Students with ADHD and ADD in the Classroom: Supporting Focus, Emotional Regulation, and Everyday Learning

Programmes
Students with ADHD and ADD in the Classroom: Supporting Focus, Emotional Regulation, and Everyday Learning

Joanna Nienałtowska-Padło

Specialist in autism spectrum support

Students with ADHD and ADD in the Classroom: Supporting Focus, Emotional Regulation, and Everyday Learning

A student understands the task but never starts. Another loses focus halfway through. Someone else interrupts constantly, while a quiet student struggles unnoticed. How do you know what is really happening, and which response will help?
This three-part programme shows you how ADHD can affect attention, organisation, emotions and learning, and how to respond to these difficulties in everyday classroom situations. Learn to recognise different patterns of functioning, adapt instructions and tasks, support emotional regulation and make learning more accessible without automatically lowering expectations.

Essential

£49.00

One-time · 12 months access

12 video modules
3 Teacher's Toolkit (163 pages)
Certificate
Classroom materials
Case studies
Knowledge Booster

Professional Recommended

£69.00

One-time · 12 months access

12 video modules
3 Teacher's Toolkit (163 pages)
Certificate
Classroom materials with 80 scenarios
3 case studies
Knowledge Booster (30 days)

or

Get All - from £21.00 / month

Is this for you?

A student knows what to do but cannot get started, repeatedly loses their place or leaves work unfinished.
You struggle to tell whether distraction, refusal or poor performance is linked to ADHD, task demands, stress or something else.
Some students are constantly restless or impulsive, while others quietly drift off and receive little support.
You need practical ways to organise lessons, give instructions, adjust tasks and respond to emotional overload.
You want ready-to-use strategies, observation tools and conversation guides for working with students and parents.

We use AI as a tool to support production, but we do not hand over responsibility for the content. Our materials are based on real webinars by our trainers and are reviewed and approved by a person before publication. The videos feature an AI-generated avatar and voice of the trainer, used with her consent.

What you'll implement?

Ready to use tomorrow
- Make instructions easier to follow
  
  Break complex directions into manageable steps, check whether students understand the first action and use visual prompts to reduce working-memory demands.
- Help students start and finish tasks
  
  Use clear starting points, short work sequences, task-planning cards and simple priority tools to support students who procrastinate, lose track or struggle to complete assignments.
- Respond to overload without escalating the situation
  
  Recognise possible signs of rising tension, choose appropriate adjustments or regulation breaks, and use calm, specific language to help students return to learning while maintaining clear boundaries.
A different way of seeing the problem
- Recognise the ADHD that goes unnoticed
  
  Understand how ADHD can present through daydreaming, withdrawal, disorganisation or slow task initiation, even when a student is quiet and causes no disruption.
- Look beyond the behaviour
  
  Explore why a student may understand the rules but struggle to follow them, why performance changes between lessons and how executive functions, emotions and environmental demands can contribute to these difficulties.
- Find out what is making learning harder
  
  Consider the effects of working-memory overload, fatigue, stress, sensory distractions and task structure before deciding which support strategy is appropriate.

What's inside this programme?

Video modules

14 modules · approx. 257 min total · one film per module

1

Part I, Introduction to the Training

3 min

Available after purchase

Meet Joanna Nienałtowska-Padło and discover how the three-part programme connects the mechanisms behind concentration difficulties with practical classroom support. Learn why observing behaviour, understanding possible causes and responding to individual needs are the starting points for effective teaching.
2

Part I, Module 1: Understanding Difficulties with Concentration

21 min
Available after purchase
Why does a student focus on one activity but lose track within minutes during another? Explore how attention selects information, interacts with memory and fluctuates over time, and why noise, emotions and competing stimuli can make concentration harder.

Lessons in this module
1. What concentration is and how attention works
2. Attention, concentration and memory
3. Selective attention and filtering stimuli
4. The rhythm of concentration and natural fluctuations of attention
3

Part I, Module 2: ADHD and ADD: The Wider Picture

26 min
Available after purchase
Understand the recognised presentations of ADHD, including predominantly inattentive difficulties that may go unnoticed. Explore how symptoms change with age and how attention, impulsivity and emotional regulation affect school performance and relationships.

Lessons in this module
1. ADHD and ADD as sets of symptoms
2. Core symptoms and presentations of ADHD
3. ADHD and ADD across development
4. Emotional and social functioning
5. The persistence of ADHD and ADD symptoms across development
6. Integrating information and cognitive chaos
4

Part I, Module 3: Patterns of Functioning in ADHD

20 min
Available after purchase
Why is one student constantly moving while another withdraws, worries excessively or struggles with changes? Explore different descriptive patterns of functioning and hyperfocus, and learn to consider what may be contributing to a student's behaviour without treating these patterns as diagnostic categories.

Lessons in this module
1. Patterns of functioning in ADHD: a metaphorical approach
2. The high-energy, hyperactive style
3. The rigid, overfocused style
4. The withdrawn, low-energy style
5. The anxious style
6. The predominantly inattentive style
7. Hyperfocus: mechanism, potential and risks
5

Part I, Module 4: Cognitive and Language Functioning and Differences in Ways of Learning

20 min
Available after purchase
A student knows the answer but cannot organise their thoughts. Another forgets instructions halfway through an activity. Understand how difficulties with attention and working memory can affect speaking, writing, processing information and completing multi-step tasks.

Lessons in this module
1. Attention and thinking
2. Language and narrative difficulties
3. Difficulties with writing and learning
4. Memory and concentration
5. Differences in information processing and ways of working
6. The Centipede and Grasshopper patterns: difficulties with starting, organising and finishing tasks
6

Part II, Module 5: Executive Functions and Self-Regulation

20 min
Available after purchase
Why can a student explain exactly what they need to do but still fail to begin? Understand the role of executive functions in planning, time management, persistence and impulse control, and learn how temporary adult support can help students gradually develop greater independence.

Lessons in this module
1. Executive functions
2. Planning and organisation
3. Controlling emotions and impulses
4. Time management and persistence
5. Self-regulation of attention, emotions and energy
6. The adult's role as an external structure
7

Part II, Module 6: Ordering Tasks, Priorities and Energy

23 min
Available after purchase
Discover why long to-do lists can overwhelm students instead of helping them. Explore practical ways to make tasks manageable, distinguish urgent from important work and use tools such as the Eisenhower and Thayer matrices to support planning.

Lessons in this module
1. Priority lists: principles and pitfalls
2. Problems with to-do lists in ADHD and ADD
3. The Eisenhower matrix: the important and the urgent
4. Energy and tension across the day
5. The Thayer matrix: self-regulation of energy and stress
6. Self-regulation as a condition of effective action
7. The consequences of not ordering tasks and energy
8

Part II, Module 7: Concentration in School Practice

23 min
Available after purchase
Learn how to structure a lesson so students know what comes next, give instructions they can follow and reduce unnecessary distractions. Explore practical adjustments to seating, classroom organisation, transitions and the pace of work.

Lessons in this module
1. Concentration in the teacher's work
2. Organising teaching sessions
3. Organising the student's work
4. Rules, instructions and directions
5. Lesson structure and predictability
6. The educational environment and everyday practice that supports concentration
9

Part II, Module 8: Educational Strategies and Interventions

23 min
Available after purchase
What should you do when a student refuses a task, becomes impulsive or repeatedly fails to finish their work? Explore ways to adapt tasks, assessment and feedback, consider possible reasons for behaviour, support motivation and build more consistent cooperation between school and home.

Lessons in this module
1. Basic strategies for working with students with ADHD and ADD
2. Adjusting requirements, assessment and feedback
3. Behaviour as a message and regulatory interventions
4. Motivation and the reward system in ADHD and ADD
5. Cooperation between adults
10

Part III, Module 9: The Biology and Environment of Concentration

17 min
Available after purchase
Why does the same student manage well one day and struggle with a familiar task the next? Explore the possible effects of sleep, fatigue, movement, hydration, sensory input and stress, and learn what to consider before interpreting a lapse in concentration.

Lessons in this module
1. Concentration and physiology
2. Sleep, circadian rhythm, movement and recovery
3. Hydration, food and the study environment
4. Stress, safety and how the brain works
11

Part III. Module 10: Concentration Exercises and Training

17 min
Available after purchase
Explore short attention, perception and persistence activities, alongside games, memory techniques and relaxation practices. Learn how to select manageable exercises and connect the strategies practised during an activity with real schoolwork.

Lessons in this module
1. Concentration as a skill that can be developed
2. Training attention, persistence and visual perception
3. Games, playful activities and memory techniques as tools for strengthening concentration
4. Relaxation, mindfulness and cognitive hygiene as conditions for lasting concentration
12

Part III, Module 11: Brain Development and Stress

20 min
Available after purchase
Understand why students may know a rule but struggle to apply it consistently, especially under pressure. Explore the gradual development of executive functions, the effects of stress on thinking and impulse control, and practical ways to reduce cognitive overload.

Lessons in this module
1. Brain development in children and teenagers
2. The maturation of the frontal lobes
3. Stress, survival mode and their impact on cognitive functioning
4. Teenagers, school and cognitive load
5. Supporting stress regulation in educational practice
13

Part III, Module 12: Illustrative Context and Examples

19 min
Available after purchase
Learn how to discuss attention difficulties without labelling students or making assumptions about their abilities. Explore metaphors, everyday classroom examples and ways of communicating that help students understand their experiences and take part in finding appropriate support.

Lessons in this module
1. Metaphors
2. Quotations and cultural examples
3. Public figures who have spoken openly about ADHD and ADD
4. Examples from educational practice
5. A change of perspective
14

Part III, Closing Remarks

5 min

Available after purchase

Bring together the key ideas from all three parts and reflect on how to apply them in everyday teaching. Revisit the importance of clear instructions, predictable routines, appropriate task demands and supportive communication, and learn why understanding the circumstances behind a student's difficulties can help you choose more effective responses.

Teacher's Toolkit

163-page guide across 3 volumes · PDF

The written companion to the video training. It helps you understand ADHD and concentration difficulties, explore the reasons behind everyday classroom challenges and return to practical strategies for supporting pupils whenever you need them.

Clear explanations of ADHD, ADD, attention, memory and different patterns of functioning
Executive functions, self-regulation, impulsivity and emotional difficulties
Practical strategies for planning, prioritising, managing time and completing tasks
Classroom approaches to instructions, lesson structure, assessment and feedback
Exercises and activities for developing attention, persistence and work organisation
The influence of sleep, stress, movement and the learning environment on concentration
Classroom examples and practical guidance for understanding behaviour and adapting support

See sample pages

Classroom Resource Library

Practical resources for real classroom situations

The Professional version gives you access to the complete library of practical resources created specifically for this programme. Inside, you’ll find ready-to-use materials that support classroom practice, behaviour analysis, communication, planning and implementation. Selected resources are available to preview for free, so you can see the format and approach before accessing the full library.

13

materials total
0

free for everyone
13

in Professional

Practical Classroom Tools

8 materials
- Quick Analysis of a Difficult Situation
  
  A practical five-step guide to analysing challenging behaviour. Record what happened, consider possible explanations, choose an appropriate response and check whether it helped. Includes a checklist of factors to consider before drawing conclusions.
  
  Open
- Message Bank: “How It Could Sound”
  
  Ready-to-use phrases for giving instructions, helping students start tasks, responding to tension and providing feedback. Includes examples of what to say instead of comments that may cause frustration, embarrassment or conflict.
  
  Open
- Classroom Layout and the Student's Seat
  
  A classroom checklist and planning sheet for reviewing seating arrangements, noise, lighting, visual distractions and access to resources. Helps you choose specific changes and assess whether they improve a student's ability to work.
  
  Open
- Menu of Short Breaks and Regulation Activities
  
  A selection of short movement, calming and attention-regulation activities for students who struggle to continue or return to work. Includes guidance on when a break may help, how to introduce it and how to check whether it improves task engagement.
  
  Open
- Educational Adjustments: An Overview
  
  A practical overview of possible classroom adjustments, including task organisation, instructions, extra time, working conditions and assessment. Includes checklists and a planning sheet to help you match adjustments to identified needs and review their effectiveness.
  
  Open
- Day and Week Visual Schedule
  
  Printable daily and weekly planning templates with cut-out activity labels. Help students follow routines, understand the order of activities and prepare for changes while gradually developing greater independence.
  
  Open
- A Moment of Calm: A Short Exercise (Optional)
  
  A ready-to-read script for a short, voluntary calming activity. Offers alternatives such as gentle breathing, focusing on the surroundings and simple movement, with guidance on adapting the exercise to individual needs.
  
  Open
- Living Library Worksheets
  
  A collection of 12 practical worksheets and a supplementary troubleshooting card. Includes tools for observing behaviour, identifying distractions, planning tasks and written work, supporting daily routines, communicating with parents and reviewing classroom strategies.
  
  Open
Intervention Cards & Conversation Scenarios

5 materials
- Intervention Cards
  
  100 ready-to-use intervention cards covering attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, executive functions, working memory, emotions, sensory overload, motivation, relationships and transitions. Each card describes a specific classroom situation, suggests immediate actions, identifies responses to avoid and explains when further consultation may be needed.
  
  Open
- Teacher Conversations in Everyday Practice: Part I. Conversations with the Student
  
  20 detailed conversation scenarios for everyday and challenging situations involving students with ADHD. Includes suggested phrases, step-by-step approaches, ways to respond when tension escalates and follow-up actions for situations such as task refusal, disruptive behaviour and emotional outbursts.
  
  Open
- Teacher Conversations in Everyday Practice: Part II. Conversations with Parents
  
  60 detailed scenarios for conversations with parents, including initial discussions about difficulties, disagreements, emotional reactions and challenging meetings. Each scenario provides example phrases, a conversation structure, common mistakes to avoid and guidance on agreeing practical next steps.
  
  Open
- Teacher Conversations in Everyday Practice: Part IV. Conversations with the Class
  
  20 complete scenarios – classroom culture and cooperation. Covers conversations with the whole class – about the rules of working together, emotions, diversity and mutual respect, as well as responding after difficult situations.
  
  Open
- Case Studies
  
  7 school situations to analyse – how to understand attention difficulties and choose the right support.
  
  Open

Knowledge Booster

The Professional version includes the Knowledge Booster, which helps you return to the programme after completing the video course - step by step, without trying to implement everything at once. Inspired by Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve, it uses short emails sent at the right intervals to help you remember and apply what you learn.

Professional: 11 emails over 30 days

1

Day 1

Welcome to Your Knowledge Booster
2

Day 3

Understanding Concentration Difficulties
3

Day 6

Recognising Inattentive ADHD
4

Day 9

Understanding Behaviour Patterns
5

Day 12

Supporting Speaking and Writing
6

Day 15

Helping Students Get Started
7

Day 18

Making Task Lists Work
8

Day 21

Giving Clearer Instructions
9

Day 24

Responding to Challenging Behaviour
10

Day 27

Creating Better Conditions for Concentration
11

Day 30

Putting It All Together

You control when it starts. Activate from your account whenever you're ready - it won't start automatically.

Certificate of completion

Each Edutimo programme includes a short end-of-programme test. After completing the modules, take the test to confirm what you have learned and download your certificate of completion. The test is included in the programme and can be retaken if needed.

Ready? Take the test and get your certificate.

12 questions · approx. 10 min · available after completing all modules

Your trainer

Joanna Nienałtowska-Padło

Educator, psychoprevention specialist, sociotherapist and trainer, valued for warmth, authenticity and practical tools for teachers and parents.

autism spectrum support
challenging behaviours
students with SEND
parent-teacher collaboration
motivation
teaching methodology

What teachers say?

Trusted by teachers across Europe

Margaret M.

Teacher

"Clear and well-explained step by step - what may cause various behaviours and how to deal with them."

Hedwig S.

Teacher

"Comments and examples "taken from real life." Experience, wisdom, calmness, and a courageous look at reality from Jolanta."

Isabella A.

Teacher

"The trainer has a calming voice and manner. I will use paraphrasing in conversations with students and approach "comebacks" more boldly :) I will also try out the teddy bear method in the first grade."

Questions about this programme

FAQ

What's the difference between Essential and Professional?

Essential includes the full video programme, the Teacher’s Toolkit ebook and a certificate of completion. Professional includes everything in Essential, plus the complete Classroom Resource Library and the Knowledge Booster.
How long do I have access?

You receive 12 months of access to the programme after purchase.
Does the programme include ready-to-use materials?

Yes. Depending on your package, you receive templates, scripts, cards, procedures, case studies and classroom tools.
What is the Knowledge Booster?

It is a 30-day email sequence that helps you revisit the most important ideas from the programme and apply them step by step.
Do I receive a certificate?

Yes. After completing the programme, you can download your certificate of completion.