HOW IT WORKS
Inside The ND Teaching Lab, you'll receive practical monthly professional development focused on the challenges teachers are facing right now.
Each month includes:
✓ A focused training workshop
✓ Classroom implementation guide
✓ Staffroom summary sheet
✓ Professional development certificate
✓ Practical strategies you can use immediately
Using evidence-informed teaching practices as the backbone.
Professional learning designed for real classrooms.
TERM 1
Understanding How Neurodivergent Students Learn
YOU’LL DISCOVER:
Executive Function & The Classroom
Learn why capable students struggle to start tasks, stay organised, manage time, and complete work independently.
You'll discover:
✓ Why "just get started" often doesn't work
✓ How executive function impacts learning
✓ Practical classroom supports that reduce overwhelm
✓ Ways to build independence without constant prompting
Teaching Literal Thinkers
Many neurodivergent students understand information but struggle with inference, themes, abstract thinking, and hidden expectations.
You'll learn:
✓ Why some students miss deeper meaning
✓ How to teach analysis more explicitly
✓ Strategies for improving comprehension and writing
✓ How to make abstract concepts more accessible
Reducing Cognitive Load
Sometimes students aren't refusing to learn.
They're overloaded.
You'll learn:
✓ How cognitive overload affects performance
✓ Common classroom practices that unintentionally increase overwhelm
✓ Ways to simplify without lowering expectations
✓ How to create more accessible learning environments
TERM 2
Behaviour, Anxiety & Engagement
YOU’LL DISCOVER:
Understanding PDA in Secondary Classrooms
Explore why traditional behaviour systems can fail some students.
You'll learn:
✓ What demand avoidance can look like in classrooms
✓ Common triggers that increase resistance
✓ Language shifts that reduce conflict
✓ Strategies that support engagement without escalating stress
Anxiety, Stress & The Learning Brain
Understand how anxiety impacts attention, memory, participation, and performance.
You'll learn:
✓ What happens when students enter fight, flight, freeze, or fawn states
✓ Why some students appear disengaged or oppositional
✓ Practical strategies that support emotional regulation
✓ How to create psychologically safe classrooms
The Hidden Cost of Masking
Many neurodivergent students work incredibly hard to appear "fine."
You'll learn:
✓ What masking looks like in secondary schools
✓ Why some students collapse after school
✓ Signs teachers often miss
✓ Ways to support students without increasing pressure
TERM 3
Literacy, Assessment & Academic Success
YOU’LL DISCOVER:
Supporting Dyslexic Learners Beyond Accommodations
Go beyond extra time and reader-writer support.
You'll learn:
✓ How dyslexia affects learning across subjects
✓ Practical teaching strategies that improve access
✓ Ways to reduce unnecessary barriers
✓ How to support confidence alongside achievement
Writing Difficulties & Task Initiation
Many students know what they want to say but can't get started.
You'll learn:
✓ Why blank pages trigger overwhelm
✓ How to scaffold writing more effectively
✓ Strategies that reduce avoidance
✓ Systems that help students generate and organise ideas
Assessment Accommodations That Actually Help
Not all accommodations create meaningful support.
You'll learn:
✓ Which accommodations make the biggest difference
✓ How to maintain rigour while increasing accessibility
✓ Ways to support students before assessment day
✓ Practical approaches for internal and exam preparation
TERM 4
Building Independence & Long-Term Success
YOU’LL DISCOVER:
Building Academic Confidence
Confidence isn't created through praise alone.
You'll learn:
✓ How confidence develops in neurodivergent learners
✓ Why repeated failure damages engagement
✓ How to create meaningful success experiences
✓ Strategies that encourage healthy risk-taking
Exam Performance & Reducing Panic
Many students know the content but struggle under pressure.
You'll learn:
✓ Why performance often drops in exam conditions
✓ The impact of stress on memory retrieval
✓ Practical preparation strategies
✓ Ways to support calm, confident performance
Creating Neurodivergent-Friendly Classrooms
Bring everything together into a sustainable teaching framework.
You'll learn:
✓ The key principles behind inclusive teaching
✓ Small changes that create significant impact
✓ How to support a wide range of learners simultaneously
✓ A practical framework for ongoing improvement
WHO THIS IS FOR
This is for:
• Secondary school teachers
• Learning support staff
• Heads of Department
• Curriculum leaders
• Teachers supporting ADHD, autism, anxiety, dyslexia and executive function challenges
• Schools wanting practical ND-focused professional development
This is not for:
• Teachers looking for generic PD
• Theory-heavy academic training
• One-size-fits-all behaviour management programs
• Resource libraries with no implementation support
Department Membership
$997 USD per year
FOR UP TO 10 STAFF MEMBERS
ENQUIRE ABOUT A DEPARTMENT MEMBERSHIPHOW TO APPLY:
Individual Teachers
Choose the Individual Membership and receive immediate access to the current month's training and resource library.
Departments & Schools
Submit an enquiry and we'll help set up access for your teaching team.
Start Learning
Begin implementing practical neurodivergent-friendly strategies immediately.
IS THIS SUITABLE FOR ALL TEACHERS?
The ND Teaching Lab is designed for secondary teachers who want practical strategies for supporting neurodivergent learners in mainstream classrooms.
This includes teachers working with students who experience:
• ADHD
• Autism
• Executive function challenges
• Anxiety
• Dyslexia
• Task avoidance
• Working memory difficulties
• Academic underperformance despite ability
The ND Teaching Lab is not:
• A teacher qualification programme
• Clinical training
• Diagnostic training
• A replacement for specialist educational or psychological advice
• A behaviour management course
Instead, it focuses on helping teachers understand why neurodivergent learners struggle and what practical adjustments can make the biggest difference in everyday classrooms.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, Head of Department, Learning Support Coordinator, Dean, or SENCO, the goal is simple:
To help more students access learning successfully.
JOIN THE WAITLIST
IS IT WORTH THE INVESTMENT?
Because this isn't another professional development course you'll watch once and forget.
The ND Teaching Lab gives you ongoing training, practical implementation support, and classroom-ready strategies throughout the year.
Instead of:
✗ Guessing what might help
✗ Trying random accommodations
✗ Feeling unprepared for increasingly complex learning needs
✗ Spending hours searching for answers online
✗ Attending generic PD that doesn't translate into practice
You receive:
✓ Monthly expert training
✓ Classroom implementation guides
✓ Staffroom summary sheets
✓ Professional development certificates
✓ Practical strategies that can be used immediately
✓ A growing library of neurodiversity-focused professional learning
✓ Confidence in supporting a wider range of learners
If one training helps you better support even one student, improve one classroom routine, or reduce one recurring challenge, the membership has already paid for itself.
Because great teaching shouldn't depend on guesswork. It should be built on understnading.
You are not purchasing more information.
You are investing in confidence, clarity, and practical classroom strategies.
Most teachers already know neurodivergent learners need support.
The challenge isn't awareness.
The challenge is knowing what to do on Monday morning.
The ND Teaching Lab bridges the gap between understanding and implementation.
You'll learn:
• Why students struggle
• What actually helps
• How to make adjustments without creating more work
• Which strategies create the biggest impact
This membership is designed to save time, reduce guesswork, and help you support students more effectively.
If you're looking for another folder of resources you'll never open, this isn't it.
If you're looking for practical professional development that changes how you teach, you're in the right place.
Welcome to The Classic High School Teacher!
Hi there! I’m Francesca.
Over the last 23 years I have taught as a high school English Literature, Social Studies & Ancient History teacher.
I've also spent years creating educational resources used by teachers around the world through my brands:
• Teachaid English Worksheets
• The Classic High School Teacher
Throughout my teaching career, one question has consistently guided my work:
Why do some capable students continue to struggle despite effort, intelligence, and support?
That question led me to explore:
• Executive function
• Neurodiversity
• Learning differences
• Cognitive load
• Writing instruction
• Student confidence
Today, I help thousands of teachers better understand how neurodivergent learners experience the classroom and how small changes can create significant improvements in learning outcomes.
The ND Teaching Lab brings together the strategies, frameworks, and practical approaches I've developed and refined over two decades of teaching.
I look forward to learning alongside you.
JOIN THE WAITLIST
For glowing reviews and to see the impact of my work,
Visit my page, Teachaid English Literature on Teachers Pay Teachers.
You'll find extensive feedback from teachers worldwide who have integrated my methods into their classrooms for over 10 years. Their testimonials highlight the positive changes in their students' writing and analytical abilities, demonstrating the potential for your teenager as well.
WHY THE ND TEACHING LAB IS DIFFERENT
Most professional development focuses on awareness.
More theory.
More research.
More information.
But information alone rarely changes classroom practice.
The ND Teaching Lab focuses on implementation.
Every month you'll learn practical strategies that can be applied immediately in real classrooms.
Not endless theory.
Not overwhelming research papers.
Not another initiative that disappears after a staff meeting.
Instead, you'll build a deeper understanding of:
• Why students struggle
• How neurodivergent learners process information
• What supports independence
• How to reduce overwhelm
• How to improve engagement and confidence
This isn't about becoming an expert in every diagnosis.
It's about becoming more effective with the students already sitting in front of you.
Francesca Hudson
Creator of The Classic High School Teacher & The ND Teaching Lab
Still Have Questions?
What if I have very little experience supporting neurodivergent students?
Perfect.
The ND Teaching Lab is designed for teachers at all levels of experience.
Whether you're just beginning to explore neurodiversity or have years of classroom experience, you'll find practical strategies that can be implemented immediately.
No specialist background is required.
Is this just another professional development course?
No.
This is an ongoing professional learning membership.
Each month you'll receive:
• A new training workshop
• Classroom implementation guides
• Staffroom summary sheets
• Professional development certificates
• Practical classroom strategies
The focus is always on application, not just information.
What if I already know a lot about ADHD, autism, or neurodiversity?
That's great.
Many experienced teachers join because understanding neurodiversity and implementing effective classroom strategies are two different things.
The ND Teaching Lab focuses on practical teaching approaches, not simply definitions and theory.
Can schools or departments join?
Yes.
Individual Teacher Memberships are available for educators who want to learn independently.
Department Memberships are also available for schools wanting to provide professional development across multiple staff members.
If you're interested in department access, join the waitlist and we'll send information about school licences when they become available.
How much time does it take each month?
The training is designed for busy teachers.
Most members will spend approximately 30–60 minutes per month engaging with the training and implementation materials.
The goal is not to create more work.
The goal is to make teaching easier and more effective.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes.
Each training includes a professional development certificate that can be used as evidence of ongoing professional learning.
JOIN THE WAITLIST