Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can significantly affect a student’s ability to focus, complete tasks, and follow instructions in a structured classroom environment. External strategies can often help these students stay on track, particularly when the novelty of a new school year or course has worn off.
One such approach is the school-home daily report card (DRC), a tool that enables teachers and parents to collaborate on tracking and reinforcing positive behaviours and academic progress for students. According to ADHD expert and psychiatry professor Russell Barkley, “daily behaviour report cards are among the most well-studied and empirically supported low-dose behavioural interventions that parents can implement to monitor a child’s behaviour away from home.”
Why Use a School-Home Daily Report Card?
A daily report card is a behaviour management tool used to track a child’s performance throughout the school day and provide immediate feedback. This approach is particularly effective for students with ADHD because it helps them stay focused on specific goals and offers structured, consistent reinforcement. The key benefits of a DRC for ADHD students include:
Frequent Feedback
Students with ADHD often struggle with delayed gratification. By breaking the day into smaller, manageable intervals, the DRC provides them with more immediate feedback, helping them stay engaged and motivated.
Clear Expectations
A DRC outlines specific behaviours the child is working to improve, such as completing assignments, following rules, or interacting respectfully with peers. This clarity helps the child understand exactly what is expected of them and where they need to improve.
Increased Motivation
The DRC allows for the use of rewards to reinforce positive behaviour. These rewards, which can range from small daily incentives to larger weekly goals, provide the child with a reason to stay engaged in their learning and social interactions.
Parental Involvement
A DRC encourages collaboration between home and school, creating a unified front in supporting the child’s behaviour and academic progress. Parents can reinforce positive behaviour at home and celebrate successes together with their child.
Tracking Progress Over Time
With the DRC, both teachers and parents can track the child’s progress over the days, weeks, or months. This consistent monitoring can help identify patterns and areas that need more attention, allowing for adjustments to the strategy as needed.
How to Set Up a School-Home Daily Report Card
Creating an effective DRC involves several steps to ensure that the child is motivated, supported, and given the best chance for success.
1. Identify Target Behaviours
Start by selecting specific, measurable behaviours on which to focus. These should align with the child’s academic, social, and behavioural challenges. The behaviours should be concrete and observable. For instance, here are some examples of target behaviours that may be helpful for students with ADHD:
- Social behaviours
- Does not interrupt others during work time
- Does not tease or engage in verbal aggression
- Plays without fighting at recess
- Academic behaviours
- Completes assigned tasks (both classwork and homework)
- Maintains focus on assignments for a set period
- Has necessary materials to complete tasks
- Classroom behaviours and following instructions
- Obeys teacher’s instructions the first time
- Follows classroom rules without frequent reminders
- Demonstrates respectful interactions with teachers and peers
2. Set Criteria for Success
Once you have identified the target behaviours, set realistic criteria for success. These criteria should be attainable but also challenge the child to improve. For example:
- For a child who struggles with interrupting, the goal might be “no more than two interruptions per class period” instead of the broad “interrupts less often.”
- For a child who has difficulty completing homework, you might aim for “turning in at least 80% of homework assignments on time.”
Set these criteria based on the child’s current level of performance, using data from their schoolwork, behaviour records, or teacher observations. Start with more achievable goals and gradually increase the expectations as the child progresses.
3. Determine Report Card Intervals
The DRC should provide frequent feedback throughout the day, typically after each class period or specific intervals (e.g., morning, lunch, and afternoon). For younger students, more frequent feedback may be needed to maintain engagement and motivation.
You might break the day into a few key intervals:
- Morning (before lunch): Focus on classroom behaviours and the completion of initial tasks.
- Afternoon (post-lunch): Track behaviour during later lessons or interactions with peers.
- End of day: Monitor general behaviour, homework completion, or overall focus.
Providing feedback at natural breaks (such as transitions between subjects or before recess) is crucial for keeping the child engaged and preventing overwhelm.
4. Explain the Report Card to the Child
Communication is key when setting up a DRC. Meet with the child, the teacher, and the parents to explain the goals of the report card. Make sure the child understands that the DRC is a tool designed to help them improve. Frame it positively as a chance for them to focus on areas that are challenging and earn rewards for their progress.
- Explain the purpose: Tell the child that the report card will help them work on areas they find difficult and that it’s meant to support their learning.
- Involve the child in choosing behaviours and rewards: Let the child be part of the process. This increases their investment and motivation. Ask them what kinds of rewards they would like to earn for positive behaviour.
5. Establish a Home-Based Reward System
Rewards are an essential component of the DRC. The reward system should be consistent at school and home, so the child experiences continuity of expectations and reinforcement.
Selecting appropriate rewards:
- Choose rewards the child values: These can range from tangible items (like snacks or extra screen time) to activities (such as going to a movie or playing a game with family). Make sure the rewards are motivating to the child.
- Set up a graduated system: Use a tiered reward system. For example, a child might earn a small reward for meeting a certain number of goals (e.g., a sticker or extra recess time), and a larger reward (e.g., a trip to the park) for achieving a higher level of success over the course of the week.
- Provide a menu of choices: Let the child pick from a menu of rewards, which helps maintain motivation and prevents boredom. For example:
- Daily rewards: Extra 15 minutes of video game time, choosing a family TV show, or going outside for 20 minutes.
- Weekly rewards: A trip to the movies, going to a friend’s house, or a special activity with a parent.
- Long-term rewards: Set long-term goals, such as earning pieces of a puzzle that represent a larger reward (e.g., a new bike or a special outing).
6. Monitor and Modify the Program
Tracking progress is essential. Teachers should maintain records of the child’s performance on the DRC each day. Over time, monitor whether the child is consistently meeting the criteria. If the child is achieving success, you can gradually raise the expectations. Conversely, if the child is struggling to meet the criteria, adjust the goals to make them more achievable.
Remember to use positive reinforcement consistently. Praise the child for their efforts, regardless of whether they meet the goal. Focus on progress and celebrate small wins.
7. Troubleshooting and Adjustments
If the child isn’t responding to the DRC as expected, it may be necessary to tweak the system. You can:
- Make the criteria easier or harder depending on the child’s performance.
- Adjust the rewards to ensure they remain motivating.
- Address external factors that may be interfering with the child’s behaviour (e.g., stress, learning challenges, etc.).
Evoke’s academic strategists have extensive experience helping families select and implement supports and strategies for students with ADHD, ASD, and learning disabilities. Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about our programs and services.
