky note is for what the student needs to bring to class the next day.

Allow students to write down their questions on the sticky note during teacher led lesson and then allow time at the end of class for the students to ask the question they had written down during the teachers’ lesson.

Teachers may want to use a certain number of sticky notes as opportunities for the student to get up and move. One sticky note may represent a bathroom break; another may represent and trip to the water fountain. Some sort of movement to break up the monotony of the classroom.

There are many other strategies listed in the article and I would encourage you to go and read all of them. They are very well organized and provide excellent examples of how to begin and then use that to create your own techniques.

Brochure/Short Video: