Varsity Tutors understands how difficult it can be to provide the type of academic support a student with learning differences needs. A tutor for students with ADD needs to be highly flexible with their teaching style and have a wide range of teaching modalities from which to draw. We can help you connect with skilled instructors who have experience with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) tutoring tactics to help your student maximize their learning opportunities.
ADD is a subtype of ADHD characterized by difficulty finishing tasks and following directions. Those with ADD may often seem to be off in their own world or shy. Since they do not have the hyperactivity and lack of impulse control often seen in those with ADHD, it can be easy for educators to overlook their academic difficulties. The reason these students have trouble following through with their school work isn't that they aren't listening or that they're being willfully negligent or lazy. Instead, most students with ADD have trouble focusing on specific pieces of information as they are being overloaded by too much sensory input. This makes it challenging for them to distinguish between what is relevant and what's extraneous.
Understanding the nuances of ADD is important for anyone who wants to provide support as a tutor for students with ADD, especially since the tactics that can help a student work more effectively will be different for each individual. Keep reading to learn more about how private tutoring for students with ADD can help you or your student.
What are some of the skills a tutor for students with ADD near me can teach?
Students with ADD can have a variety of symptoms that are often initially mistaken for not paying adequate attention. In elementary school, this may present as starting assignments but not bringing them to completion or spacing out during a lesson. In middle school, it's common for students with ADD to have difficulty switching gears from one class to another or to complete assignments that don't adhere to the instructions. In high school, students are more likely to challenge authority and to be considered aloof or unreliable. All of these actions are really just symptoms of ADD that have been masked with maladaptive behaviors adopted to deal with a system that wasn't built for the way your child thinks, learns, and interacts with the world.
Tutoring for students with ADD can help your student build skills to support their academic endeavors in ways that are both appropriate and functional. This may include helping them create a calendar system that they use throughout the school day with the help of their classroom teacher so they know what to work on during private sessions and independent study time.
A tutor for students with ADD can also work with your student to help them break larger tasks and assignments into more manageable pieces. This becomes increasingly important as students move through their academic career as multi-step instructions and longer-form projects become more common. It is during middle school and high school that many students are first diagnosed with ADD as the lack of hyperactivity may have allowed the condition to be overlooked in earlier grades.
For those students with a later diagnosis, they may need even more support to retrain themselves with new habits to replace the coping mechanisms they developed on their own.
How is working with a tutor for students with ADD different from being in a classroom?
When a child is in a classroom, they must share the teacher's attention with all of the other students. Unfortunately, it is often the students who are the most vocal who receive the greatest amount of attention. This means those who are struggling quietly are overlooked or praised for not interrupting. Being praised for “good behavior” can further reinforce the idea that it's better for a student not to ask for help, which can be especially damaging for those students with ADD.
A tutor for students with ADD is focused entirely on your child throughout the entire learning session. They can encourage your student to ask questions and work directly with them in a way that is almost impossible in a typical classroom. As your child becomes more comfortable with private sessions, they may be more willing to ask for clarification and the assistance they need.
One of the most significant benefits of tutoring for students with ADD is the ability to have sessions which are individually created with your student's learning needs in mind.
What are some of the benefits associated with tutoring for students with ADD?
Working with an experienced tutor for students with ADD has obvious benefits for the student, but there are additional benefits for the families of those students as well. It can be difficult to know how to best support a student with a learning difference since traditional methods are often ineffective. As your student's private instructor gets to know them and their learning needs, they can share resources, tactics, and routines which can be implemented in the home to support the student with their independent study skills.
Many teachers report noticing a difference in student behavior in class when they are receiving additional support outside of the school setting. As students become more comfortable with the material and less overwhelmed, their confidence often grows, and they may become more engaged in class.
What subjects can a tutor for students with ADD near me support?
ADD affects all areas of learning to some extent throughout a student's life. For students in elementary and early middle school, a single instructor can likely assist a student with ADD with most of their core subject work. This includes English, science, social studies, and math as well as various electives. The challenges students face with ADD aren't primarily associated with any particular subject. Students with ADD are as likely to have learning strengths, weaknesses, and preferences as their neurotypical peers. Ultimately, whatever subject the student is struggling with is the one their private instructor will focus on during their private session.
Once students begin transitioning to high school and college, however, it may be necessary for students to work with additional instructors who specialize in particular subject areas. Many of the sciences, higher levels of math, and foreign languages all require advanced understanding. However, an instructor with expertise in helping students with ADD can still provide ongoing support for older students who need assistance with the organizational aspects of their academic career.
Is tutoring for students with ADD convenient?
Parents and students are perpetually busy, and this tends to be especially true for those families who have students with learning differences. Finding the time to add another activity or appointment can be difficult, which is why we created our Live Learning Platform. This online learning environment makes it easy to connect professional tutors for students with ADD with the students who need their help.
Throughout the country, there are many areas with limited access to instructors with the skills necessary to help a student with ADD. By considering tutors for students with ADD from a broader geographic location, you increase the potential to find someone who can work with your student. However, if having someone to work with in-person is a top priority, we can also help you connect with tutors for students with ADD near you.
When it's time for your child's session to begin, they'll just need a steady internet connection and a digital device to log in. Once they join the session, they will be connected face-to-face with their tutor for students with ADD. The learning environment has several features which make it easy for the instructor to share information with your student. The digital whiteboard can be used to walk through samples or share resources. The document sharing functionality allows the instructor to share their process with your student. This same feature can be used by the student to share their document with the instructor. Having the ability to view your student's work in real time is an excellent opportunity to identify any issues the student may be unaware of and offer corrections.
Since sessions are online, you have complete control over the physical environment of your student. There is no need to add an additional commute to their instructional time or to risk scheduling sessions in noisy public locations which may overstimulate your student and make it more difficult for them to concentrate.
How can I get started with a tutor for students with ADD near me?
Connecting with someone who has the skills necessary to work with students as a tutor for students with ADD is something the experts at Varsity Tutors love to help with. High-quality educational services shouldn't be limited to those with neurotypical needs, and we make it a priority to find experienced instructors who can work with students with a wide variety of learning differences. Your student deserves the academic support they need to work towards their educational goals. Whether you're interested in online or in-person tutoring for students with ADD, it's easy to get started. Contact Varsity Tutors today to get started or to learn more about tutors for students with ADD near you.