Strategies for Students with Learning Difficulties

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Differentiating Instruction: Reading and Math

Identifying a Struggling Student

-Difficulty paying attention and following instructions.

-Easily frustrated or angry

-Physical lethargy or changes is eating and sleeping.

-Isolation or lack of social engagement with peers.

-Student may be avoiding work and not meeting academic goals.

-Student may distract others in class.

-Communication difficulties

-Use audiobooks

-Allow oral responses, if students are struggling with writing.

-Use tools to help students track and follow along with the text.

-Break up reading tasks.

-Pre-teach key/challenging vocabulary used in the text.

-Make content relevant to the student.

-Provide clear instructions

-Practice basic facts

-Have students verbalize their problem solving process

-Create small focus groups

Parent Involvement

-Create open communication through the use of news letters and emails.

-Read at home with your child

-Do homework together or help with difficulties.

-Volunteer in the classroom or at events.

-Check in with your child about their day at school

-Provide opportunities for parents to learn how to participate in their child’s education

Teacher/ School Plan of Action

-Recognize there is a problem

-Document the behaviors noticed

-Identify the are of struggle

-Call a parent meeting to discuss what you observe

-Create a plan of action for the student

-Discuss ways the parent can help

-Observe to see if the strategies are helping

-Get an evaluation

-Create an IEP if necessary

Bates, A. (2020, November 11). Spotting the signs that pupils are struggling. Optimus Education. https://my.optimus-education.com/spotting-signs-pupils-are-struggling

R. (2021, July 28). How to differentiate instruction & reading tasks to support struggling students. Differentiated Teaching. https://www.differentiatedteaching.com/differentiate-reading-for-struggling-students/