How to Support Me?
I do not follow content on digital boards in class.
Customize the slides to my visual needs, print them out, and let me read the hardcopy in class with my aid.
Please use this whiteboard EVRY DAY in every class!
Please use white board! Write things out!
BIG, CLEAN, CLEAR
READING SUPPORT:
I have visual challenges !!
Reading materials and text:
- Visually simple and clean content.
- Simple, short words and sentences.
- Large font, extra space between words, and lines.
- Short paragraphs and pages.
- Highlight or circle the word I struggle to read. (Or write it out BIG on white board and help me decode).
- IMPORTANT! Please do NOT make me read text or worksheets Im unable to read due to my vision challenges.
Sample comprehension questions and support of visuals. Box drawn around the word I struggled with.
Comprehension:
- Use pictures to support reading comprehension and new concepts.
- Write out comprehension questions and provide choices for answers – written words paired with images.
- Use “First, then/next, last” to help me sequence events. Provide sentence stripes, words, or images to sequence “first, then/next, last.”
Other:
- Use self made books adapted to my needs (see the samples on right) to support comprehending new topics and learning new concepts.
California Gold Rush – simple short sentences. New concepts supported by visuals. Easy to ready clean clear type.
My pre-reading skills and past progress.
Pretending to read :), 2015.
Letter sounds, 2015.
Decoding words, 2015.
Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer, Kelly Jones.
Reading simple text, 2016.
WRITING SUPPORT:
Handwriting:
- I can trace 2″ letters, and words.
- I can handwrite independently most letters and some short words.
- I am able to copy a short word(s)/sentences and handwrite or type these.
- Use elkonin boxes to support writing.
- Do not let me handwrite more than 5min at a time. My hand gets tired.
- Please ensure I use correct writing tools – wide bold markers, or wide pens/pencils with support.
- DO NOT ask me to write with #2 skinny pencil.
Story writing – fiction/nonfiction, other
- I am able to write about fiction/ non-fiction or other with adult support.
- Help me read the content, then use choices (visual pictures paired with written words) to help me choose a topic, main idea, characters or other story elements.
- Ask ‘Yes/No’ questions to help find supporting ideas and choices for topic/character – ‘Do you think X should do Y?’ – yes/no? If yes, “let’s write it down!”
- Use visuals (images paired with words) to help me create and sequence my story and/or events. (First – Then – Last).
- Help me form simple 3-4 word sentences about each event by useing word banks.
- Once I’ve made the sentences, ask me to trace the sentences and then type or build the story in clicker sentence app.
- Always use pictures to support any writing.
See samples of Writing Supports.
Reading SUPPORTS for “The Number of Stars”, Lois Lowry.
Working on sequencing events, and identifying the main idea in chapter.
Tracing my answer
Built a sentence with laminated word cards.
Building a sentence about the main idea. Writing out a short sentence. Referencing where in book the main idea is stated.
Independent writing with support of elkonin boxes. Please keep these at 2″ minimum. This is on 8.5×11 paper.
Fiction story writing. New concept: fiction = not true. Analyzing charchter traits. Copying sentence by tracing it. Final story was typed.
Gymnastics Story.
Research paper on ‘Traveling with Train vs Wagon.’ Drew out the concept of traveling long distance long time ago – ‘old vs new’.
Concept -“research” answer to a specific question. Find evidence to support your answer. Making a sentence with word cards. Gluing it down, then copying writing/typing.
More samples of Supports
“Pocahontas and the Strangers”, Clyde Robert Bulla. Reading and Comprehension SUPPORTS
All about me unit. Who am I?
HOW to SUPPORT MATH:
- Provie the problems, equations, other in a visually clear and accessable way.
- Highlight the key parts in the problem. +/-, etc.
- Use key words such as altogether, takeway, etc. to emphasize the concepts.
- Draw out the word problems.
- Use ten-frames, number-line, and manipulatives to solve the problem.
- Use calculator to check final answers.
Unit on Electricity. Great sample of introducing a new concept in a super simple way – this is a great worksheet with appropriate visuals and text.
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