Shannon - 7th Grade

Below is a student profile on Shannon. As you read the profile, note Shannon’s strengths as well as any barriers to engagement and achievement. Examples of the three core areas of cognition (input/representation, integration/engagement and output/expression) are color-coded throughout the scenario, strengths and barriers and instructional design.

Shannon is respectful and reserved, tending to be very quiet in learning environments. She is always friendly and positive, which contributes to good relationships with peers and teachers. She loves science and would rather be there than in any other class and loves to read about scientific discoveries. She tends to like having a very structured environment and is highly organized. She sometimes becomes stressed over deadlines or activities that are a challenge.

Shannon enjoys labs and doing tasks that are project-based. She has friends in her classes but prefers to work independently. She gets embarrassed easily and isn’t comfortable asking for help or participating in group discussions. In her math class, she has difficulty transferring knowledge and has an incomplete understanding of the vocabulary which hinders her ability to grasp math concepts and apply them effectively. 

Shannon has difficulty memorizing attributes of two-dimensional figures. She has difficulty with visual-spatial skills and attention to detail, so when she attempts to copy figures from the board or a textbook, she does so inaccurately. In subjects requiring spatial interpretations, such as geography, Shannon struggles to understand and use maps effectively, hindering her performance and engagement in these areas.

When solving problems, she is challenged when applying formulas, rules and procedures. This has caused her to become discouraged lately and shut down, while is unusual for her as she is typically perseverant.