In my last post, I discussed the importance of modifying lessons for students with special needs and ideas on how to keep your students engaged. On a previous post also related to this topic, someone asked if I could post some examples or websites on how to modify and I began researching even further.
A great website that lists examples that teachers have used is www.forums.atozteacherstuff.com. The website offers some great ideas and here are some examples that especially stood out to me:
1. Always provide a word bank of vocabulary words that students must use.
2. Allow for more space on the page and spread items out.
3. Do not add to much text.
4. Use larger font for students with visual impairments.
5. Use colored paper for student with dyslexia (Some research has shown that children with dyslexia can read better on colored paper).
6. Use step by step instructions at the top of the paper.
7. Read the directions out loud for the student.
It is also important to remember that allowing extra time is usually not beneficial for students with special needs. In some cases it can be a great modification, but can also be extremely useless for students. The main idea is to find what specifically works best for that type of student and to remember that each student is different and requires different modifications. These modifications can also be used for your regular education students too and overall could be extremely beneficial modifications for assignments and activities.
I agree that giving extra time for things needs to be looked into when doing this. If this is the only modification it may just frustrate students more. If they can't get it in the begining, staring at it longer isn't going to help them. Each student does have specific needs and for some, giving extra time may be the only factor, but most likely there are other specifications needed. My sister is duslexic and I never knew that the color of paper could play a role!
ReplyDeleteThese ideas for modifying are great and your last paragraph sums it up perfectly. We have to find out what works for the individual, different modifications will work for different students. I feel like this could be very time trying in the beginning but as future teachers I'm sure it's something we'll all have to do. Thanks for the ideas!
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about giving extra time as a modification can be completely useless. Consider a student who is taking a test and they don't understand what they questions are asking. Giving this student some extra time to "figure it out" is not going to help. What this student needs is someone to read the questions aloud and explain them in another way. When giving modifications to students, I believe you should be fair. By fair I don't mean that every student should receive the same thing (obviously this wouldn't be beneficial), but that each student should receive what they truly need.
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