ADHD/VAST Tutoring

ADD is no longer a diagnosis but is captured in ADHD

Tutoring for ADHD Learners of All Ages

At Organizational Tutors, we offer ADHD/ADD tutoring for elementary school, middle school, high school, and college students. While Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were originally thought to be separate conditions, in recent decades, the official name changed to ADHD, though there are several types that fall under the umbrella. Students with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning skills. Parents may worry their child is disorganized, loses track of materials, has difficulty following multi-step instructions, is easily distracted and restless, and has low frustration and distress tolerance. At Organizational Tutors, our experienced tutors work with students one on one to help them develop skills to better manage inattentive and hyperactivity symptoms, as well as to address the executive functioning components of ADHD/ADD.

Areas We Address

We help students develop or improve upon a variety of skills and our focus will depend on your child’s needs. In general, our ADHD tutoring addresses:

Focus and Filtering Distractions

Sustaining focus and filtering out distractions are crucial skills for academic and life success. Our coaches support students in self-monitoring to identify when their attention is lost and in refocusing back on the task. Coaches also teach students to filter distractions with strategies like creating an organized, distraction-free workspace and implementing technology limits and boundaries. We use visual timers to help students who may struggle with “time blindness” to stay on task. We utilize visual schedules and encourage scheduling brain breaks during lengthy or more challenging tasks so the student can recharge and return to their task with renewed attention and vigor.

Organization and Planning

Students with ADHD/ADD may have difficulty organizing and planning. Our tutors provide students with concrete strategies to help them plan, organize, and prioritize their work effectively. We guide students in using systems like a calendar, planner, and file folders, with color-coding and other visuals to encourage consistent usage. We practice breaking down long-term projects into manageable tasks, scheduling completion of each task (and reminders), tracking progress, and adjusting plans as needed.

Self-Restraint and Impulse Control

Students with ADD/ADHD often have difficulty thinking before they act, taking turns, or waiting for an appropriate time to speak. We help students understand how their brains work and how to exercise their self-restraint. Additionally, we identify mindfulness techniques like short meditation and breathing exercises from which your student can benefit. Research has shown that mindfulness can help reduce restlessness and impulsivity. We also implement impediments to impulsivity like organizing the student’s learning space to remove objects that are difficult to resist or temporarily block distracting digital temptations like social media during homework and study time.

Patience and Increasing Frustration Tolerance

For students who struggle with emotional regulation, we help them increase their patience and frustration tolerance for more effective learning and greater productivity. Our tutors guide students in learning to recognize and label their emotions. They reflect together on the student’s experiences of intense frustration to identify common precursors. Coaches and students then collaborate on age-appropriate strategies for getting through moments of frustration and pushing through challenging situations to move forward.

ADD/ADHD Tutoring Toolbox

Once we gain a deep understanding of your child’s needs, we draw from our toolbox of research-based learning and cognitive strategies to develop a personalized plan. Your child’s tutor will guide them in how to identify lapses in attention and then redirect that attention. They’ll show your child how to use concrete strategies to support focus and resilience, while also addressing the emotional obstacles to learning, including affect regulation, frustration tolerance, and distress tolerance.

Some of these strategies may include:

Mindfulness exercises, which research shows can reduce restlessness and impulsivity, and improve concentration

Helping students create routines and using creative solutions to establish daily habits (for example, we may have an artistic student draw out their morning routine and post it on their bedroom wall)

Creating an organized, distraction-free workspace

Making task lists and breaking down instructions using color-coding systems to designate each step and attend to details

Getting physical with things like tossing a ball while studying, using a bouncy ball for a desk chair, utilizing fidget toys, exercising during breaks, etc.

Using psychoeducation to teach students about their ADHD/ADD, challenge stigma, advocate for their needs, and identify ADHD strengths (e.g., creativity or having more energy to get things done), which boosts confidence

At Organizational Tutors, we implement these strategies to help children, teens, and young adults have increased independence and long-term success. We also strive to help students understand how they think to give them more confidence.