Differentiating Instruction for Learners

OBJECTIVES:

Differentiating instruction for differently-abled learners, including:

Scaffolding techniques for assisting Special Education/ELL students to comprehend content-specific knowledge
Instructional strategies used for improving learning
Developing IEP goals for special education/ELL/gifted learners
Comprehension in the content areas for Special Education/ELL students.
Developing academic language (subject-specific language) developed as a pre-cursor for the content area for Special Education students
Developing Formative Assessments to use with Special Education/ELL students to gather data for improving instruction?
How does attitude, knowledge, and understanding of addressing different special needs by the teacher impact instruction to moderately disabled, ELL students, and gifted learners?
How to keep gifted learners challenged, interested, and socially engaged
Using digital resources( Khan Academy, EdX, Coursera, etc) to support special education, ELL, and gifted learners
Classroom management for differentiated instruction

Individualized Education Plans(IEPs)

IEPs vs 504 Plans: What is the Difference?
https://www.additudemag.com/iep-vs-504-plan-idea-adhd-disability-education/

Special Education for English Language Learners
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/english-language-learners/are-ieps-different-for-english-language-learners

IEP Development for a Student With Learning Disabilities
https://www.ldatschool.ca/iep-power-accommodations/

What is a Learning Disability?

A learning disability refers to a student who is not able to learn at the same pace as their peers. Students with learning disabilities do not have cognitive or physical impairments, but rather struggle with traditional classroom instruction. They are provided with special tools to learn, including resource teachers and accommodations on exams and assignments.

Common learning disabilities include:

Dyslexia, a reading disability based in language
Dyscalculia, a mathematical disability based on number sense
Auditory or visual processing disorders, sensory disabilities that make hearing or seeing difficult even though there are no physical issues with either.

-Study.com https://study.com/academy/lesson/math-strategies-for-students-with-learning-disabilities.html#/lesson

Strategies for Teaching Science to English Language Learners:

https://www.csun.edu/science/ref/language/teaching-ell.html

Ten Tips for ELL Science Teaching

https://www.scienceandmathwithmrslau.com/2017/09/ten-tips-teaching-ell-science/

Inquiry-Based Science and English-Language Development

https://www.exploratorium.edu/education/ifi/inquiry-and-eld

Six strategies for Teach ELLs

http://blog.tesol.org/six-strategies-for-teaching-ells-across-the-content-areas/

1. Determine content and language objectives for each lesson

2. Connect content to ELLs’ background knowledge.

3. Provide comprehensible input for ELLs.

4. Make lessons auditory, visual, and kinesthetic.

5. Use cooperative learning strategies.

6. Modify vocabulary instruction for ELLs

Math Strategies for ELL Students

There are a variety of strategies to help the ELL student succeed with math. Speaking slowly, repeating ideas, and using hand gestures are a few methods to enhance language comprehension. Math teachers often use manipulative or visual tools to illustrate specific concepts. Use graphic organizers with Think-Pair-Share activities to help promote student interaction. Think-Pair-Share is an activity where students are asked to complete a task individually first, then turn to a partner and share ideas, and then finally share with the entire group. This activity helps build confidence when language skills may be low. Using the student's background knowledge also helps with learning new math material.

Relating the concept to real life also engages the student. Many ELL students have studied a variety of math ideas in their home country and simply don't have the English language skills to show what they know. Tapping into the background knowledge and creating an understanding among students, even those not yet fluent in English, is important.

Illustrating concepts with visuals is also helpful. Using background knowledge through pictures is a great way to assist with understanding. Interactive games, such as Cool Math or learning videos on sites like LearnZillion, make math interesting for the ELL learner.

Math Vocabulary

Math vocabulary is sometimes difficult for a student, but often especially difficult for the English language learner. A great way to ease the stress of learning new vocabulary is using a vocabulary box, which is a strategy in which the student not only writes the new word and definition, but also draws a picture to show understanding and comes up with a real-world application. The box, once completed, is a nice way for students to study for exams. Teachers can quickly look over the students' finished boxes to see the level of understanding.

Instructional Strategies for students with special needs:

When teaching math or science to students with learning disabilities, it is important for teachers to keep a few basic thoughts in mind:

Keep lessons brief.

Students with learning disabilities are often overloaded if too much information is given at once.

Break up steps.

Even low-level math sometimes involves a multi-step process. When teaching, break up the steps into small lessons and make sure the student understands one before moving on to the next.

Use real-life examples.

Students with learning disabilities can benefit from connecting learning to examples from their lives, increasing their ability to remember skills.

Keep worksheets and notebooks clutter-free.

Students with learning disabilities can often become overwhelmed when they see a paper or worksheet with a lot of information. Create special pages for them with a few problems visible at a time.

Strategies for Everyday Use

Teachers should plan carefully for teaching students with learning disabilities. Once the lessons are planned and accommodations spelled out, a few more thoughts will go a long way to ensuring student success.

Provide manipulatives.

Manipulatives are objects used to physically illustrate math concepts. For regular education students, we offer manipulatives sometimes, but not every day. Students with learning disabilities often rely on concrete objects to help them make sense of abstract thoughts.

Provide special materials.

Children with learning disabilities often struggle with organization. Help them stay on track with a few tweaks to materials, such as highlighting key words, using graph paper to keep work neat, or using smaller notebooks that are easier to organize.

Provide consistency.

Students with learning disabilities typically thrive on routines. Create a consistent schedule and follow it every day.

Provide examples.

When teaching math concepts, model the new skills many times. Allow the student to watch and participate. Write examples in notebooks for easy referral so the student can look back later and use it as a reference.

Source: Study.com https://study.com/academy/lesson/math-strategies-for-students-with-learning-disabilities.html#/lesson

Readings and Resources for Instructing Gifted and Talented Students

Engaging Gifted and High-Ability Learners in Science
https://www.erblearn.org/uploads/media_items/leah-parker-erb-presentation-2011.original.pdf

Gifted and Talented Education Strategies
https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/gifted-education-practices

Resources:

Gifted and Talented Education-Massachusetts
http://www.doe.mass.edu/bese/councils/gifted.html

Maryland Public Schools- Gifted and Talented Education
http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/pages/gifted-talented/index.aspx

Online Resources- Gifted and Talented:

EdX Online Education
https://www.edx.org/

Coursera Online Education
https://www.coursera.org/

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
https://cty.jhu.edu/

Stanford Online High School
https://ohs.stanford.edu/

The Art of Problem Solving(Math)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/