Graduations (middle school, high school, college) bring excitement and anxiety. ADHD teens often struggle with uncertainty, independence, and executive functioning demands.

By the final stretch of the school year, many kids with ADHD seem to hit a wall. Homework takes longer, motivation drops, emotions run closer to the surface, and even simple tasks can feel surprisingly difficult. Parents often worry that their child is “checking out” just when the finish line is in sight—but what looks like laziness or lack of effort is often something else entirely: cumulative exhaustion.

Spring brings shifting social dynamics, group events, and increased peer comparison. ADHD tweens often struggle with impulsivity, emotional intensity, and social missteps.

Standardized testing ramps up in April, and tweens and teens with ADHD often experience heightened anxiety, sleep disruption, and confidence dips during academic evaluation periods. this week, a reader wants to know how to support her kids with ADHD, without adding more pressure.

“Back-to-School Anxiety: 5 Tips to Support Kids with ADHD | Dr. Sharon Saline”
Help your child with ADHD ease back-to-school anxiety. Learn strategies for routines, IEP/504 prep, and building confidence.

In this episode of Mentorships in Education, we welcome Dr. Sharon Saline, Psy.D. Mentorships in Education is brought to you by Just Education, LLC and is hosted by Judith Epstein. Judith has a Master's degree in Education with a concentration in Language Acquisition. She is certified in special education with post-graduate coursework and professional development in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Social Thinking, and Collaborative & Proactive Solutions and Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT). Judith created Just Education, LLC to compile a free resource library for mentors of students who struggle on a wide variety of topics that are all related to education and student success.