There is so much excitement surrounding the beginning of a new school year – new teachers, new sneakers, new school supplies, everything feels new. Each transition into a new grade brings new freedoms and students feel more grown up.
However, as the school year moves on, the excitement fades and reality hits. The avalanche of homework, tests, papers and projects pile up and anxiety competes with earlier feelings of enthusiasm. For students with ADHD and learning differences, the weight of the work feels heavier as they are required to manage the same expectations but need more time and support to do so. Often, parents feel overwhelmed as they navigate, especially during major transition points.
How can parents create a sustainable environment where children can learn to be successful and continue to move toward greater independence? Below are some ways that you can support your child while providing them space for individual growth.
1. Build Executive Functioning Skills
Executive functioning (EF) skills are crucial for managing daily routines, achieving goals, and adapting to new situations. Students with ADHD and learning differences may struggle more with these skills.
Organization: Messy backpacks, missing assignments, and scattered thoughts can lead to feeling overwhelmed. It is important to create structure and routine. Choose a designated spot for backpacks to help ensure a smooth morning transition and encourage your child’s buy-in. Create a weekly schedule that includes after-school activities, dinner, homework, breaks, and bedtime. Develop the schedule together rather than simply handing your child a calendar and telling them what to do. This gives them a voice and helps them become part of the process.
Materials Management: Create order by using planners, schedules, and color-coded folders. Make sure there is a folder for each class, and keep both digital and paper materials organized in a designated workspace.
Homework: Provide a designated homework area that is clean and free of clutter. The space should include supplies, access to a computer, a timer, and easily accessible fidgets. Use schedules and calendars to help students visualize each day, week, and month so they can plan ahead. Make sure resources are readily available in both digital and paper formats. Develop good habits by checking online classroom platforms and emails to ensure deadlines are met and assignments are clear.
Planning: Help your child develop clear steps to reach a goal. Discuss what the goal should be and remember that goals may change as the year progresses. Starting with small, attainable goals will help build your child’s confidence, allowing them to experience success, recognize their progress, and feel motivated to take on new challenges. Use graphic organizers, visual schedules, and backward planning to help your child map out the steps needed to succeed.
Time Management: Review assignments and break them down into smaller parts. Encourage your child to ask: How long will this take? What else do I need to do? Calendars should include start and finish times so students do not get stuck on one task or spend too much time on a single assignment.
Task Initiation and Completion: Sometimes starting work is challenging; other times, completing it is the struggle. Students may also forget to submit completed assignments. Create a checklist with your child to help them track their work. When they feel overwhelmed by the number of assignments, encourage them to start with a non-preferred task and then reward themselves with a subject they enjoy more.
Attention: Sustaining focus throughout the school day and then spending evenings doing homework can be extremely challenging for students with ADHD or learning disabilities. Encourage breaks and break assignments into manageable chunks. Taking breaks can help students maintain their stamina and reach the finish line. Teach your child to set a timer as a reminder to return to homework and proactively manage distractions.
2. Identify and Use Available Resources
Help your child identify resources available at school and in the community. Learning to access the right support is an important step toward independence.
In School: Explore after-school help sessions, resource rooms, writing centers, library resources, trusted teachers or counselors, and study halls. If your child has a specific interest or talent, encourage them to connect with a teacher who can offer guidance and support as they pursue that interest.
Teachers: Encourage your child to build relationships with their teachers and give teachers opportunities to get to know them. Schedule regular meetings to better understand expectations. If a teacher’s instructional style is challenging for your child, make time to discuss what the teacher expects and help your child communicate what they need to succeed in the class.
Outside of School: Encourage your child to explore study groups with friends, connect with trusted adults, and pursue areas of interest. Participating in clubs, sports, music, or work opportunities can build confidence and help children discover their strengths.
Technology: Keeping track of where assignments are posted and submitted—whether through Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Blackbaud, Schoology, or PowerSchool—can be challenging. Make checking these platforms part of your child’s routine and add it to their checklist. As more opportunities arise to use pen and paper instead of laptops, encourage your child to determine what works best for them. Resources may include YouTube, audiobooks, NotebookLM, and a variety of executive functioning platforms. Every school has specific policies regarding AI, so encourage your child to understand and follow them.
Self-Advocacy: Encourage your child to be proud of who they are, their learning style, and the work they do. Some teachers may be flexible, while others may not, but it is important to keep the conversation open. Teach your child that asking for help is a strength. As students transition to middle and high school, they need to learn to communicate directly with teachers, ask questions, schedule meetings, and share information. You can help by teaching them how to write emails, creating email templates, and proofreading messages until they become more comfortable with the process.
3. Listen & Collaborate
Resist the urge to solve every problem for your child. Instead, encourage them to identify challenges and think through possible solutions. The only way to develop these skills is to try, make mistakes, and learn from the experience.
As your child looks ahead, they will begin to recognize the value of using available supports and resources. To encourage greater independence and ownership of their learning, try reframing conversations using declarative language.
Instead of asking, “What did you get on the test?” try saying, “I would love to hear how the test went.”
Instead of telling your child, “Write your essay,” try saying, “I noticed you have some essay prompts. I wonder what you will write about?”
Instead of saying, “Talk to your teacher,” try saying, “I noticed you are feeling stuck, and I’m thinking it might be helpful to talk to your teacher.”
These approaches keep the lines of communication open and help children feel supported rather than judged, while encouraging them to take ownership of their learning.
Systems and routines need to be consistent, but it is never too late to create and follow a plan. There are many tools and resources available, and your child needs to find the systems and processes that work best for them. This takes time, patience, and trial and error.
Remember, mistakes are opportunities to learn. Resist the urge to fix everything, even when your child is anxious or falling behind. Instead, work together to find solutions and strategies. Show your child that you believe in their ability to succeed by giving them the space to figure things out while maintaining appropriate expectations. Over time, this approach will help build their independence, resilience, and grit.
About the Author
Daniela Rosenblatt, MA, is the Associate Head of School and Director of Enrollment at The Pinnacle School. An experienced educator, she has worked as a teacher, consultant, and administrator in both public and private schools. She has extensive experience supporting students with language-based learning disabilities and ADHD, as well as in curriculum development, teacher mentorship, and college admissions. Daniela holds a BA from Brandeis University and an MA from New York University’s Steinhardt School, with additional postgraduate studies in special education.