Remaining patient. Always remember why your here. To teach!!!!!!! Don't get short with someone because they want to undersand the subject matter but have a hard time doing so.
My sister teaches autustic students and has great success with music therapy. I personally have not encounted any students on the college level w/ learning disabilities.
The greatest challenge is motivating a student when he or she feels frustrated and has almost mentally quit.
I had a student who has started my class twice and the greatest challenge is to finding out what his disability really is, so I can help him. He drops my class before I can really give him any time to work at his ability. He needs a lot of one on one time and I didn’t discover it on the first time around. I am hoping for one more chance with him .This time I will start on the first class to diagnose his disability, so we can both have satisfaction.
I actually really enjoy working with students who have learning disabilities because when you see the look on their face when something clicks it feels great. It can be hard to have patience with certain people and so for me that is my biggest challenge, whether they have a disability or not.
What is really tough is when students get frustrated, and they are unable to get past their learning block. Also just as frustrating for us since we feel we are not able to help them, so what I've done is reccommend taking a break, and taking a step back and trying a different approach. Remember, the students ultimately want to learn the material, and we want to teach it, we just have to find the bridge to get us there!
It's great that this student finally came to talk to you. I, also, hope that a student with this condition will feel comftorable enough to come talk to me so I can help them succeed.
Marco ,
unfortunately these compressed courses are relatively challenging for students with a learning disability. This is where the students will have to seek help & understand their own limits.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree. The student may feel embaressed because of their disability and not want to let you know. some problems you might be able to notice and question them if you're concerned.
I think the biggest challenge of working with students with learning disabilities is the field of work we are in. For example, the class that I teach is 6 weeks long with a lot of work. The program does not allow the student with the disability to take their time because there is a lot to do. You can help them with a note taker, but at the end of the day, they will need to pass the express course.
As and English instructore the greatest challenge I face is reading comprehension. This applies even to students who do not have a disability. In my lit. class I prove detailed lecture notes to all students in the class. This help with reading comprehension for nearly all of my students and doesn't "single out" those with reading disabilities.
I would have to say not singling them out or "calling them out". You don't want to place unneeded pressure on these students, but you do need to provide them with the attention that they require. It's a balancing act for sure.
ron ,
yes and it helps to remember the times when our instructors were patient with us, for various reasons.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
The greatest challenge is the patience, especially when you have a group of students who do not have such issues. Instructors have to be aware that they have to make special accommodations for these students beyond the regular teaching delivery methods. The other challenge is identifying that a student does have a learning disability it not diagnosed previously.
I feel we as instructors must be able to change from one setting on to the next in order to connect with each student and meet them at their needs...
We, in our industry, have lots of jargon and that is the hardest to get past. Also, that goes for all students but is magnified by a learning disability.
Know how to accomodate them without making them feel separate or different from the rest of the class. I think students always thrive to be part of "the group" and they probably fear this will be affected if they are single out.
Not knowing ahead of time what has worked in the past for them. Without this you would run the class as normal inculding test.They would not do as well and feel unsuccessful and may want to drop out.
Carl,
yes, this is such a challenge & unfortunately all too common.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Mary,
yes, encouraging them & showing them that this is a safe environment for them is key.
Dr. Ryan Meers
