Most things that you do for your student with learning disabilities will also help the other students learn as well.
I think the specifics regarding instructional support will depend on the individual. There were a lot of good ideas presented in this module and even more shared throughout the various posts. The main point is that students with learning disabilities can be as successful as those without disabilities. They just need to be supported in the right, individualized way.
Those with reading comprehension difficulties really do need additional time to be able to read the material more than once to gain the full benefit of the informaion and to be able to comprehend what they have read. Additional time is the key.
Working one on one with them when they have a difficult problem to resolve.
Perhaps extra material on the subject but in a different way.
Short reading assignments and continous evaluations to asess where they need to be.
Patients on the part of the instructor as well as the instructor conveying the need for the student to have patients with themselves.
I have found many students with learning disabilities display a lower self esteem than those students without learning disabilities. As the learning disabled student succeeds, I have noticed an increase in self esteem that seems to have a positive impact on the student's ability to handle the learning disability.
Instructors need to focus on a student's success and convince the student that they can succeed.
Students with learning disabilities typically need additional time to complete assignments and may require different learning strategies. Individual tutoring is often critical to their success.
Hi James!
We do need compassion, understanding and patients - and that's with ALL students. Some just need a little more than others.
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
I have found that a student with dyslexia usually does much better with kinesthetic learning. I try to incorporate a lot of hands on activities into the classroom, as well as the use of models and other visual aids (besides words and numbers).
I have always allowed students to tape lectures. For those who are audio learners it allows them to replay the lecture multiple times and the information to be learne
Students with learning disabilities need not only support, but understanding as well. First, the instructor must understand and appreciate that these students are not second-class students. They are merely ones who see things in a different way than others may. Secondly, the instructor must be able to communicate to other students that the students with learning disabilities are very intelligent and deserve the same chance to learn and excel as anyone else. This can be difficult, but if you are successful, all students begin to open up and communicate with each other.
I HAVE LEARNED THAT HAVING PATIENCE , SHOW YOU CARE, AND PRAISING THEM, GIVES THEM THE DETERMINATION TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT EVER THEY CHOOSE AS A CAREER.
An open and creative mind is essential for helping students with learning disabilities be successful.
Once it is clear that their are no significant issues with intellegence or motivation, then it becomes a matter of adapting to the circumstances at hand.
It is important to hold students accountable to the class standards while helping them find creative ways of learning and assimilating the material. I try to ask about their strengths, likes, and previous success and then build on that: if they are visual, I encourage them to create flash cards, pictures, or diagrams. If they are auditory, I encourage them to create mnemonics or jingles. If they like to work with their hands, then I encourage them create models or flash cards that will engage their hands.
Hi Maureen!
I like your comments about patience. But I encourage instructors to not let students mistake patience for the lack of encouragement and self-esteem building! Use all strategies liberally!
Good work!
Jane Davis
ED106 Facilitator
Well, I just learned that Dyslexia is the most common learning disability in class and I didn't know that.
I’m pretty new as Instructor so I don’t have experience with any learning disability student yet but when I attended to college, there was a mute student in my class and the participation grade was a pretty high.
His participation something was more than any one in the class. He had a helper translation that through body language his assistant would communicate to the class for him. The Professor used to give him extra time to participate than any one else.
And I know, He did well in that class.
I agree with one other participant who said patience is key. Along with patience is motivation. Helping the student to see the big picture, the reward at the end, is crucial to their success. I meet with struggling students at midterm to discuss their performance and ways to improve. I provide ideas but also solicit their input.
Patience is so important in the classroom in so many ways. Our patience can not only help students learn, but they will also see the benefits of being patient with others themselves.
i give them alot of support and time to try to help them understand the material
Having a understanding of their disability and working with them to learn how to help them the most.
i agree with giving as much 1-1 time as possible with students wether or not they have a disability. when in lab or off time i try to spend as much time with each student as much as needed, which can be difficult when you have a class size of 30 with a limited time frame.
