5 Things I See Students With ADHD And Autism Struggle With Each Semester As A Special Educator (2025)
- Sean McCormick
- Jul 30
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 1
(Last Updated: August, 2025)
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As your child with ADHD embarks on a new semester, you might find yourself wondering how things will play out.
Will this semester be different?
Can you expect a smooth ride, or will there be:
missing assignments
low grades
arguments at home about "taking responsibility" and "showing some initiative"
How can you best support your child through the inevitable ups and downs of the long semester?
How prepared do you feel for the upcoming semester?
I'm Stephen Curry before the first game of the NBA season.
I just woke up -- what is going on?
3 Reasons Why Students With ADHD Struggle In School:
Reason 1: Most teachers are never explicitly taught how to support executive function skills
Most teacher preparation programs simply do not include training on how to teach:
time management
task initiation
working memory
emotional regulation
These are executive function skills, and students with ADHD often need direct, repeated, and clear instruction to build them.
For example, a student may know they need to study for a test but have no idea how to begin. They might not know what materials to use, how to break the studying into chunks, or how to track their progress.
Without classroom systems that teach and reinforce these processes, students fall further behind.
Reason 2: They get overwhelmed and do not have the self-regulation skills to recover
Many students with ADHD experience emotional flooding when they are asked to manage multiple demands at once.
This might include an overdue essay, a low grade on a quiz, or a disappointed teacher.
Without tools for self-regulation, these students often freeze, shut down, or avoid the problem entirely.
For example, a student who is behind in several classes may avoid opening their grade portal because just looking at the missing assignments makes them anxious.
Reason 3: Parents do not know how to help and accidentally make things worse by nagging
Even the most loving and well-meaning parents can unintentionally add to their child’s stress.
When a child appears distracted, forgetful, or behind on work, many parents start to:
remind them constantly
micromanage every task
get frustrated
This usually comes from fear and concern, not from a lack of care.
You can read more on how to support your child in my master article, Parenting Skills: A Guide To Supporting Your Child's Growth.
So, What Are Executive Function Skills?
Executive function skills are the mental processes that help us manage time, stay organized, remember important information, and control our behavior and emotions.
These skills act like the brain's management system, helping us plan, focus attention, switch between tasks, and follow through on goals.
They develop throughout childhood and continue maturing into early adulthood, with the prefrontal cortex playing a key role in their function.
Weaknesses in executive function can make daily life more difficult, especially when it comes to school, work, or managing responsibilities.
For students with ADHD, it often looks like:
difficulty starting tasks
forgetting instructions
getting easily distracted
For students on the autism spectrum, it might show up as:
rigid thinking
trouble shifting between tasks
difficulty managing frustration when routines change
For a full guide on executive function skills, check out my master article: Executive Function Skills 101.
What Challenges Will My Student Experience This Semester?
To help prepare you, I've developed the CHASE model as a tool to increase your awareness of the unique challenges and stages that ADHD students may face throughout the semester, enabling you to better support and guide your child's academic journey.
CHASE stands for the following:
Does this sound familiar?
If so, read on to learn how to interrupt the cycle and help your student with ADHD have the best semester yet.
C: Committed
The "C" in the CHASE model stands for "Committed," capturing the initial enthusiasm and engagement at the semester's start.
In this phase, your student might eagerly talk about new subjects or set ambitious goals.
However, this positive energy may be short-lived if not supported.
You can nurture this stage by prioritizing a secure connection with your student and establishing S.M.A.R.T. goals.
Continue reading to learn how.
H: Hurdles Emerge
The "H" in the CHASE model represents "Hurdles Emerge," reflecting the phase where challenges and obstacles begin to surface.
In this stage, your student may start:
losing focus
falling behind in class
It's not uncommon for many parents to respond with nagging at this point, often out of concern and frustration.
Unfortunately, nagging can be counterproductive and might not address the underlying issues.
Instead of resorting to this approach, setting up a clear plan or reaching out to an executive function coach can be more effective.
Recognizing these hurdles early and responding with a clear and consistent approach is key.
A: Alert
The "A" in the CHASE model stands for "Alert," the phase characterized by a significant disconnection, where the earlier challenges have escalated into a more severe disconnect from schoolwork.
At this alarming stage, many parents recognize the need for intervention and may reach out to an executive function coach.
However, with so much to catch up on, expectations can often become unrealistic.
Parents might hope for immediate results or significant academic improvement in a short time, putting undue pressure on both the coach and the student.
Recovery and reconnection at this stage will take time, effort, and a well-structured plan tailored to your student's specific needs.
You can create a supportive environment for your student to get back on track by:
S: Scramble
The "S" in the CHASE model stands for "Scramble," signifying the phase where there's an intense effort to recover, reconnect, and catch up on missed work.
After recognizing the alarming disconnection in the previous phase, the scramble stage often involves working closely with an executive function coach, teachers, and other support systems.
It's a demanding period, requiring your student to work hard to regain lost ground.
Some parents, already anxious from the prior phases, might expect too rapid a turnaround, failing to realize that a genuine recovery takes time and consistent effort.
Because of how challenging the scramble typically is, many students fall into exhaustion during or soon after this phase, which can put their mental health at risk.
Patience, clear communication, and an achievable plan are key in this phase.
Understanding that progress may be gradual, and celebrating small victories along the way, can help your student navigate this challenging time without slipping further into overwhelm.
E: Exhaustion
The "E" in the CHASE model stands for "Exhaustion," marking the end of the semester when both you and your student may feel drained and possibly discouraged.
It's a critical juncture, one that can either be a learning experience or the starting point for slipping back into the same cycle for the next semester.
It is vital to:
reflect on the journey
acknowledge the hard work
identify both successes and areas for improvement
This stage presents an opportunity to break the repetitive pattern by understanding what went wrong and implementing new strategies to avoid the same pitfalls.
Do you want to use this experience to foster growth, resilience, and a more balanced academic path for your student?
Or will you allow the challenges of the past semester to repeat themselves?
The decision you make now can set the tone for the next semester and beyond, turning the exhaustion phase into a powerful launching pad for future success.
How Can I Support My Student This Semester?
Breaking the CHASE cycle doesn't have to be an insurmountable challenge.
By adopting a thoughtful and structured approach, parents can turn the tide and set their students on a path to success.
I've distilled our coaching approach at Executive Function Specialists into an easy-to-follow "order of operations" for parents, teachers and coaches to implement.
At EFS, we use the acronym PEMDAS to remember the steps to engaging students and breaking the CHASE cycle:
P - Prioritize a Secure Connection
Building a trusting and secure connection with your student is the foundation of this process.
By understanding their needs, emotions, and struggles, you can approach their challenges with empathy and support, fostering a positive relationship that transcends the ups and downs of the semester.
E - Establish S.M.A.R.T. Goal
S.M.A.R.T. goals are goals that are:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
For example, a goal could look like:
By December 15th, I will complete 100% of my missing assignments in English, History, and Math by submitting at least 3 missing assignments per week, using my weekly planner and check-ins with my executive function coach every Friday to stay on track.
Why it works:
Specific: Targets missing assignments in 3 subjects
Measurable: 100% completion with 3 per week
Achievable: Breaks the total down into smaller chunks
Relevant: Directly addresses the student's academic struggle
Time-bound: Deadline is December 15th
Setting these with your student helps to ensure that expectations are realistic, aligning with their abilities and the timeframe of the semester.
M - Make Everyone Aware of the Goals
Communication is key.
Ensure that not only you and your student but also teachers, tutors, or coaches are aligned with these goals.
This united front helps in maintaining consistency and provides the support your student needs.
D - Divide and Guide
Breaking down large goals into smaller, manageable tasks makes the path more navigable.
Guiding your student through these tasks prevents feeling overwhelmed and fosters a sense of accomplishment along the way.
For more tools to help guide your student this semester, check out the Semester Success Blueprint course designed for parents and educators to complete with students with ADHD or Autism.
A - Accountability All the Way
Regular check-ins, support, and maintaining responsibility create a framework for success.
This continual accountability helps keep your student on track, allowing for adjustments as needed and ensuring that they are not left to struggle alone.
S - Show Them You Are Proud
Recognizing and celebrating achievements, no matter how small, boosts confidence and motivation.
Your pride in their progress encourages continued effort and reinforces a positive self-image.
The Bottom Line
The CHASE model describes how students with ADHD experience the school semester.
CHASE stands for:
Committed
Hurdles
Alert
Scrambled
Exhaustion
By implementing strategies, parents can not only navigate the challenges of the current semester but build skills and understanding that carry into the future.
Use PEMDAS to stop the CHASE:
Prioritize a secure connection
Establish S.M.A.R.T. goals
Make everyone aware of the goals
Divide goals into chunks
Accountability all the way
Show them you're proud
Hope this helps 🤙🏻
P.S. If you want to work on executive function skills with your students, consider joining hundreds of other educators and parents who have completed my Semester Success Blueprint Course. In less than 2 hours, this comprehensive course will teach you and your student the system I developed to help hundreds of students learn how to manage school effectively and raise their self-awareness and engagement with school.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and growing my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Want me to speak on executive function skills at your event? Learn more about my speaking topics here.