Case Study: How We Helped a Child with ADHD Succeed in School

When Alfie, a bright and curious 10-year-old, came to us, he was struggling. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, his Montessori school environment emphasized independent learning, but Alfie found staying organized and focused overwhelming. His parents felt stuck and weren’t sure how to help.

Here’s how we partnered with Alfie’s family to turn things around.

Step 1: Understanding Alfie’s Challenges

Our first step was a thorough intake meeting to assess Alfie’s strengths and struggles. While his creativity and curiosity were standout qualities, he had difficulty:

• Prioritizing tasks

• Staying focused in open-ended assignments

• Managing transitions and routines

Step 2: Building Executive Functioning Skills

Executive functioning challenges were at the heart of Alfie’s difficulties. We introduced strategies to help, including:

• Visual Schedules: Breaking his day into clear, manageable chunks.

• Task Chunking: Splitting assignments into smaller, achievable steps.

• Timers: Using visual and auditory timers to maintain focus and signal transitions.

Step 3: Practicing Self-Regulation

Alfie often felt frustrated, which made staying engaged even harder. We worked on:

• Pause and Try: Helping Alfie stop, take a breath, and attempt challenging tasks.

• Emotion Thermometer: Teaching him to recognize and rate his feelings before they escalated.

• Brain Breaks: Short, movement-based breaks between tasks to reset his focus.

Step 4: Collaborating with His School

We worked closely with Alfie’s teachers to implement classroom accommodations, such as:

• Preferential seating to reduce distractions.

• Written instructions paired with verbal ones.

• Extra time for tasks that required reading or writing.

Step 5: Empowering His Parents

Parents play a key role in helping kids with ADHD thrive. Alfie’s parents learned to:

• Use positive reinforcement for effort, not just results.

• Implement structured morning and evening routines.

• Communicate regularly with his teachers about progress.

The Results

After six months, Alfie showed incredible progress:

• His task completion rates improved by 40%.

• He began using his visual schedule independently.

• His confidence grew, and he felt more in control of his learning.

Most importantly, Alfie went from dreading school to feeling proud of his accomplishments. His family saw a transformation not just in his academics but in his overall happiness.

What You Can Do

Helping kids with ADHD thrive isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Try these tips:

• Emphasize Structure: Consistent routines reduce overwhelm.

• Break It Down: Small steps make big tasks less intimidating.

• Celebrate Wins: Even small victories deserve recognition.

💚 Need expert help for your child with ADHD? We’re here for you.

Contact Achieve Psychological and Academic Services today:

📞 Call or text: 614-470-4466

📧 Email: admin@achievepsychology.org

🌐 Visit: www.achievepsychology.org

Works Cited:

1. Barkley, R. A. (2015). Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents.

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023). “Helping Children with ADHD Succeed in School.”

3. Dawson, P., & Guare, R. (2018). Smart but Scattered: Helping Kids with Executive Skills to Reach Their Potential.

4. American Psychological Association (2023). “Understanding ADHD in Children.”

5. Understood.org (2023). “Strategies for ADHD in the Classroom.”