Classroom Strategies for Difficulties with Academics
Simplify instructions to the student. Students with FASD may have difficulty following directions in all subject areas.
These suggestions are ways to simplify instructions:
These suggestions are ways to simplify instructions:
- Repetition: repeat the same direction or instruction.
- Reduction: reduce the amount of information in your instruction and break it into smaller parts. - Rephrasing: try to say the direction in another way. - Use rhyming: simple phrases that the brain can recall easily. - Add a gesture: point to the object you are talking about, or add a gesture that symbolizes the function of the object (e.g., a drinking motion for a cup). - Use basic sign language along with verbal directions to add concrete, kinesthetic involvement. Many students with FASD are great at learning sign language. - Add some visual support: show students a picture of what you want them to do, or where you want them to look. - Use pictures whenever possible. |
- Backward chaining: partially complete the activity for the child, and then allow him or her to finish it. Gradually add on previous steps until the child
is able to complete the entire activity. This works well for getting dressed: the child does not have to remember all the steps at once but can still participate in the routine. - Physical guidance: if the child still has difficulty, even with all of the support above, physically guide the child through the activity, using the words at the same time. Gradually replace the physical guidance with gestures or picture cues, then words alone. - Use colour: for example, when diagramming sentences, colour-code the parts of speech and allow students to use coloured pens when diagramming. - Allow students to draw pictures along with or instead of some written assignments |