Strategies for Students with Diverse Needs

Working as a collaborative team

Presenters:Kendra Nesbitt & Chris Janzen Oct 2013

Introductions

Diverse Needs Defined

NESD Philosophy -

Learning Difficulties - Strategies

Coffee Break

Collegial Conversations

Sharing

Parking Lot - Questions

Agenda

• Find someone from a different school, but similar grades (Elem, Middle, HS)

• Share something about yourself that is NOT work related

• Be prepared to introduce your partner to the group and share what you learned about them

Introductions

What does working with students with “Diverse Needs” mean to you?

Diverse Needs

Needs-Based Service Delivery Model (2011)• needs are more important for programming and essential supports

than categorical labels of disabilities

• students receive appropriate services, not just the services for which they qualify

• students have different needs that can change over time

• individualized, flexible and responsive supports to meet their needs and enhance the growth of their strengths and abilities

• a comprehensive evaluation of the needs of students and their families, identification of their concerns, coordination of supports that efficiently use resources

Ministry of Education

1. Inclusionary beliefsDifferentiated Instruction (DI), Parent/caregiver engagement, Fostering independence, Assistive technology

2. Interprofessional collaborationQualified staffing, Inservice training, School team collaboration,

Engagement of agencies

3. Intervention planning Response to Intervention (RTI), Referral process, Inclusion and Intervention

Plans (IIP), Transition planning, Service coordination

Three key principles

• Inclusion is a value system where all students are entitled to equitable access to learning, achievement and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their education.

• Inclusion is more than physical location. It incorporates basic values that promote participation, friendship and interaction.

• Inclusion involves bringing the support services to the child rather than moving the child to the services.

NESD - Inclusion

What are they?

What are some different types?

● Dylexia

● Dyscalculia

● Dysgraphia

● Auditory and Visual Processing

● Nonverbal

Learning Disabilities

● Provide structure and clearly stated expectation

● Encourage self-monitoring, proofreading, self-correction

● Allow students to tape classroom lectures/discussions

● Allow assignments to be printed, typed, scribed

● Provide access to read-along notes or texts

● Provide access to computer, spell-checker, and calculator

● Set up a buddy system

General Strategies

● Record text selections that the student can understand but may not be able to read

● Use visual aids to present or reinforce concepts from the reading selections

● Use cooperative learning, group projects, or peer tutoring

● Provide summaries of reading assignments● Underline key concepts in social studies, science, or

other texts

Reading Strategies

● Limit the number of spelling words required● Select words that are required for success in other

courses of study● Help students develop a personalized spelling

dictionary● Allow opportunity for self-correcting errors● Advise student to use a spellchecker on the

computer

Spelling Strategies

● Emphasize proper posture● Teach students how to hold a pencil and place the

paper properly. If they are using a special pencil or gripping tool, make sure that the hand is positioned correctly

● Guide the student through the formation of letters, provide them with model letters (or small cue card), or have them write on a chalkboard

Writing Strategies

● Focus on understanding and using patterns● Focus on using mathematical properties● Focus on using manipulatives or models● Focus on using thinking or remembering skills● Focus on using the calculator● Focus on constructing a book of definitions and

examples

Mathematics Strategies

Prevent escalation of acting-out behaviours

● Example

● Defuse the situation

○ withdraw from the conflict; ignore the challenge;

○ always offer a choice

○ shift responsibility

○ make use of humour, make eye contact

○ be aware of the tone, volume and cadence of your voice; use a calm approach, keep the volume down.

○ be aware of body language; that is, don’t encroach on a student’s personal space or take an aggressive stance.

Behavioural Strategies

Behaviour contracts● written statements between a teacher and

a student and sometimes include and aide, the principal, and a parent

● should only be used when the student has a desire to change his or her behaviour and all involved in the contract are willing to cooperate

Behavioural Strategies cont’d

Token or point systems● the student receives a token or point each

time he or she performs the target behaviour and the tokens are exchanged for an agreed upon reward

Behaviour Strategies cont’d

● Important to know that students with attention difficulties are not wilfully inattentive

● Handout

Attention Deficits

Coffee Break

What I do...

Communication(please refrain from using names)

Collegial Conversations

● What’s working? ○ How does it happen?

● What could be better?○ What would you like to see?

Collegial Conversations

Top Ten ideas for Communication

How do you work with your students?(please respect confidentiality and avoid using student

names)

Collegial Conversations

Top Ten Ideas for Working with Students

Parking Lot and Questions

http://studentservices.nesd.ca/resources/ea-presentations

http://education.gov.sk.ca/Actualizing-a-Needs-Based-Model-to-Support-Student-Achievement

http://education.gov.sk.ca/Creating-Opportunities

Resources