Researchers in the field of special
education have identified several instructional practices that have been
found to be effective in increasing the performance of students with
learning disabilities and other special needs..
- Small group instruction: Small group instruction
provides the environment that allows teachers to build on student
strengths and provide instruction at the student's level. In this
environment, the students gain confidence in the skills they are
learning and applying (because it is at their level) which also, in
turn helps the students feel good about themselves.
- Direct instruction: Direct instruction is a teaching
method that incorporates systematic, explicit instruction that includes; teacher
modeling, teacher guiding students of new information, and then students try on
their own with teacher feedback. Other aspects of direct
instruction programs are; rapid pacing, choral group responding mixed
with individual turns, corrective feedback, review and practice, and a
progression from teacher-directed instruction to independent
application.
- Strategy instruction: Strategy instruction involves
teaching students the steps, rules, or procedures to complete tasks.
Every task can be broken down to the critical steps necessary to complete
the task. For example, if a young child came to a word he/she did
not
know, one strategy might be to place a finger on the left side of
the word, and blend the sounds together as he/she glides the finger
under the letters. Strategies are what many people intuitively use
to solve
problems and reach goals throughout their everyday lives.
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