Resources
Characteristics of Effective Instruction
Every child with a learning disorder is unique. Consequently, instruction and intervention provided to children with LDs and other disabilities should be carefully tailored to individual needs and abilities. Instruction should be tied to clear, developmentally-appropriate goals, and it should be systematic, incremental, and frequently assessed for efficacy. While no two individualized programs of education will be the same, there are some features that are common to high-quality instruction:
- It is highly engaging and relevant and relevant.
- Instruction is multi-sensory, multi-modal, and includes various ways to acquire and demonstrate knowledge.
- It is sufficiently flexible to accommodate individual instructional levels and needs.
- It is tied to clearly articulated objectives.
- Abstract concepts are presented after concrete and representational examples are mastered.
- Instruction is broken into small steps, and directions and prompts are provided frequently.
- Learning is frequently assessed, and plateaus or regressions in achievement are quickly addressed.
- There are frequent informal checks of understanding.
- Formative feedback is offered often.
- There frequent opportunities for guided and independent practice.
- Problem solving strategies and appropriate approaches to work are modeled by the instructor.
For more information about LD, please visit the LD FAQs page.
How to Advocate for Your Child
- Learn about your child's disorder and be prepared to explain it to teachers and others who play a role in your child's education.
- Remember that you are the expert on your own child. If something doesn't seem right, say so in a calm and reasonable, yet insistent manner.
- Clarify your goals for your child and propose solutions to your child's difficulties.
- Carefully listen to and consider the proposals and advice of educational professionals.
- Try to keep the focus on specific strategies and desired outcomes, while avoiding generalizations.
- Be a vocal supporter of your child. Children with disabilities often suffer from poor self esteem and, to borrow from Charles Blow, the "soft bigotry of low expectations." Know that with the right supports and scaffolds, your child can achieve great things -- and say so often.
Dyslexia Resources
- The International Dyslexia Association's Handbook is a comprehensive primer on dyslexia, its characteristics, its effects, and effective intervention strategies.
- The British Dyslexia Association's Homework Tips provide useful strategies for working with your child at home.
- In Overcoming Dyslexia, Yale neuroscientist Dr Sally Shaywitz provides a comprehensive exploration of dyslexia, its causes, and how the brains of dyslexic individuals can be trained to process language more typically.
- Edward Dolch's list of 220 sight words should be mastered to promote fluent reading.
- Fry's Instant Words is a list of the 1000 most common words in English writing.
- Children with dyslexia benefit enormously from intensive, systematic phonics instruction, which is comprehensively addressed by Reading Rockets.
Other Resources
- The Council for Exceptional Children is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the interests of individuals with LDs and other learning differences.
- The International Dyslexia Association is dedicated to providing support to individuals with dyslexia.
- Learning Disabilities Worldwide is a professional organization dedicated to improving life outcomes for individuals with LDs.
- The American National Center for Learning Disabilities provides numerous resources to individuals with LDs, their families, and their educators.
- LDOnline is a great reference for parents of children with LDs.
- Dyscalculia.org provides extensive resources for individuals with LDs, their parents, and their educators.