Students with Learning Difficulties
Signs of a struggling student
Differentiated Instructions
Disengaged in lessons
Not able to follow instructions
Difficulty with speaking or listening
Behavior problems
Not reaching milestone or academic goals of children of a similar age
Impulsive
Headphones
One common non-invasive intervention to improve the auditory environments for individuals with ASD are noise-attenuating headphones, which block sound transmission to the ears
Dim lighting
Florescent lighting, the most common lighting used in classrooms, can impact learning, behavior, and the comfort level of students with autism.
Involving the parents
Box of objects for stimming
Change in teaching method
Example auditory or visual changes
Set up rules that can be implemented at home and in the classroom.
When involving the parents, be gentle with approach.
Become a team! There should be constant check-ins to note the progression of the student.
Other Help
Extra classes
Change classes
Adaptive materials
click to edit
Recorded lessons
Instructional scaffolding
Determining if students should be referred to a special education services
“Teachers, school counselors or parents can refer the student to the Student Assistance Team. This team consists of the school counselor, school psychologist, two teachers, parent , student and administrator. The student’s grades and progress in class are reviewed as well as standardized testing. After reviewing data, short term interventions are created and applied and the school psychologist usually observes the student in a few classes. If the interventions fail and/or the psychologist’s results warrant it the student is then tested for special education services.” - Tricy Nero
Parent workshops
Show the parents processes they can use at home easily such as visual diaries and positive language.
Next Steps
Be patient
Stay consistent with a routine for a 2-3 months to see if there are any changes. If nothing changes, try another method.
If the student isn't improving and your school has access to an individualized education program or behaviorial therapist, take advantage of that.
Sources
Pfeiffer, B., Stein Duker, L., Murphy, A., & Shui, C. (2019, November 12). Effectiveness of Noise-Attenuating Headphones on Physiological Responses for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Retrieved October 14, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31798424
The impact of fluorescent and led lighting on students ... (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2020, from https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/bitstream/handle/1805/20785/Finalprint-the-impact-of-fluorescent-and-led-lighting-on-students-attitudes-and-behavior-in-the-classroom.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Nero, Tricy (2020 October) Learning Difficulties Interview