Checklist for Teachers on Hyperactivity and Impulsivity

How can teachers help students who move quickly from task to task without finishing?

• Provide a visual schedule of lessons for students to have at their desks, each step of the task is listed with approximate time suggestions to guide students.

• Encourage students to take breaks after each task to refresh their minds.

• Assign more challenging tasks to keep students engaged for longer periods.

• Implement a reward system for completing tasks before moving on to the next.

What should teachers allow students to do to manage hyperactivity and impulsivity?

• Allow students to run errands or do jobs throughout the day.

• Restrict students from participating in physical activities.

• Increase homework assignments to keep students busy.

• Limit interaction with peers during class.

How can teachers address students who appear overstimulated?

• By ignoring their behavior and allowing them to settle down on their own.

• By considering the sensory load in the classroom and making alterations to reduce sensory overload from light, sound, etc, with simple changes.

• By increasing the amount of homework to keep them busy.

• By encouraging them to participate in more group activities to distract them.

What should be provided for students who have trouble controlling their emotions?

• A calm down or quiet space in the classroom for students to be able to go to when trying to self-regulate their emotions.

• A loud and busy environment to help them express their feelings.

• Frequent breaks to allow them to socialize with peers.

• Strict discipline to ensure they follow rules at all times.

What can be done to help students who find it difficult to take turns?

• Play team building and group games often as a class.

• Allow students to take turns whenever they want without structure.

• Encourage students to speak over each other to express their ideas.

• Provide individual tasks that do not require collaboration.

What should teachers do for students who wander out of the classroom without permission?

• Implement a strict punishment policy for wandering students.

• Use 'I need a break' cards that students can leave on their desks if they need to have a structured brain break, so the teacher knows where they are at that time.

• Ignore the behavior and allow students to leave freely.

• Provide students with extra homework to keep them occupied.

How can teachers help students maintain an appropriate volume indoors?

• Display a classroom noise level meter, showing the class what noise level is required at that time in the lesson to remind students of expectations.

• Encourage students to speak louder to ensure they are heard by their peers.

• Play background music to mask the noise levels in the classroom.

• Use a whistle to signal when students should be quiet.

What can be done for students who find it difficult to remain in their seat?

• Provide short brain breaks or movement breaks throughout the day.

• Increase the length of time they must stay seated.

• Limit their access to physical activities during breaks.

• Encourage them to focus on their desks without distractions.

How can teachers manage students who talk excessively?

• Acknowledge answers only when the student's hand is raised or has been selected.

• Encourage students to talk more during lessons to enhance participation.

• Ignore the talking and focus on the lesson content.

• Implement a strict no-talking policy during class hours.

How can teachers assist students who have difficulty waiting or stopping activities?

• Provide unlimited time for activities without interruptions.

• Give time warning countdowns or have a timer visible on the whiteboard during the lesson for students to prepare ahead of time for changes in the activity.

• Encourage students to ignore the time and focus on their work.

• Allow students to choose when to stop an activity without any guidance.