Special needs · ADHD
Online lessons that hold attention without a fight
Pencil Spaces helps students with ADHD stay with the lesson: Tuned In spots drifting attention, visible timers keep tasks short and the board keeps hands busy.
どの有料プランでも2週間無料でお試しいただけます。クレジットカードは不要です。
Area
Social, emotional and mental health
Who it helps
Students with ADHD, tutors, coaches, schools and families
What lessons need
Short tasks, hands-on work, visible time, quick feedback, help with focus
In Pencil Spaces
6 features available today, 1 coming soon
Part of
What do students with ADHD need from an online lesson?
ADHD affects attention, activity and impulse control, and often executive function too. Students with ADHD can focus deeply on things that interest them. Online lessons work when they’re active, varied and paced in short bursts.
- Spotting a drift earlyTuned In · AvailableTuned In alerts the teacher when a student switches tabs or apps, so a drift can be caught early and gently.
- Tasks in short burstsTimers & Polls · AvailableSet a countdown for each task, so the end is always in sight.
- Hands busy on the boardPen & Touch · AvailableWriting, drawing and moving things on the board keeps students doing, not just watching.
- Everyone on the same spotLead & Follow · AvailableEveryone’s screen follows the teacher’s view, so nobody gets lost on another part of the board.
- Quick winsCelebrations · AvailableConfetti, reactions and stickers mark a right answer or a hard-won step.
- Calm or focus musicMusic Player · Coming soonThe Music Player will play calm or focus music in the Space, and each student will be able to turn it down or off.
- Fewer distractions on screenChild Mode · AvailableChild Mode hides chat, boards and apps and leaves five tools, for students of any age.
The features behind it
Why can online lessons be hard for students with ADHD?
A video lesson asks a student to sit still and watch a screen, with every other tab one click away. For a student with ADHD, that’s the hardest kind of lesson there is.
Long explanations, slow starts and waiting for a turn all drain attention. So does a board full of clutter.
What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?
The tutor sets a five-minute timer, and the student races to solve three problems on the board. Halfway through, Tuned In shows the student has switched tabs.
The tutor asks them to drag the next problem into place, and they’re back. Confetti marks the finish.
How do therapists use Pencil Spaces with students with ADHD?
Counselors and occupational therapists teach self-regulation, attention and organization strategies in short, active blocks. Timers make each block visible, and Celebrations reward each small win.
Tuned In alerts the therapist when a student switches tabs, so a drift can be noticed and talked about as part of the work. Lesson Summaries send each family the strategy of the week.
Tips for teaching students with ADHD online
- Keep tasks short and varied, and change activity often.
- Make time visible with a countdown.
- Give the student something to do with their hands, on the board or off it.
- Give quick, specific praise for effort and focus.
- Agree movement breaks in advance.
Good to know
Tuned In flags a switch away from the Space. What to do about it is always the teacher’s call.
Questions people ask
How do you keep a child with ADHD focused in online lessons?
Keep them active, with short tasks. In Pencil Spaces, students write and draw on the board, and timers make the end of each task visible. Tuned In alerts the teacher when a student switches tabs or apps, so a drift is caught early.
What is Tuned In?
Tuned In is a Pencil Spaces feature that alerts the teacher when a student switches to another tab or app during a lesson. The teacher sees the alert and decides how to bring the student back.
Can lessons be shorter for students with ADHD?
Yes. The teacher sets the length. The Session Timer shows a visible countdown, and Automatic Session End gives a five-minute warning before the lesson ends on time.
Is online tutoring good for students with ADHD?
It can be, when lessons are active and personal. One-to-one online lessons let the tutor follow the student’s energy, change activity often and use their interests. There’s no busy classroom to compete with.
See it in a live Space.
We’ll walk you through it, shaped around how you teach.
