Proper Seating for better teaching

Aside from an IEP, what else can you do in the classroom?
These children are very easily distracted, and the classroom is
the worst place for them since there can be so much going on
all at the same time. Consider your seating plan.

1 Move your ADD ADHD student's desk to where there are
fewer distractions, close to the teacher to monitor and
encourage, or near a well-focused child.

2 It is usually better to use rows for seating arrangement
and to try to avoid tables with groups of students. Often
the groups are too distracting for the ADHD child.

3 In the ideal setting, provide tables for specific group
projects, and traditional rows for independent work. Of
course, we are rarely in an ideal setting.

4 Every once in a while, try arranging desks in a horseshoe
shape to allow for appropriate discussion while permitting
independent work.

5 Your ADD ADHD student's desk should be near the teacher
(for prompting and redirection), away from other
challenging students, and not touching others' desks.
However, if you notice that your attention deficit student
looks around a lot to see where noises are coming from,
because he is very auditorily distractible, he may benefit
from being seated near the rear of the classroom.

6 Experiment with seat location in the front of the
classroom (near the board) and instructional area if your
student is more visually distracted.

7 It is important for the teacher to be able to move about
the entire room and to have access to all students.

Practice "Management by Walking Around" in the
classroom. The more personal interaction, the better.

8 Have all of the distractible ADD ADHD students seated
nearest to place in the class where you will give directions
or lectures. At least as close as possible without being
punitive.