Presented By: Ami Yeiser

1. Improving Homework Completion in Students with ADHD; The Effectiveness Organizational and Planning Tools Plays in Middle School Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Presented By: Ami Yeiser

2. Why This Subject Area? • Currently there are 20 students at Mclean County Middle School that have the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, otherwise known as ADHD. • Out of this, 65% of them struggle to complete homework.

3. Step 1: Identify Problem • The overall percentage of students with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; being sent to the Alternate Education Program (AEP) room for incomplete homework assignments has increased by 15% since the 2012-2013 school year.

4. Step 2: Educators must have an understanding of ADHD and how it is linked to incomplete homework assignments • Punishmentwill not change disorganized behaviors that are related to brain pathology. • It's confusing to teachers and parents when students with ADHD are inconsistent in their ability to organize because it may seem like the child is just "sloppy" or "lazy.“

5. Step 2: Educators must have an understanding of ADHD and how it is linked to incomplete homework assignments • If a child handles one task in an organized way, it's tempting to believe he could always be organized if he wanted to, but that's not necessarily the case.

6. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Up Close •  The neurological process that lets us organize, prioritize, and analyze is called "executive function." • Children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) have impaired executive function skills due to abnormal dopamine levels in the frontal lobe of the brain.

7. Why Is Homework Completion Difficult for this Particular Group of Students? • ADHD causes the student to have poor focus, poorconcentration, and poormemory.

8. Why Is Homework Completion Difficult for this Particular Group of Students? • Students with ADHD lack the organizational skills and/or the memory capacity needed to be successful in these areas. • The act of copying down assignments, bringing home the correct text book, and keeping track of due dates all require these three areas of weaknesses. In fact, causing this to be very difficult to achieve successfully.

9. Step 3: Let’s Examine How Organizational and Planning Tools Are Significant for Students with ADHD? • During the course of the day; students have to work their way through many tasks including listening to andrecordingwhat needs to be done, doing the assignment, and turning it in. It's very easy for ADHD children to get interrupted along the way and forget where they are in the process.

10. Step 3: Let’s Examine How Organizational and Planning Tools Are Significant for Students with ADHD? • Mental disorganization causes students with ADHD to be inconsistent, leading adults to believe the lapse is intentional. When teachers respond by giving zeroes or bad grades, it only discourages the child and doesn't solve the problem.

11. What Are Some Examples? Organizational Tools Planning Tools • Graphic organizers • Multi-step Assignments • More space to write answers out • Color code books and supplies by subject • Individualized folder system to keep up with materials • Daily agenda check • Give student copy of homework assignment written down

12. Research Begins! • Research Question: • How can the number of incomplete homework assignments be improved in middle school students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

13. Data Source 1: Teacher Survey

14. Data Source 2: Reflective Journal • Adequacy of the organization and planning tools in the classroom • Support in utilizing tools • Effectiveness of the organization and planning tools • Concerns teachers may have that are using the tools • Future use of the organization and planning tools • Overall, opinions and facts that the teachers see pertinent in the research of the effectiveness of the organization and planning tools

15. Data Source 3: Infinite Campus • Information will be de-identified by Kendell Hayden, vice-principal of Mclean County Middle School before it is handed off to Ami Yeiser, investigator of the research. • Data consists of write-ups from students who have a diagnosis of ADHD from the last school year of 2012-2013 and this school year 2013-2014 to date.

16. Enrollment Statistics at Mclean County Middle School 2012-2013 School Year • 373 Students enrolled in school • 7 students with 504 Plans • 39 students with IEP Plans • 6 students in the 6th grade with a diagnosis of ADHD • 5 students in the 7th grade with a diagnosis of ADHD • 11 students in the 8th grade with a diagnosis of ADHD

17. Enrollment Statistics at Mclean County Middle School 2013-2014 School Year • 389 Students enrolled in school • 15 students with 504 Plans • 45 students with IEP Plans • 9 students in 6th grade with diagnosis of ADHD • 6 students in the 7th grade with a diagnosis of ADHD • 5 students in the 8th grade with a diagnosis of ADHD

18. Incomplete Homework Assignments in Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 2012-2013 School Year * Indicates implementation of organization and planning tools.

19. Incomplete Homework Assignments in Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) • 2013-2014 School Year

20. Percentages of AEP use for Students with ADHD for Incomplete Homework Assignments

21. Results Are In! • Organization and Planning Tools were very effective, in fact they improved homework completion by an overall 20% decrease of incomplete assignments for students with a diagnosis of ADHD.

22. Results Are In! • This decrease could continue to do so, if the tools are utilized effectively in the classroom. • The tools were utilized for 5 consecutive weeks. The possibilities are endless!