There are many ways that teachers can modify lessons and activities to meet the needs of diverse learners. Here are some of our most tried and true strategies.
| Pre-teach difficult vocabulary and concepts
Introduce particularly difficult vocabulary words or concepts prior to the lesson. A word web is an excellent way to begin because it uses background knowledge as a foundation. |
| Provide study guides/worksheets
Visuals are especially helpful to exceptional learners because it allows them to “chunk” information into smaller, more easily digestible pieces. |
| Have the student take notes (or provide the notes) and use colored markers to highlight
Visual notes are helpful because it allows for the opportunity to re-read and highlight important information. |
| Provide written as well as oral directions
Students learn in a variety of ways. Providing directions both orally and in writing will help students stay on track. |
| For students who struggle with spelling: Avoid penalizing for spelling errors
There are many ways to assess a student’s writing. Penalizing for spelling errors is not always necessary. |
| For students who struggle with legible writing: Use graph paper to help space letters and numbers
Graph paper provides clear parameters in which to write a letter or number, greatly improving legibility. |
| For students who struggle to create written assignments: Use story starters
Story starters are a great asset because it provides a jumping off point, as well as guidance. |
| For students who struggle with reading: Provide questions before student reads a selection
Providing pre-reading questions helps the student to anticipate what they will read, which increases comprehension. |
| For students who struggle with verbal expression: Provide a prompt
When a student must speak to a group, providing a prompt will help them plan for and guide their speaking. |
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