Program for Teachers to Address the Needs of Students with ADHD

Authors

Ashton R. Wagner, University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesFollow
Wendy Tremaine, University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesFollow
Dr. Mary Jan Greer, PhD, OTR, University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesFollow

Files

Description

The capstone project focused on supporting teacher participants from Eden Gardens Fundamental Magnet Elementary by providing practical strategies to address students who struggle with attention, regulation, and daily classroom routines. After completing a needs assessment, it was clear that many teachers faced similar challenges, including difficulty with transitions, staying on task, and responding when students became overwhelmed. To address this, created an OT-led teacher-training program that uses the PEOP model and focuses on simple, practical strategies teachers can implement right away. This included visual cues, sensory and movement supports, and minor changes to the classroom setup. As teachers began using these tools, they checked in regularly to offer guidance, which helped make adjustments to the strategies as needed. Findings led teachers to feel more confident, use the provided strategies more consistently, and notice improvements in student engagement and daily routines. Overall, the project highlighted occupational therapy's role in strengthening teacher support and increasing teachers' confidence in selecting appropriate strategies to manage students' ADHD-like behavior. Making simple changes helped create a calmer classroom environment and increased the ability to meet the needs of students with attention and regulation challenges associated with ADHD.

Publication Date

Fall 2025

Publisher

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Keywords

Teachers, ADHD, Occupational therapy, Students, Academic standing, Emotions, Elementary, Classroom Behavior, Attention, Regulation

Medical Subject Headings

Teachers, ADHD, Occupational therapy, Students, Academic standing, Emotions, Elementary, Classroom Behavior, Attention, Regulation

Disciplines

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Occupational Therapy | Teacher Education and Professional Development

Comments

Poster presented at the OTD Capstone Symposium at the University of St Augustine for Health Sciences in Fall 2025.

Recommended Citation

Wagner, A. R., Tremaine, W., & Greer,, D. J. (2025, October 1). Program for Teachers to Address the Needs of Students with ADHD. Poster presented at the Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved from https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesfall2025/20