The decision tree below is a tool offering educators (grades 1 through 12) a roadmap to identifying issues and solutions when a student demonstrates difficulty learning. It is based on a series of five questions that educators can ask themselves in order to identify the difficulty observed in the student. Depending on the answer to [...]
For a student with a learning disability, the goal of an IEP is to maximize the student’s ability to access the curriculum. Now, what do we know about students with a learning disability? We know they are smart; that they have average to above average intellectual abilities. We also know they will have needs in their ability to learn and that these needs will require accommodations to facilitate success.
One of the challenges for educators in mathematics is to help students transfer their mathematical understanding from concrete to representational and then to abstract concepts. To support this process, three types of technological tools may prove effective.
Writing is one of the most complex tasks for all students, and particularly for students with LDs. In this section of the module, we will consider four stages of the writing process (planning, composing, revising, and sharing) and technological tools that prove effective at each stage. For each stage, educators may select different technological tools depending on the learning objectives targeted.
The act of reading draws on many different processes simultaneously. A reader must decode words, know what they mean, understand words when they are strung together in sentences, understand the use of pronouns, make connections between ideas using relationship markers, create mental pictures, make inferences, sum up information, and so forth. The right technological tools can make a significant difference to students who struggle with reading.
Having LDs may complicate the picture of anxiety, and may make it tricky for educators to recognize overlapping behaviors. For example, students who appear restless, distracted and who have difficulty concentrating may have a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as a learning disability or attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). But students may also be distracted by internal thoughts and worries, reflecting anxiety.
Answered by Lise Galuga and Marie-Josée Joly Technology has made great strides over the last few decades. Today, we rely on small devices that remind us of our appointments, allow us to collaborate on writing documents, make audio recordings or videos, or entertain us. Today’s students cannot fathom a world without technology. They regularly engage [...]
One challenge that may arise for students is working with symbolic representations. Students with working memory difficulties continually have to make sense of symbols, and may forget where they are in a procedure. Using manipulatives, graphic organizers, or pictorial representations can reduce this strain on their working memory, as these tools may allow students to draw on their strengths to represent their thinking.
How does one differentiate between mild, moderate, and severe LDs? How can I tailor my interventions/strategies to the needs of students with differing degrees of learning disabilities? Answered by Dr. Maria Kokai M.A., PhD., C.Psyc., Chief Psychologist with the Toronto Catholic District School Board. According to the definition, learning disabilities are due to genetic, congenital [...]
Approaches drawing on mindfulness have become increasingly popular over the last few years. Research in school settings, specifically relating to students with LDs, is still only in the beginning stages, but the results available to date are promising.
