Study Shows That Highlighters Help Children Learn Better, Faster

Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivityacquire the main ideas of lessons or to complete
disorder (ADHD) represent about 3% to 5% ofthe requirements of tasks. (3) Impulsive; problems
the school-age population and are most oftenworking on a task or activity and ignoring
educated in the general education classroom.competing activities or desires to do something
Studies have clearly demonstrated that childrenelse. Also involves problems screening thoughts or
challenged with this disorder benefit from aactions before acting on them (e.g., blurting out
variety of specialized teaching techniques includinganswers) and (4) High levels of verbal and motor
the use of highlighters and markers to improveactivity. Needing to talk and move more than
learning and memorizing performance. Whensame-aged peers.
taught to use sticky notes and highlighters toIn a series of successful experiments as reported
follow along with teacher-led instruction or within a study by Melissa A. Stormont about how to
independent work, there was a significant increaseincrease academic success for children with ADHD
in learning ability.(Article EJ791338), the author demonstrates how
Unfortunately, general educators are not alwayssticky notes, or adhesive-backed paper like
prepared to provide supports for children withPost-Its, and specifically highlighters are used as
ADHD or other types of diverse learning needs,support materials because they are present in
and financial means are not provided acquire themost educational settings, inexpensive, easy to
office and teaching supplies that would help theuse, and portable so children can be taught to use
children.similar strategies at home.
Children with ADHD have many uniqueTeachers need to be prepared to provide
characteristics that interfere with their learninginstructional supports for students with ADHD and
and task completion. The largest group of childrenstudents with other diverse learning needs. It
with ADHD has attention problems, hyperactivity,does not have to be a costly or time-consuming
and impulsive.process.
The most common characteristics of ADHDEducational organizations and schools are
consist of the following: (1) Selective attentionencouraged to benefit from ordering a wide
problems; problems paying attention to the mostselection of highlighters in different sizes to
important and relevant cues to successfully beginsupport the needs of children with ADHD. Most
and participate in teacher- or student-led activities.promotional product companies care a large
(2) Sustained attention problems; problemsselection to choose from that can be customized
sustaining interest in one activity long enough towith the school's logo or trademark emblem.