he following tips & strategies were designed to help educators working with students affected by obsessive compulsive disorder. As you scroll down, you will see we have provided useful tips that may work with certain individuals, and for others, different strategies are required. 

Anxiety or apprehension is at the root of the OCD (and perfectionism) loop.

• Let the child know that you understand.
• All attempts at achievements are celebrated – not just the successful ones.
• Make the classroom a safe haven where mistakes are expected.
• Make sure goals are realistic and explicit.
• De-emphasize grades.
• Use humour.
• Encourage students to use their own judgment.
• Teach “We all make mistakes – that’s why they put erasers on pencils.”
• Ask the child whether or not they would like to be kindly refocused when s/he appears distracted.
• Find out what triggers their worries/rituals and work out ways to avoid those stimuli.
• Accommodate quirks when possible – allow rituals that are beyond the child’s ability to control.
• Recognize that the anxieties or OCD may silently interfere with work.
• Allow extra time as needed – alleviate “time” stress, accommodate for rituals such as writing perfectly.
• Make a contract with child to hand in work after an agreed upon limit of work time, or after checking it a certain number of times.
• Avoid reinforcing perfectionism by praising it.
• Reinforce reasonable efforts and its resultant imperfections.
• Allow child to leave room when s/he feels like it.
• Educate peers who might tease student.

Sources:

www.OCFoundation.org