WelcomeWhile we wait think about one of your students that is capable of achieving better than they currently are.

What are their characteristics as learners? Record these as bullets. For example:Likes to drawSubstitutes long words while reading aloud.Inventive spelling

WINNING STRATEGIES FOR STRUGGLING STUDENTS

Gerald Logan

glogan@me.com

KIDSHere’s to the kids who are differentThe kids who don’t always get A’s

The kids who have earsTwice the size of their peersOr noses that go on for days

Here’s to the kids who are differentThe kids who are just out of step

The kids they all teaseWho have cuts on their knees

And whose sneakers are constantly wetHere’s to the kids who are differentThe kids with a mischievous streak

For when they have grown, as history has shown

It’s their difference that makes them unique.

The Goals of the Workshop Are to Help Students Who Struggle By:

identifying struggling students, understanding their anxieties and

frustrations, gathering information, differentiating instruction, determining when to use appropriate

accommodations, and providing effective learning strategies

and resources.

Advanced OrganizerIntroductory ActivityDefinition of InclusionIdentification of “Struggling Students”Learning StylesAccommodationsEngage Students – some ideas

Read excerpt from The Boarding House by james joyce

Mrs. Mooney was bachelor’s daughter. She was a woman who was quite able to keep things to her self; a determined woman. She had married her father’s fireman and opened a bachelor’s shop near spring Gardens. But as soon as here father-in-law was dead Mr. Mooney began to go the deeper. He drank, pludered the till, ran headlong into bed. It was no use making him take the plan; he was ssure to break out again a few days after. By fighting his wife in te pressure of customers and buying bad meat he royed his business.

1. What kind of business did the Mooney’s have?

2. What did Mr. Mooney do before he married Mrs. Mooney?

3. Why did they not have much money? 4. What did Mrs. Mooney do to try to stop

Mr. Mooney’s devilish ways?

Your Score _____% correct on reading comprehension

The Boarding Houseby James Joyce

Mrs. Mooney was a butcher’s daughter. She was a woman who was quite able to keep things to herself. She had married her father’s foreman and opened a butcher shop near Spring Gardens. But as soon as his father-in-law was dead, Mr. Mooney began to go to the devil. He drank, plundered the till and ran headlong into debt. It was no use making him take the pledge—he was sure to break it again a few days after. By fighting with his wife in the presence of customers and buying bad meat, he ruined his business.

Definition of a struggling student: under achieving, with no clear reason.

It is often hard to figure out the cause.

Students Who Struggle can learn more when teachers:

create a “comfortable” place to learnuse tools that identify learning preferences and styles, make accommodations/adaptations based on individual needs, andexplicitly teach self-regulation strategies and procedures (eg, goal setting, self-instruction, self-monitoring, and self-evaluation).

Gathering InformationA starting point is gathering relevant information about a student―information about their academics, home life and learning styles are very important pieces of the puzzle. 1. Previous Teachers: Preliminary Student Profile2. Student Records: Cum File Reviews3. Parent information: Goal Sheets and background information4. Student Input: Interest inventories

Creating a “Comfortable” place to learn (Anxiety)

Advanced Organizers Safe Place to take risks (class rules) Question Bag: Allows students to

discreetly ask questions. Reading (levelled class library, library

and reading assessments)Five Finger Rule

The Boarding Houseby James Joyce

Mrs. Mooney was a butcher’s daughter. She was a woman who was quite able to keep things to herself. She had married her father’s foreman and opened a butcher shop near Spring Gardens. But as soon as his father-in-law was dead, Mr. Mooney began to go to the devil. He drank, plundered the till and ran headlong into debt. It was no use making him take the pledge—he was sure to break it again a few days after. By fighting with his wife in the presence of customers and buying bad meat, he ruined his business.

The Boarding Houseby James Joyce

www.textcompactor.com set at 25%

Textcompactor.com

Mrs. Mooney was a butcher’s daughter. But as soon as his father-in-law was dead, Mr. Mooney began to go to the devil. By fighting with his wife in the presence of customers and buying bad meat, he ruined his business.

www.textcompactor.com

How do you make your classroom a comfortable place to learn?

Carol Ann Tomlinson on Differentiated Instruction“Educators need to consider student needs and learning styles first, then differentiate curriculum content, processes and products before delivering instruction.”

Learning StylesWhat type of instructional strategies

do I prefer?

Think about the learning style of “your struggling student”

My most preferred learning style is….

a.Visualb.Auditoryc.Read/Writed.Kinaesthetic

Learning Styles HomeworkComplete the Learning Style Inventory.http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

How can I work outside my comfort zone?

Another idea is to use the Multiple Intelligences as an organizational framework.

Practical Classroom Learning Strategies

Do you address some modes of learning when you are planning lessons?

IdeasCentres or Learning labs (very similar to

centres) to explore content in a variety of ways

Collaborative learning groups.Open-ended tasks;Flexible groupings and tiered lessons;Individualized, according to independent

levels; Tiered assignments;Compacting curriculum to meet the

needs of high-achieving studentsAdapted from Every Child is a Winner. 2005.

Visual Unit Planner

Accommodations/AdaptationsAlter the delivery of instruction or

method of student performance in a way that does not change the content or conceptual difficulty of the curriculum.

Accommodations

Accommodations and Modifications—What Is the Difference?

Modifications Actual changes to curriculumGenerally for students with IPPS

AccommodationsCurriculumHelps many students

Accommodation Can Mean That Teachers Alter the Way They Teach (Expect Students to Learn) By:Environment

Adjusting the classroom and/or physical surroundings (eg, alternative seating, adaptive devices)

InstructionMaking instructional accommodations (eg,

copies of notes, alternative materials, etc)Assessment

Evaluating and testing accommodations (eg, extra time, oral, etc)

Alberta Education. 2002. Unlocking Potential—Components of Programming for Students with Learning Disabilities.

Environmental Accommodations

ENVEnvironmental accommodations

may be related to the resources and materials the student uses or to the layout and use of classroom space.

Wiggle While You Learn (env)

Some students can’t sit still. Use these sensory strategies to let them move and learn simultaneously. These sensory strategies can be: providing fidget toys, such as squishy balls and hidden pouches to hang on the neck. Sinnema, J. Wiggle While You Learn.

The Edmonton Journal, March 16, 2004.

Wiggle While You Learn (env)

a hug vest or a rubber seat cushion; .

Wiggle While You Learn (env)

My favourite is a stand up desk. (no you don’t need a special desk just a higher table)

Instructional AccommodationsINST

Instructional accommodations are changes to the way information and concepts are presented or practised to ensure that each student has the opportunities and support he or she needs to learn.

Technology (inst, env) Computers that scan and read textbooks

to help students who have difficulty keeping up with assignments and tests.

Go to http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu/wa.php. This website uses voices to read text (word by word).

Textcompactor.com

Technology (inst, env)

iPad Apps (free)Dragon Dictation: Speech to textiSpeech: text to speechNaturalReader: text to speech (only 10 minutes per day)

Assessment Accommodation

ASSESSSome students will:require accommodations that allow classroom assessments to measure and communicate student growth and achievement clearly and realistically.know what they need in order to demonstrate their knowledge in the classroom and in testing situations.

Barriers

Misunderstanding the purpose. Not involving the student in the

process. Using accommodations

inconsistently.

What Successes Have You had…..

Organizing and Engaging Students

Weekly Goal Setting for Students Reviewing Your Weekly GoalsStudent Agenda Planner Do-It-Now BoardMore Strategies for Helping Students

Organize

Weekly Goal Setting for Students (org) It is important to set goals on a

weekly basis.

What is the weekly goal?

How will students know if they achieve the goal?

Terri-Lyn Rogusky,

Edmonton Public

Schools.

Student Agenda Planner (Org)

helps students organize their own priorities and commitments.

provides a way to communicate with parents.

teaches the skills of planning and organization.

TeacherDaily Planner

Sample Learning StrategysCOPS is an acronym for a strategic approach that helps students detect and correct common writing errors. Each letter stands for an aspect of writing that students need to check for accuracy.

Shannon and Polloway. 1993.

Capitalization of appropriate lettersOverall appearance of a paperPunctuationSpelling accuracy

Teaching Strategies

MOOFS is a learning strategy where the teacher modelshow to understand a particular concept. Students watchand practice what the teacher has modelled.

MO

Overt practice by student, teacher watches.F Fade checking by teacher.

Silent practice by student, teacher checks regularly.

Teacher models concept, students watch.Overt modeling by teacher, student copies.

O

S

What is an idea you can try this next week?

Thank you.

If you have any questions please email me at glogan@me.com

For further information, contact PD staff at Barnett House, phone 780-447-9400 or

1-800-232-7208 (toll free in Alberta); or by email at pd@ata.ab.ca. Information is also

posted on the Association website at www.teachers.ab.ca