Working "Smarter" not "Harder"

In our LDS 101/201 training, we talk about the "SMARTER" approach to working with LD students.

S = Shape the Question: Ask your student what they want to do/learn - turn that into a question. Example:I want to read street signs" becomes "How do I learn to read street signs?"

M = Map the Skills and Sub-skills: Visualize what you have to do; draw/outline/map the plan. In your LDS 202 book, pages 40-50 contain some ideas for organizing details. Feel free to make copies of those pages to use with your student.

A = Adaptations: Ask your student, "What strategies do you need to be successful?" Page 21 of your LDS 202 manual has a list of ideas for adaptations in the classroom. Feel free to post this list in your classroom and review it with your students.

R = Resources: What materials will be used? How will they be used? Your Resource Center has many items on hand to help your students adapt in the classroom. Contact them - they are waiting to help you!

T = Tasks and Timelines: Involve your student in the planning; ask them, "What are the steps we are going to take?" Using the completed graphic organizer, cut out each idea and put it in sequential order: Step 1, Step 2 or A, B, C, etc.

E = Evaluate: Has the student learned or done what they set out to do? "How did you do? What did we learn?"

R = Review and Revise: "How could we do this differently next time?" Remember the graphic organizer pieces? Allow the student to rework them - put them in a different order or use different words t0 improve the process for the next time.

How does one use SMARTER in an entire classroom? You might pick a learning outcome as a class and create a SMARTER chart as a visual aid for all to follow. Have students write or draw their goals and post them within the chart. Ask students to work in pairs/small groups to decide what they need (adaptations) to meet this goal and make a list of necessary resources. Make time in the Timeline to review/revise the goal, adaptations and resources as necessary.

How have you used SMARTER in your classroom or with a student? Has it worked? Are there glitches? Take a moment and share your thoughts.

If you'd like to post a column on this topic or another LD topic, please let us know. Email MB at totten@ohio.edu for more information.

Have a fantastic week!