Identifying Instructional Strategies

Blog Activity # 4

Field of Study:  Special Education All-levels

Strategy	Description	Teacher	Learner
Centers	You come up with different centers or stations that help with the concepts that are being taught.  These are normally done independently and may be things that student already knows but they get extra work on the certain concept the center has set.	The teacher would come up with centers for what the child needs to focus on or needs more practice doing.  Could be something to help with fine motor skills, or writing, or reading.  These can be modified to fit each child’s level.	This gives the student an opportunity to practice on things that they are learning so they can master them faster.  These could help the student with their handwriting, or motor skills, or hand eye coordination.
Menus	This is a way to set up the schedules for the day.  You first have a main course and those are the assignments the students must finish. Then a side dish which goes along with the concept of the main dish but is extra practice. And the dessert which is a closing activity to what is being taught.	The teacher would make sure that there was one assignment that the children had to complete before moving on.  They would modify this to fit all the students needs, then she would come up with a few activities that would be called side dishes and the student would need to pick on of the assignments to complete.  The teacher then would come up with a dessert activity that wraps up what they have learn in the other assignments.	This give the student the opportunity to know what is expected of them, and how much work needs to be completed for them to be finished with this assignment.  They must do the main course, a side dish and the dessert assignments to get credit for it.  Makes it a fun way to do assignments.
Reading Buddies	This strategy is where you have an older child and a younger child, or a good reader and a poor reader paired together for reading time.  It helps because the ones that struggle can ask questions, and get the chance to learn some more without feeling the pressure of group projects.	Teacher would need to either split her class into groups or start a buddy group with older students.  Then she would explain how it worked, and have books ready for the groups to read with one another and discuss what happened.	The student would be able to express what they learned from their story, and get to experience social interaction with peers, or older students.  The buddy system is a great thing to do and would be rewarding for both groups.
Choice Boards	This gives the student a choice on what they would like to do after they complete their assignment.  These can be individualized to each student. Great thing to use in a sped classroom.	The teacher would select things for each student that is reinforcing for that student.  This would help motivate the student to finish their work, so they could spend time on something they choose to do.	The student gets to pick what they really want to do after they finish their assignments.  This will help motivate the student to finish and do well on his assignment so that he can get his free choice
Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)	This is where a computer program is used to help the student understand a concept or get extra practice. Could be programs like vizzle, istation, splash math, jungle math, handwriting for tears are a few examples.	The teacher would find different apps or computer programs that the students could use to learn. They would set them up how they wanted them and would get feedback on how well the student is doing on that program.  It would help the teacher know what the student needs to work on and what they have mastered.	The student would be able to use technology to learn.  This would be rewarding for them because they wouldn’t do it all the time.  Most programs are interactive and can also give immediate feedback on how the student is doing.  SO, they know what they need to work on and what they know well.