8 Tips for talking to your child’s teacher about ADHD

When your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, starts the new school year, or starts a new extramural class, teachers need to know how ADHD will affect them and the classroom. Good parent-teacher communication is critical to make your child feel comfortable – and successful – in the classroom. Here are a few tips on how to lay the communication groundwork and speak to teachers:

1. Make an appointment.

Set up a 15 – 20-minute appointment instead of catching the teacher before or after school. In this way, you can speak without interruptions. If it’s the beginning of the school year, contact the teacher before the first day of school to establish communication going forward. And approach the meeting with an open mind.

2. Discuss ADHD.

Some teachers may have experience teaching children with ADHD, while others may not. Ask the teacher what experience they’ve had teaching children with ADHD and what accommodations they’ve put in place for those students. If they are unfamiliar with ADHD, provide the teacher with the basic information and the science behind it.

3. Be specific about how ADHD affects your child.

ADHD looks different in each child, therefore explain what the teacher can expect when dealing with your child. Share how ADHD affects your child academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. Also discuss their greatest strengths and struggles.

4. Speak about accommodations available.

While you need to reiterate that your child needs to meet the school’s requirements, discuss what accommodations are available to support your child towards reaching them. This can include seating arrangements in the classroom, the testing environment, and homework/project schedules, for instance.

5. Share strategies that work – and don’t work – for your child.

If there are any accommodations and strategies that have worked well for your child, and any that haven’t worked, share them with the teacher. Be open about past difficulties and current challenges.

6. Listen and engage with the teacher

Teachers may also suggest tips, techniques, or strategies that have worked for former students and how they can be adapted for your child. Be open to the teacher’s suggestions and try new techniques together, e.g. a teacher may suggest a different routine or a new testing method that could lead to improvements. Try not to take things personally if the teacher does bring up something you don’t like.

7. Work with the teacher

Teachers feel supported when you ask how you can help. Ask what their preferences are for partnering with parents of an ADHD-diagnosed child. This shows a willingness to partner with the teacher and lays the foundation for future communication. This will also make it easier for the teacher to contact you should a problem arise. View the teacher as a partner and collaborator in your child’s education team; this perspective will go a long way in approaching the teacher as an ally.

8. Determine the best way to stay in touch regularly

Communicating with your child’s teacher should be part of your ADHD routine. Ask the teacher what’s the best way to stay in touch – email/phone/app – and discuss how often you’d like to stay in touch. Ask for progress updates, encourage the teacher to contact you with any issues or concerns they may have or inform the teacher if there are any major changes taking place within the family.

Teachers may also suggest tips, techniques, or strategies that have worked for former students and how they can be adapted for your child. Be open to the teacher’s suggestions and try new techniques together, e.g. a teacher may suggest a different routine or a new testing method that could lead to improvements. Try not to take things personally if the teacher does bring up something you don’t like.

1. Cooney, M. (2020). Working With Teachers to Help Your ADHD Child Be Comfortable at School. Study.com [Online]. Accessed on 12 May 2023.
2. CHADD. (n.d.). Tips for Talking to Teachers about ADHD. CHADD [Online]. Accessed on 12 May 2023.
3. Morin, A. (n.d.). 7 Tips for talking to your child’s teacher about ADHD. Understood [Online]. Accessed on 12 May 2023.
4. Poole, M. (2021). 6 Strategies for Communicating with your Child’s Teacher About ADHD. Fast Brain [Online]. Accessed on 12 May 2023.

5. Rooney, M. (2017). Talking to your child’s new teacher about ADHD. Huntington Learning Centre [Online]. Accessed on 12 May 2023.