Tips for Teachers

Learn as much as you can about the different types of LD. The resources and organizations can help you identify specific techniques and strategies to support the student educationally.

Seize the opportunity to make an enormous difference in this student's life! Find out and emphasize what the student's strengths and interests are. Give the student positive feedback and lots of opportunities for practice.

Review the student's evaluation records to identify where specifically the student has trouble. Talk to specialists in your school (e.g., special education teacher) about methods for teaching this student. Provide instruction and accommodations to address the student's special needs. Examples include:

breaking tasks into smaller steps, and giving directions verbally and in writing;

giving the student more time to finish schoolwork or take tests;

letting the student with reading problems use textbooks-on-tape (available through Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic);

letting the student with listening difficulties borrow notes from a classmate or use a tape recorder; and letting the student with writing difficulties use a computer with specialized software that spell checks, grammar checks, or recognizes speech.

Learn about the different testing modifications that can really help a student with LD show what he or she has learned.

Teach organizational skills, study skills, and learning strategies. These help all students but are particularly helpful to those with LD.

Work with the student's parents to create an educational plan tailored to meet the student's needs.

Establish a positive working relationship with the student's parents. Through regular communication, exchange information about the student's progress at school.

Vocabulary

Individualized Education Program, or IEP – индивидуальная программа обучения детей, имеющих СРРШН

school staff – преподавательский состав

to be provided at no cost – предоставляться бесплатно

assistive technology – вспомогательные технические средства обучения

household chore – домашняя работа

to be open to counseling – не пренебрегать рекомендациями и советами

areas of strength – сильные стороны ребенка

tailored – приспособленный

Answer the following questions:

1. At what age are LDs diagnosed best?

2. What does an IEP describe?

3. How much do the special educational services cost the child’s family?

4. In what way does assistive technology help many students work around their learning disabilities?

5. How can parents help their child to cope with LD?

6. What are teachers recommended to do to support children with LD?

Causes

No one's exactly sure what causes learning disabilities. But researchers do have some theories as to why they develop. They include:

Genetic influences. Experts have noticed that learning disabilities tend to run in families and they think that heredity may play a role. However, researchers are still debating whether learning disabilities are, in fact, genetic, or if they show up in families because kids learn and model what their parents do.

Brain development. Some experts think that learning disabilities can be traced to brain development, both before and after birth. For this reason, problems such as low birth weight, lack of oxygen, or premature birth may have something to do with learning disabilities. Young children who receive head injuries may also be at risk of developing learning disabilities.

Environmental impacts. Infants and young children are susceptible to environmental toxins (poisons). For example, you may have heard how lead (which may be found in some old homes in the form of lead paint or lead water pipes) is sometimes thought to contribute to learning disabilities. Poor nutrition early in life may also lead to learning disabilities later in life.