Asking questions - Part 3

For the last few days, I've been posting some basic questions and answers about learning disabilities.  I've learned a lot, thanks to the thoughtful answers of Dr. Erica Baker, Registered Psychologist.  I hope you've learned too - and will share this knowledge with others. 

Rhonda


7) What can a teacher do to support students with learning disabilities?


The fit between the child and his/her teacher is often paramount to a child’s success. If the teacher’s ways of teaching are a mismatch with a learner’s profile significant frustration can ensue. Both the teacher and student may need to put some work into the relationship and try compromising and acceptance (Levine, 2002). Success is more likely when a teacher understands the child’s learning profile, is willing to customize his/her teaching style to match the child’s strengths and needs, and can respond effectively to the need of the student with LD. Quality instruction should be flexible and geared toward the student’s needs. The teacher should be invested in the child’s learning process and be open and honest about whether he/she views the plan for the child to be ‘do-able’ and meaningful. Collaboration and ongoing communication between the teacher, student, parents and other professionals working with the child will be helpful in ensuring optimal functioning and the ability to manage a child’s learning profile. Teachers with knowledge of best practices in teaching LD students may be better prepared to choose strategies to meet the needs of their students. Teachers who do not have the training, or do not feel professionally prepared to meet the needs of an LD student should have access to support personnel with knowledge about LD and be open to professional development opportunities.


8) If a child has learning disabilities, how can a parent help to support them?

As a parent we can help to support a child with a learning disability by ensuring good management of the child’s learning profile. Effective management should help to ensure that the problems won’t worsen, that complications will be prevented, that we are working towards remediation of areas that may have broken down, and that we are helping our child maximize their strengths and abilities. Parents should understand how their child learns, help their child understand themselves, identify interventions to try to repair gaps and/or accommodations to bypass their weakness, cultivate strengths, and protect their self-esteem (Levine, 2002).


9) What resources should parents be looking for/asking for?

Parents are encouraged to be knowledgeable about their child’s LD. One excellent resource is http://www.ldonline.org/. Parents should ensure that their children’s difficulties are recognized and that appropriate interventions and supports are being provided. Early identification and intervention is essential. The parent can help to ensure that the student’s progress is being monitored through on-going assessment, that support services have been identified, that goals are meaningful, and that there is follow-through with respect to instructional decisions and academic programming. A child with LD will require more than the usual time to learn basic skills. If a student requires more intensive instruction to learn strategies and/or content, parents may wish to consider special placements (alternate settings). Alternate settings may provide a lower pupil-teacher ratio that allows for more intensive instruction, frequent monitoring of progress, direct instruction, and teachers with more specialized training.