All learners have unique learning profiles but some learners have greater needs than others. Our goal is to develop strategies to help that learner succeed in the learning process. Please consider using some of these strategies at home to help your child.
Reading
If your learner struggles with reading, here are a few helpful tips:
- Provide 'Just Right Books' that your child will be able to read on their own. If they are having trouble reading multiple words on a page, the book may be too challenging for them to read on their own. - For young learners, it is important that their books have pictures for them to refer to. This will help their understanding of what they read. - Spend some time talking with your child about what they have read, Ask them questions such as who, what, where, when, and why. Being responsive with a text is an important skill that many struggling readers need support to develop. If you are unsure about what books would be most appropriate to help your reader grow, ask myself or your child's teacher to send some home. We have an abundance of books that would be helpful! Though we read a lot in school, studies show that students who read 15-20 minutes five days per week uninterrupted at home, increase their reading, stamina, fluency, and accuracy. WritingWriting can seem like a daunting task for someone who has difficulty reading. It may seem impossible to engage your child in writing outside of school. Here are some activities that may help:
- Let them pick out a journal or a diary. This way they will begin to write on their own and feel confident about what they write because they know it's for their eyes only. - Write an email to a teacher or a friend. Most children love technology and may not even notice they are working on their writing skills! - Find a pen pal. This may seem old fashioned, but children love to receive mail. If they have a relative or friend that would participate, this is a great way to get them writing. Remember, when your child is excited about participating in a writing activity, do not make corrections on their work. It may take them a lot of effort to complete this task and we don't want them feeling discouraged. Don't worry, their teachers work diligently to improve their writing every day :) |
Attention
If your learner has difficulty attending to activities, these strategies may help:
- Set up a space at home that restricts visual distractions and noise. This will help your child concentrate on their work and not other things around them. - Break up the task that you want to be completed. If your child comes home with homework in multiple subject areas, allow them time in between each task for a movement break. Give them a time frame to complete each task that way they will feel like it is more manageable to complete. - Set up an incentive program whereby the student can gain points toward a reward by accumulating points for tasks completed. This does not need to be a tangible reward, keep it simple and opt for 20 minutes of a preferred activity such as computer time. - Allow for movement breaks. Students who have difficulty attending to a task need to get up and move. This will help release energy and allow them to better focus afterward. - Give closed ended choices such as "Do 'A' or do 'B'" so expectations and outcomes are clear. - Recognize effective effort. Your child may not get all of their work correct or be able to complete it without needing reminders, but celebrate small achievements. This will help keep your child feel encouraged and capable. - Teach time management skills. Over time, your child should know how much time should be allotted for each task and be able to follow through accordingly. - Give a checklist of the activities necessary to be completed. This could be as simple as writing down tasks, or keeping a daily picture list to help with the morning routine. - Provide frequent reassurance and encouragement. This will help boost your learners confidence. - Talk with your child about their difficulties. The goal is for them to be able to develop strategies to manage their difficulties in their everyday life. It is ok to have conversations with them about what they can do to help themselves. You are their best teacher. |
Additional Resources
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (http://www.NCLD.ORG/)
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) provides customized recommendations based on your unique learners needs. They are committed to ensuring that all students with learning disabilities graduate from high school with a diploma. NICHCY (http://nichcy.org/families-community) NICHCY serves the nation as a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children and youth. You’ll find easy-to-read articles on IDEA, the law authorizing early intervention services and special education, as well as researched-based information on effective practices, programs and services. The Resource Room (http://www.resourceroom.net/) The Resource Room provides tools, strategies and structured explorations for interesting learners, including lessons, ideas, articles and links for multisensory learning for students. The site also offers resources for people who learn differently, or have learning difficulties or learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia. LD OnLine (http://www.ldonline.orgh) LD OnLine.org is the world’s leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD, serving more than 200,000 parents, teachers and other professionals each month. The International Dyslexia Association (http://www.interdys.org) The purpose of IDA is to pursue and provide the most comprehensive range of information and services that address the full scope of dyslexia and related difficulties in learning to read and write in a way that creates hope and possibility. KidSource Online (http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/pages/dis.add.html) KidSource Online is a group of parents who want to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of parents and children. They’ve brought together our best articles in the Disabilities: Attention Deficit Disorder section of our website. Information on learning disabilities and physical disabilities can be found in other sections. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (http://www.add.org/) The Attention Deficit Disorder Association provides information, resources and networking opportunities to help people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder lead better lives. One Add Place (http://www.oneaddplace.com/) At the ADD and ADHD resource place you will find information on child attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Learn the symptoms of ADD and ADHD and how to test for them, and discover the latest natural treatments, pharmaceutical medications and brain science. . |