Adapting Lessons for Struggling Learners

 

Although the best way to adapt a lesson for your students who are less proficient at mastering material quickly is to respond to them as individuals, sometimes you may find that several students are experiencing difficulties. In the following list, you will find some ways to adapt lessons so that all of your students can be successful.

 

• Vary the learning modalities in a lesson that will make it easier for all students to learn and use their preferred learning styles.

• Provide more examples, models, and demonstrations.

• Build on students’ prior knowledge.

• Build students’ self-confidence by encouraging their efforts as well as their achievements.

• Allow students to work with peers in mixed-ability groups.

• Supply students with support materials such as word banks, graphic organizers, technology practice, and outlines.

• Give more time to complete an assignment.

 

Adapted from The First-Year Teacher’s Checklist: A Quick Reference for Classroom Success by Julia G. Thompson