Making%20Accommodations%20for%20Diverse%20Learners

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Making Accommodations for Diverse Learners

• EEX 3257
• Week 4

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What  are  accommodations?

• Changes made to accommodate the WAY students
  learn and/or HOW they are tested
• Techniques / support systems that help students
  with special needs
• Legal requirements for students with disabilities

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What kind of problems might require
accommodation?

• Organizing information meaningfully
• Relating new knowledge to old knowledge
• Remembering large quantities of info
• Breaking down complex concepts
• Understanding abstract concepts
• Analyzing to solve problems / draw conclusions
• Motivation / seeing the importance of learning

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Six Principles of Effective Instruction

• Focus on big ideas
• Use conspicuous strategies
• Use mediated scaffolding
• Make linkages obvious and explicit
• Activate prior knowledge
• Review for fluency / generalization

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What can you change?

• Input
• Instruction
• Materials
• Output
• Participation
• Assessment

• Rate
• Speed
• Amount
• Support
• Independent
• Group work

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When should I make accommodations?

• Before Instruction
• During Instruction
• After Instruction

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When should I make accommodations? (cont.)

• Before Instruction
• Planning in a different way
• Graphic Organizers
• Highlight big ideas
• Connect ideas / concepts
• Thematic Instruction
• Combines content from different subject areas
• Can make essential ideas more apparent and
  meaningful
• Projects
• Provides flexibility
• Allows for differentiation
• Grouping can vary

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When should I make accommodations? (cont.)

• During Instruction
• Delivering instruction in a different way for
  different students
• Instructional methods
• Materials

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When should I make accommodations?(cont.)

• After Instruction
• Review
• Assessment

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What are some simple accommodations I can
use?(cont.)

• Cover text so that only one portion shows at a
  time so its not overwhelming
• Careful, simple, uncluttered worksheets
• Fold paper into sections for each response
• Mark paper to show where to start/stop use
  smaller paper / variety of mediums
• Study carrels / partitions
• Duplication of materials - home / school
• Reduce length or give more time

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Last Thoughts...

• Dont do it alone
• ESE teacher
• Speech / language / vision specialist
• Guidance counselor
• Parents
• Students themselves
• Reflect on your effortits a JOURNEY

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References

• Chalmers, L.  (1992).  Modifying curriculum for
  the special needs student in the regular
  classroom.  Moorehead, MN Practical Press.
• Florida Dept of Education  (1999).  Assisting
  students with disabilities  A guide for
  educators.  Tallahassee, FL  Clearinghouse
  Information Center.
• Kameenui, E., et al. (2002).  Effective teaching
  strategies that accommodate diverse learners. 
  Columbus, OH  Merrill-Prentice Hall.
• Wood, J.  (2002).  Adapting instruction to
  accommodate students in inclusive settings. 
  Columbus, OH  Merrill-Prentice Hall.