鈥淧eople with learning differences are human,鈥� Deanna White, a neurodiversity advocate and parent learning coach in response to a question we posed on LinkedIn. 鈥淯nique individuals and wonderful humans that are better defined by their strengths. So stop focusing on the weakness.鈥�
We invited our social media followers across , , and to weigh in on the most effective way schools can better support students with learning differences.
Responses ranged from shifting 糖心动漫vlog鈥� mindset鈥攍ike highlighting student strengths鈥攖o more far-reaching changes that would require schoolwide or district support.
Focus on students鈥� strengths
There are many ways of encouraging students to play to their strengths, as 糖心动漫vlog Winston Sakurai and Phyllis Fagell demonstrated in an August 2022 article by Education Week Assistant Editor Denisa Superville.
They detailed how they shared their own learning struggles as a way to connect with their students. Their personal successes show students, who may be struggling academically or socially, that anything is possible.
Here鈥檚 what other 糖心动漫vlog had to say.
1. Help them understand their learning strengths and challenges and growing them as strong self-advocates.
2. Devoting time and money to developing teachers鈥� abilities to differentiate.
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By having high expectations and giving them exposure to high-quality materials and experiences, even ones that seem 鈥渁bove them.鈥� They will shock us with their insights every time.
- 馃槖馃槖馃ゴ
Meet students where they are
In a 2015 primer on the topic, EdWeek Assistant Editor Sarah D. Sparks wrote about how 鈥渄ifferentiated instruction"鈥攖he process of identifying students鈥� individual learning strengths, needs, and interests and adapting lessons to match them鈥攂ecame a popular approach to helping diverse students learn together. Respondents largely agreed.
Time to work with every student. If you can meet with a child for a bit of time to help with exactly what she or he needs, it might ignite both learning and understanding.
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So many ways...start with environment, a.k.a. The Third Teacher.
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Reduce obstacles
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Increase supports
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Meet kids where they are
(h/t @drncgarrett)
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Small class sizes, strong positive teacher/student relationships, differentiated instruction, and reflection.
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Smaller class sizes
In a 2017 Opinion essay, former teacher Marc Vicenti wrote about 鈥渢he daily wear and tear on 糖心动漫vlog when trying to juggle a full teaching load and meaningful relationships with lively young people who all have different needs and experiences.鈥�
鈥淲e can either choose to be less effective in our practice or exhaust ourselves鈥攏either of which is beneficial to students or our own well-being,鈥� he wrote.
Smaller class sizes are one way of mitigating the risk of burnout while working to meet each student鈥檚 needs.
Small classes, small schools, local control. I am the principal in a pretty small school in a small community and I know every child, and every family and we can build programs to meet our students鈥� needs. A country run or state run school system can鈥檛 do that.
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Increase funding to actually lower the student-to-teacher ratio. This allows teachers to give more time to the individual.
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Fewer standardized tests
Standardized tests have long been criticized for narrowing instruction and for holding all students to the same standard when 鈥渟tudents enter school at varying levels and learn and grow at different rates.鈥�
The backlash against standardized testing renewed interest in alternative ways to evaluate students鈥� learning progress, like 鈥減erformance assessments鈥攖he idea of measuring what students can do, not merely what they know鈥�.
STOP standardized testing.
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Fewer standardized or timed tests, teaching to mastery, not according to a schedule.
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Give students a voice
Sometimes it鈥檚 best to go to the source to discern how to best tackle an issue. Giving these students a voice can not only empower them in their learning, but also help 糖心动漫vlog understand how to have the biggest impact.
Ask them how they learn and what helps. Give them a voice!
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Yes! Listening to what students need and giving them a voice is something we need to do for all students, but especially those who need more help in the classroom.
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