5 Great Books About ADHD in Education

ADHD: The Great Misdiagnosis
Learning Outside the Lines
Managing ADHD In School: The Best Evidence-Based Methods for Teachers
The ADD Hyperactivity Workbook
Understanding Girls with Attention AD/HD

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) creates differences in concentrationa nd motor function. Educators often fail to foster the special intellectual gifts that these children possess. They get ignored, punished for behavioral issues, and treated as intellectually inferior. If you work in the education system and are tried of seeing children survive with rather than thrive with ADHD, you will enjoy these 5 books.

1. ADHD: The Great Misdiagnosis

Written by Dr. Julian Stuart Haber, this book explains the differences between true ADHD and characteristics frequently mislabeled as such. It is more important to focus on specific student experiences and abilities, because treating children for ADHD who do not have it has a negative impact on those students. It also prevents people from learning how best to support children who do have ADHD.

2. Learning Outside the Lines

This memoir by David Cole and Jonathan Mooney offers a first hand perspective on the ADHD experience. The authors are Ivy League students who not only overcame the challenges of ADHD, but used its other characteristics to their advantage in their academic success. This is a great book for helping educators understand what it is like for their students with ADHD. It also serves as a reminder that ADHD should be treated as a distinction, not a limitation.

3. Managing ADHD In School: The Best Evidence-Based Methods for Teachers

Dr. Russell Barkley has written a book specifically designed to guide teachers in helping students with ADHD manage their symptoms in the school setting. The great thing about this book is language used. Dr. Barkley talks about “managing” the ADHD, implying that it is something to be consistently addressed, but without negative connotations. He also says “managing ADHD” rather than “managing students,” highlighting the fact that the students are not defined holistically by their diagnoses.

4. The ADD Hyperactivity Workbook

This is a workbook for parents, teachers, and students. It helps the children and everyone involved in their education learn about the history of ADHD and how to holistically manage their experiences with it as a team. This workbook helps teachers understand how all students can benefit from an inclusive classroom in which students with ADHD and without benefit from conjoint but tailored instruction.

5. Understanding Girls with Attention AD/HD

The majority of ADHD research and resulting treatment methods has been geared towards boys. This led to many girls with ADHD not getting diagnosed properly, and not being treatment properly. Their experiences and characteristics are different, and need to be understood and approached differently. This book by Drs. Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ellen Littman, and Patricia O. Quinn raises much needed awareness in this area.

Students with ADHD are bright, talented, and full of amazing personality. When their experiences are validated, their talents uncovered and their symptoms managed with support, they are able to accomplish wonderful things. Teachers and other educators will find the five books above invaluable for assisting these students in achieving success!