Following on from her previous article on different types of specific learning difficulties and how these can affect students, Varinder Unlu explores 8 practical ways in which we can support learner differences at school.
It can be challenging for the learner and the teacher when dealing with a learning difference. Teachers are often not given training to help their learner when it comes to SpLDs (Students with Specific Learning Difficulties).
So what can we do to support our learners? Well, there are a number of things. Think about the following:
1. Daily routines
Incorporating a daily routine is extremely beneficial. Order and structure is important for students with learning differences to focus and learn effectively. For example, have a set time for certain activities such as breaks and the start and end of a lesson, plus a checklist for activities in class to help the learner get organised.
2. Explicit instruction and explanation
Make instructions short and clear. Ensure that your explanation is clear and explicit and repeat if necessary. Learners with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD have problems with short-term, working memory and need repetition to help them.
3. Differentiation
Success for the student with a learning difference requires a focus on individual achievement, individual progress, and individual learning. This can sometimes require specific, directed and individualized instruction for students who are struggling. Allowing students extra time to complete tasks can take the pressure off the learner. Implementing a variety of methods and materials will enable the learner to participate in class – think about the four dimensions of differentiation: task, material, support and expectation.
4. Metacognitive strategies
Helping students to understand the way they learn can also support learning. This means developing processes for students which are designed to make them think about their ‘thinking’. For example, checklists and organisers can help students in the decision-making process. Or thinking out loud, which is good for reading activities. These work well when the teacher reads the text or problem out loud and stops periodically to express their thoughts. This way the student can follow the teachers thinking process and it can help them to develop their own strategies and processes.
5. Technology and multi-sensory teaching
Technology is a great resource for learners with learning differences. For example, voice-to-text devices can enable a student who has difficulty writing to be able to enter information into the computer. Additionally, videos, audio and other forms of media can enable teachers to present new information in a variety of ways. Teaching reading and writing through multi sensory approaches (auditory, visual, kinaesthetic) can help by giving the learner a variety of pathways to learning.
6. Classroom materials
Often coursebooks prefer a magazine-style layout which is difficult for dyslexic learners. If possible, adapt the material for your learners so that it is less busy and more accessible. Take out the background pictures and transfer the text onto a plain background. Think about the colour of the paper and the font. It is a good idea to discuss with your students what works for them. Different colours and fonts work with different people – it’s not a one size fits all. If students are completing exercises in a book, it might help to use a highlighter pen to mark out the important information. This way the learner can refer back to the parts that are relevant instead of having to go through the whole text.
7. Flexible scheduling
Students with learning differences may benefit from a more flexible timetabling schedule. Allowing students extra time to get to class can relieve stress levels. Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in particular will benefit from more frequent breaks.
8. Accessibility
If a school is trying to create an inclusive environment, then it needs to think about accessibility for learners with physical disabilities. Wheelchair access, handrails, lifts, wider doorways can help learners to get around a building with ease. If the building does not have an elevator, have the student’s class based in a classroom on the ground floor.
Helping students with learning differences can help a school become more inclusive with a much more supportive environment for all learners, and not just those with the learning difference.
If you’ve enjoyed this post, read all of Varinder Unlu’s articles in this series:
Tips for helping students’ concentration and focus
Specific learning difficulties – how can they affect your students?
How to create an inclusive classroom environment
Managing disruptive behaviour in the classroom