Source: National Council for Learning Disability/ ncld.org
Teaching pupils with the learning disability dyslexia is challenging, especially in a classroom of heterogeneous learners. Here are strategies both general education and special education teachers can use.
8 Ways to Enhance Interactive Instruction
Gaining students’ attention and engaging them for a period of time requires savvy teaching and managing skills. These eight accommodations will help those with dyslexia as well as other students in the classroom.
- Repeat directions. Students who have difficulty following directions are often helped when you ask them to repeat the directions in their own words.
- Maintain daily routines. Many students with learning disabilities (including dyslexia) need the structure of daily routines to know and do what is expected.
- Hand out graphic organizers. Give students an outline, chart, or blank “web” to fill in during presentations. This helps students listen for key information and see the relationships among concepts and related information.
- Use step-by-step instruction. Present new or difficult information in small sequential steps. This helps learners who need explicit or part-to-whole instruction.
- Simultaneously combine verbal and visual information. Provide verbal information along with visual displays (e.g., on an overhead or handout).
- Write key points or words on the chalkboard. Before you start a class discussion on a particular topic (or even before class begins), write new vocabulary words and key points on the chalkboard or overhead.
- Design balanced presentations and activities. For example, include visual information and participatory activities during oral presentations. Also, use a variety of large group, small group, and individual activities.
- Emphasize daily review. A regular review of previous lessons can help students reinforce the connection between new and information and prior knowledge.
By: Marilyn P. Mendoza | SPED Teacher | Llamas Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
