21 Tips for Teaching Students with Learning Challenges

Children with learning challenges will require more intentional thought and attention at home or in school. These twenty-one reminders can serve all of us no matter the educational setting. 1. BE ACTIVE

Teach in short bursts, alternating between physical activities and seated activities. Low muscle tone or distracted minds can lead to fatigue. Provide movement or snack breaks to prepare students for the next activity. 2. BE BRIEF

Communicate your instructions clearly and speak concisely. Shorten assignments. Work toward stepby-step accomplishments. End on success. 3. BE CONCRETE

Ask Who?, What?, When?, and Where? questions with visual cues. Allow more advanced students to answer How? and Why? questions. Discuss these with manipulatives or illustrations to nudge students toward more abstract pondering. 4. BE DEMONSTRATING

Use money, objects, and play-acting. Show with real apples: "Sarah has three apples. She gives two away." Role play, illustrate, or demonstrate the actions within narrative language or word problems. Assign fewer practice items if needed to allow extra time for demonstrations. 5. BE ENGAGING

Link personal interests to the topic whenever possible to promote interest. Include the student's first and last names for speech articulation practice, in penmanship or sentence writing, and in story problem examples. 6. BE FOOLPROOF "One-and-done" is not to be expected with students who have an intellectual disability or other special needs. Provide repeated practice with the lesson, preferably later in the day and throughout the year. 7. BE GIVING

Give of yourself. Teaching a student with challenges is a matter of love and of art. As you learn the child's needs, give tips to other caregivers, teachers, and therapists to create generous teamwork. A cohesive team will give more to the child than any

Cheryl Swope is the author of Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child and Memoria Press' Simply Classical Curriculum, as well as editor of the Simply Classical Journal.

one person could accomplish alone. Give generously also to your student, in quiet moments such as a heart-to-heart talk after social difficulties, or by a deep hand massage after extensive writing. 8. BE HEALTH-ORIENTED

Respect dietary, olfactory, or allergic sensitivities and difficulties with impulse control. Secure edible, poisonous, or sharp items to provide safe boundaries. Know and anticipate a student's temptations. Give space for movement and pad edges or corners of furniture. Review and update notes regarding the student's physical and medical challenges. 9. BE INCREMENTAL

Give the "big picture" but also break lessons down into small steps, whether shoe-tying or long division. Allow for mastery before introducing next steps and review mastered steps until they are integrated into the whole. 10. BE JUDICIOUS

Give encouragement to students who need it, but avoid indulging with reward or praise for minimal effort. Expect students to rise to the standard of becoming increasingly diligent, thoughtful, and self-governing. 11. BE KIND

Watch how you respond to a struggling child. The child himself—and any child overhearing—will witness how you react. When handled with kindness, such moments can encourage students to imitate gentleness. 12. BE LASTING

Whether you teach one hour a week or every hour of every school day, remember the lasting impact of overcoming your own resentment, trials, and inconveniences to give a student nourishment for both body and soul. 13. BE MASTERFUL

When possible, craft the day as you would a work of art. This may require periods of rising early or reflecting late. Whenever you fall short, refresh, recover, and begin again. 14. BE NEED-AWARE

Provide time in your school day to teach the necessities, such as putting on and tying shoes, washing hands, eating neatly, using a napkin, speaking politely, and other daily needs. Allow a quiet area for sensory load reduction and calming as needed. 15. BE OBSERVANT

Notice early signs of the need to become more vigilant, more flexible, more compassionate, more matter-of-fact, or more directive. Observation and prevention can be far more effective than merely reacting. 16. BE PERSISTENT

Do not give up. Teaching takes time. For example, reading cannot be reduced to memorization of sight words, so persevere with phonics instruction and practice. Sometimes, as the child matures, lessons become easier to grasp and to integrate into reading, spelling, or writing. 17. BE QUESTIONING

Ask the student to show or paraphrase your instructions. Pause to ask simple "repeat-back" questions during your lesson to ensure attention and understanding. Use simple recitation to accustom students to question-answer format for both pragmatic and academic language. 18. BE REASONABLE

Set expectations to expand rather than outstrip the student's capabilities. Reasonable requests respect honest struggles and engender willingness to persist in the effort. 19. BE SUPPORTIVE

Consult physical and occupational therapists for seating or writing support such as a slant board, sloped desk, foot wedge, textured cushion, slate, mini whiteboard, or other physical and therapeutic aids. 20. BE TRANSITION-MINDED

Assist students with transitions. Post picture schedules with clear left-to-right or top-tobottom sequences. Overview these. Use the same words "first, next, then, last" each time to impart predictable order and to promote smooth, consistent routines. 21. BE UNDAUNTED

Teaching a student with special needs can be daunting but preparation eases the challenge. Over the summer, enlarge print from workbooks, design flip charts to accompany recitations, or create a wall number line for demonstrations. You are more qualified than you think. Be undaunted, if only because of your love for the student. In the words of St. John of Salisbury: "Such attachments are of great assistance to study, for pupils are glad to listen to those whom they love."

A Child's Garden of Bible Stories; Bible Pictures to Color; Prayer for a Child; Please and Thank You Book; Big Thoughts for Little People; How Can I Help? My ABC of Bible Verses The Story Bible; The Creation Story for Children; Simply Classical Copybook One (p. 18)

Simply Classical Copybook: Book Two, Manuscript (p. 18) Simply Classical Copybook: Book Three, Cursive (p. 18)

Numbers Coloring Book; Adventures With Books, Everywhere We Go; Counting With Numbers Numbers Books; Going on Eagerly; My Very Own Scissors Book (p. 23) Rod & Staff Arithmetic 1 (Part 1); 100 Bugs!: A Counting Book; This First Thanksgiving Day; Memoria Math Challenge Level A Rod & Staff Arithmetic 1 (Part 2); Memoria Math Challegen Level B Rod & Staff Arithmetic 2 (1-2); Write-On/ Wipe-Off Demo Clock; Arithmetic Flashcards: Addition & Subtraction; Memoria Math Challenge Level C

Alphabet Coloring Book; My First ABC Book; Simply Classical Crafts: Book One (p. 23); Alphabet Flashcards Alphabet Books; Classical Phonics; First Start Reading Book A; Simply Classical Letters & Numbers Desk Charts (p. 18)

Fun in the Sun; Soft and White; Scamp and Tramp; Primary Phonics Readers Sets 1-3; Core Skills Phonics K-1; First Start Reading A-D; Phonics from A-Z

I Can Read It! Book 2; Core Skills Phonics 2-3; Phonics Flashcards; Core Skills Spelling 1; Simply Classical Spelling: Book One (p. 23)

First Start Reading E; Core Skills Phonics 4; Core Skills Spelling 2; Sounds of the Sea; On the Trail; Simply Classical Spelling: Book Two (p. 23)

My First Body; Do It Carefully; My Big Animal Book; A Child's Garden of Verses; A Child's Garden of Songs CD; Back to the Garden CD; Best First Book Ever!

Animals Animals; Simply Classical Crafts: Book Two (p. 23); Aesop's Fables (p. 18); Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever; Finding the Answers; Hearing and Helping; Christian Liberty Nature Reader, Book K; Animal Alphabet Coloring Book

Kindergarten and First Grade Art Cards; Hailstones and Halibut Bones; A Child's Book of Poems; The Days Gone By CD; My Nature Journal (p. 18); Our World Jumbo Puzzle

Basic Question Word Visual Cues (reproducible)

What? Who?

When?

CALENDAR Where?

250 Basic Question Word Visual Cues (reproducible)

Second Grade Art Cards; Animal Tales CD

Simply Classical Enrichment: Level Three (p. 23); Map of the U.S. Sticker Picture Book; States & Capitals Flashcards

Level A

Prayers for Children; Jesus Is With Me; Jesus Hears Me; Jesus Knows Me; Big Red Barn; The Best Mouse Cookie; Little Fur Family; Bunny's Noisy Book; From Head to Toe; Goodnight Moon; Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Numbers, Colors, Shapes; The Very Busy Spider; Good Night, Gorilla; The Tale of Peter Rabbit; Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings; My Very First Book of Shapes; ABC: Amazing Alphabet Book; Put Me in the Zoo; Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb; Cars and Trucks From A to Z; My First Counting Book; The Animals' Christmas Eve; Big Dog ... Little Dog; Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?; A Children's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes; 1 Is One

Literature, Composition, & Grammar

Simply Classical Writing: Book One (Read-Aloud Edition); Simply Classical StoryTime Treasures Set (p. 23)

Simply Classical More StoryTime Treasures Set; Prairie School; Simply Classical Writing: Book Two (Read-Aloud Edition) (p. 23)

Cursive

New American Cursive 1; Cursive Practice Sheets I

Latin

New American Cursive 2: Famous Americans; My Thankfulness Journal: Beginner (p. 18); New American Cursive Desk Strip

Prima Latina

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Christian Studies Flashcards (KJV) 1. CREATION: Genesis 1:1-3 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

2. PROPHECY: Isaiah 9:2-6

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fi re. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

3. INCARNATION: Luke 2:7-11

4. ATONEMENT: Romans 5:8-10 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 7 And she brought forth her fi rstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the Scripture Memorization fi eld, keeping watch over their fl ock by night. 9 Much more then, being now justifi ed by his 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. reconciled to God by the death of his Son, 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved which is Christ the Lord. by his life. Christian Studies I; Old Testament Flashcards; The Golden Children's Bible Christian Studies II Christian Studies III

Rod & Staff Arithmetic 2 (Units 3-4); Flashkids Flashcards: Multiplication and Division

Traditional Spelling I Rod & Staff Arithmetic 3

Traditional Spelling II Rod & Staff Arithmetic 4

Rod & Staff Spelling 4 Rod & Staff Arithmetic 5

Rod & Staff Spelling 5

Simply Classical Enrichment: Level Map of the U.S. Sticker Mythology Read-Alouds; Don't Know Much About the 50 States; Mammals; My Nature Journal (p. 18); Composition & Sketchbook II; Heroes, Horses, and Harvest Moons CD; Hurrah & Hallelujah

Animal Folk Tales; The Courage of Sarah Noble; Little House in the Big Woods; Second Grade Literature Dictionary; Core Skills Language Arts 1-2

New American Cursive 2: Famous My Thankfulness Journal: New American Cursive 2: Famous Quotations and Scripture; My Thankfulness Journal: Beginner (p. 18); Prima Latina Copybook

cont. in Level 4

Classical Studies

Creating Art; Music Appreciation I; States & Capitals; God's Protected World

The Book of Astronomy; Glow in the Dark Constellations; Draw 50 Animals; Geography I; United States Review; Music Appreciation CD; Story of the World Vol. 1: Ancient Times

Geography I Review; Geography II; The Book of Insects; Story of the World Vol. 2

Core Skills Language Arts 3; Introduction to Composition; English Grammar Practice; English Grammar Recitation I; Composition & Sketchbook III; Farmer Boy; Charlotte's Web; A Bear Called Paddington; Mr. Popper's Penguin's; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever; Poetry for the Grammar Stage

New American Cursive 3: Scripture and Manners; My Thankfulness Journal: Intermediate (p. 18)

Latina Christiana The Moffats; My Side of the Mountain; Homer Price; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; A Promise Kept; Good King Wenceslas; Papa Panov's Special Christmas; Carry On, Mr. Bowditch; Detectives in Togas; Mystery of the Roman Ransom; The Trumpet of the Swan; Rod & Staff English 4

Copybook Cursive II

cont. in Levels 7 & 8 The Blue Fairy Book; The Cricket in Times Square; The Door in the Wall; Heidi; Twenty-One Balloons; The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane; The Apple and the Arrow; Marguerite Makes a Book; Classical Composition I & II; English Grammar Recitation II; Core Skills Language Arts 4 & 5

Copybook Cursive III

First Form Latin; Lingua Angelica

New American Cursive

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Ages 6-12, chronological age or skill level

Beginner Journal $8.50 Intermediate Journal $8.50

My ankfulness Journals

(New American Cursive font) by Cheryl Swope ese journals let students practice cursive writing while thinking about God's daily blessings in their lives. Each page begins "Dear Heavenly Father," and closes, "Your child," with space for the child's signature. In between is room for students to list their blessings each day. e Intermediate Journal is a smaller font size and has less tracing as students progress. Ages 4-11, chronological age or skill level

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My Nature Journal

by Cheryl Swope Savor small moments of wonder with your child as he learns the simple beauty of nature. Create a keepsake for your child as you witness improvement in his knowledge, attention to detail, and writing skills through the exercises. Help your child make essential connections between oral language and written language, even as you assist his ability to observe and enjoy the wonders of nature. This book can stand alone as a delightful supplement to any program.

Simply Classical Copybook Series:

Ages 5-8, chronological age or skill level

$8.95 ea.

Book 1, Manuscript Book 2, Manuscript or Cursive Book 3, Cursive

Book One, Two, and ree by Cheryl Swope Strengthen penmanship, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, ne-motor skills, and memory through the time-honored tradition of copybooks. Students learn habits of accuracy, neatness, and patience while receiving truth and comfort from Holy Scripture. Shorter selections help accommodate for writing di culties while providing the full bene ts of copybook exercises for all beginning writers.

Letters & Numbers Desk Charts

Reinforce your teaching with desk charts formatted to accompany lessons. Bold, targeted letters assist visual discrimination. Ages 4-7,

chronological age or skill level $12.95 Ages 9+, chronological age or skill level Aesop Copybook $8.95 Aesop's Fables $14.99

Aesop Copybook Set $20.00

Aesop Copybook

by Cheryl Swope e Aesop Copybook is a lovely companion to Aesop’s Fables. It will strengthen your student's writing and composition skills while giving the opportunity to contemplate the timeless wisdom of Aesop's fables and learn from the gentle moral instruction they provide. e simplicity of the New American Cursive style and the brevity of lessons will assist students to become stronger, more capable thinkers and writers. Teaching instructions are included.