My child is bright, but his inattention in the classroom is holding him back.
I’ve tried traditional tutors, but they haven’t been the right match for my child’s unique learning needs.
I need a private tutor that is going to motivate my child and teach her that learning can be fun again.
My student has been diagnosed with ADHD and is struggling in school.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders in children. It can be hard to tell if your child is just being energetic or whether they have ADHD that can later impact their progress in the classroom. It’s important to keep in mind that not every high-energy child has ADHD. However, if symptoms impact performance—or other children’s performance—in the classroom, this may be a sign that it’s time to take the next step.
Types of ADHD Diagnoses
The three types of ADHD diagnoses include:
- ADHD presenting as inattention
- ADHD presenting as hyperactivity and impulsivity
- a combination of the two
Let’s look at some red flags that can signify that ADHD may be hindering your child’s progress in school, by ADHD type.
Common Symptoms of ADHD in Children
ADHD looks a little bit different in each child, and we know your child is unique. Here are a few of the common symptoms children with ADHD may show:
- Unable to stay focused
- Trouble staying organized
- Avoiding tasks that require lots of mental effort
- Easily distracted
- Difficulty with time management and other executive function skills
ADHD could show up as:
- Not completing homework
- Misplacing classroom materials
- Making careless mistakes on assignments
- Not paying attention to what a teacher (or parent) is saying
Some symptoms of ADHD hyperactivity or impulsivity include:
- Squirming, fidgeting, and struggling to sit still
- Difficulty waiting for their turn
- Trouble performing a task quietly
In the classroom, ADHD can look like:
- Unable to sit at a desk for the entire lesson
- Blurting out answers before the teacher finishes the question
- Talking too much and at the wrong time
Remember, many children who have ADHD may have both inattention symptoms and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms.
Does My Child Have ADHD?
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis or noticing red flags in your child’s academic performance can feel overwhelming at first. Often, parents can see these signs before a school teacher mentions them. It may be difficult to figure out how to get help, especially in a large classroom. Remember that ADHD should be carefully evaluated and diagnosed. Just because you recognize some of the symptoms in this blog post does not necessarily mean your child has ADHD.
However, if you have received a recent ADHD diagnosis, or even if your child has had a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for a while and they’re still struggling in school, you may have some questions about how this can impact tutoring.
You may be wondering, what is the next step to help your child? How will this impact your child’s life in and out of the classroom? How can you set your child up for success?
Thankfully, the learning coaches at Fit Learning have experience working with students with ADHD and provide a fully customized curriculum for learners with ADHD. In fact, our approaches and programs are scientifically proven to fit the needs of all learners. We help children who have a wide variety of academic capabilities, struggles, or learning disabilities.
Fit Learning: A Tutoring Option for Children with ADHD in the St. Louis Area
I live in the St. Louis area and am looking for tutoring for my child with ADHD, but want to make sure it helps my child. So, how does Fit Learning meet the educational needs of kids with an ADHD diagnosis?
Let’s start with some quick facts about what makes Fit Learning a great fit for students with ADHD:
- Fit Learning is NOT a one-size-fits-all ADHD coaching approach.
- We offer a variety of tutoring programs, depending on what your child needs.
- Our academic tutoring focus is about having fun while learning.
- Tutoring at Fit Learning is fast-paced and goal-oriented.
- Fit Learning’s approach helps children improve their executive function skills such as planning, time management, and working memory.
- Your child won’t get assignments or homework! Transformation is our responsibility, not yours!
Our Approach to Providing ADHD Help in Creve Coeur, MO
First, it is important to understand that Fit Learning is not a regular tutoring company! Through our assessments, we identify your learner’s starting points and build personalized goals to achieve academic success in reading, math, writing, logic, and penmanship. We also help children who are homeschooled or needing online academic help.
After we do a comprehensive assessment, we will write a completely personalized program for your child’s customized learning. This is developed based on the data we collect and future goals in mind. Fit Learning does not help children with their school-assigned homework. And, we do not assign homework of our own. Instead, we transform learners to help them reach their full ability so they can tackle learning in the classroom and life.
What does an ADHD coaching session at Fit Learning look like?
Our ADHD tutoring sessions are unique. They are structured to maximize fun and learning! Our fast-paced, goal-oriented design is perfect for learners who need shorter “bursts” of working time. They are also appropriate for those that need to keep their eye on a prize to stay motivated. We create personalized goals and use a point tally in every session that your child can redeem for prizes. So, your child will always be working towards something they are excited about. For example, they may be working towards watching a funny video after a stellar performance or saving up points to buy a prize from our prize tower!
Because all of our sessions are private sessions, your child will never be stacked up against other kids, like they may be used to in the classroom. What matters in our 1-on-1 sessions is how your learner’s performance compares to what they achieved the day before. Therefore, we focus on beating their personal bests. This approach not only takes away distractions, but it also builds confidence!
Fit Learning’s sessions further cater to students with ADHD because of our focus on high energy and enjoyment—we want all our learners to leave saying, “I love Fit Learning!” (More information on how Fit Learning St. Louis helps students with special needs and learning differences is available here.)
Common Questions About ADHD Tutoring
My student has a hard time focusing on a task for too long. How will they make it through a whole session?
Fit Learning’s fast-paced sessions are perfect for meeting the unique needs of children with ADHD. During a tutoring session, we will cover many component skills in each session. Furthermore, we don’t spend extensive amounts of time on the same thing. This fast pace with lots of positive reinforcement keeps things exciting and helps hold the attention even of children with ADHD.
My child with ADHD is finding it hard to sit still. Will this impact their success in tutoring?
Our Fit Learning coaches understand the impact ADHD may have on your child, and our program is designed to cater to the child who has trouble sitting still. During Fit Learning tutoring sessions, your child can set a goal and work towards a 30-second dance party as a prize for a personal best!
How do I keep my child motivated at home?
Our tutors (we call them learning coaches) can work with you to make in-session performances count towards at-home prizes! This is a great way to keep you as the parent involved in your child’s learning!
My child fidgets in their chair. Does this hinder their ability to focus?
Fit Learning rewards your child for learning achievements. And, they positively reinforce behaviors that have a positive effect on learning such as a decrease in fidgeting, paying attention without being reminded, or having a positive attitude. Your child won’t be punished for fidgeting. But they will be motivated to fidget less and will learn to increase their self-control as they are rewarded as they make gains both in academic skills and these positive behaviors.
Get ADHD Help in Creve Coeur, MO
What are you waiting for? Don’t let your child’s ADHD diagnosis define or limit their academic performance or their lifelong learning! By scheduling an assessment with Fit Learning, together we can begin the journey of personalized, science-based, FUN achievement for your learner!
To begin tutoring in the St. Louis metro area, follow these steps:
- Reach out to Fit Learning St. Louis and talk with our Director, Janice Smith.
- Make an appointment for an intake assessment.
- Begin ADHD coaching at Fit Learning and watch your child succeed academically!
Other Services Offered at Fit Learning St. Louis
Fit Learning St. Louis offers tutoring in several academic areas to help your child achieve fluency. Sometimes, our learners even enroll in more than one program. Our academic services for school-age children include Fit Reading, Fit Math, Fit Logic, Fit Penmanship, Fit Writing, Fit Spelling, and Fit Homeschool. Our fabulous learning coaches also offer a preschool program, Lil Fits, for very young learners. If you can’t make it into our learning lab located in Creve Coeur, MO, we offer online tutoring as well. To learn more about learning, academics, and tutoring, please visit our learning blog.
ADHD doesn’t have to hold your child back. Given the right level of support, your child with ADHD can learn and be successful. If you are ready to help your child with ADHD thrive in and out of the classroom and achieve their full academic potential, then we can help! Contact our Creve Coeur, MO, tutoring center to learn more about the many ways we can help your student.