Forum: Questions and Answers

The following questions come from readers (both students and teachers), who have questions about creating successful environments for students with learning disabilities as they engage in general education classes. Other readers have submitted answers, useful techniques and effective strategies they know of. Feel free to contribute your questions and answers through the reader response section.

Question:
I have a resource student in my class who reads some of the books that are assigned but when it comes to answering questions about the content he can't write about what he has read. What can I do?             C.R.( m.s./teacher)

Answers:

• Try giving him the questions you will ask ahead of time and have him take brief notes as he reads. This will give him a structure to organize his thinking as he reads.      C.H.(h.s./teacher)

• Have you ever tried having him read along with a book on tape? They are available through Recordings from the Blind and Dyslexic at no cost. He may be struggling so much with reading the text that he doesn't have the energy left to think about what he's reading.               Katy (h.s./teacher)                  

• What about giving him another assignment instead of writing to show his understanding? He could make a poster or fill out a chart as he reads, plugging in the information as he goes. Then you could help him make inferences and draw conclusions from the information on his chart.            William (m.s./teacher)

• Let him watch the movie instead. He probably can't read but you just don't know it.                                                                                                                           anonymous (h.s./student)

Question:
A resource student in my algebra class can't seem to remember the steps to solving problems. When we do the work she seems to understand but when it comes to working on her own, or when we come back to a similar problem, she can't remember. I know she wants to do well but this is frustrating both of us.                         anonymous (h.s./teacher)

Answers:
I have all my students make index cards clearly showing the steps to solving equations. They keep those in rubber band bundles on their desks. Many of the kids don't need to refer to the cards, but some do and it makes it easy for them to help themselves instead of feeling frustrated or having to call for help every time they get stuck.           Peter (m.s./teacher)

I routinely use study buddies. When I teach a new skill I go over the procedure on the board and have everyone copy my example in their spiral notebook. After I give several more examples, the students turn to their partners and explain the procedure again. Then partners switch and the second partner explains again to his buddy. Pairs that are getting it make up a problem to share with another pair, and so on until we are positive everyone has got it. I also insist that they keep the practice work clearly labeled in their math spiral notebook. We also use post it notes to mark pages so they can refer to their notebook later for similar problems. This way they are each making their own reference materials.           Valerie L. (h.s./teacher)

The following questions have been submitted but have not yet been answered by our readers. Go to the Reader Response to share your expertise.

Question:
I have a freshman student in my English class who constantly jokes around. I know his writing skills are very low but I can see that he is quite bright. How can I get him involved so his only claim to fame won't be as a joker?                                                            Frank (h.s./teacher)

Question:
The biggest problem I have with resource students in my science class is memorization. We have tried some strategies, but they just don't seem to last for a long period of time. Is it okay to let them use notes when they take tests if they can't remember information?            I .S. (m.s./teacher)

Question:
I'm a high school sophomore. I hate math and I have to take it this year and next. What can I do to get through this year and next year in Algebra? I have to use a calculator for just about everything because I can't memorize math facts. I have been working on that for my whole life and it's impossible for me!              Brian (h.s./student)

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