Strategies for motivating slow-learners in the classroom

1. Strategies for motivating slow-learners in the classroom Prepared and presented by: Abdelaziz Adnani

2. You will never leave where you are, until you decide where you'd rather be. Dexter Yager

3. Your aspirations are your possibilities. Samuel Johnson

4. If constructive thoughts are planted positive outcomes will be the result. Plant the seeds of failure and failure will follow. Sidney Madwed

5. Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance. Brian Tracy

6. What do we know about slow-learners: • Prone to be immature in interpersonal relationships • Have difficulties following multi-step directions • Do not develop long term goals • Tend to live in the present only

7. What do we know about slow-learners: • Tend to have a poor self image due to awareness that they don’t keep up • Work on all tasks slowly but can be methodical • Do not have strategies for problem solving or decision making

8. Also: • They do well with manipulative or hands-on tasks • Can perform repetitive tasks well • Can master skills when broken into steps

9. The problem is: • Slow learners need help but special education is not the answer. • Testing is not the answer • Setting higher achievement standards and goals is not the answer • How do we help them succeed?

10. How to monitor these students better? 1. Picture book: Some pupils are more interested in learning, but slow-learners still can’t read. Choosing a suitable picture book is the key consideration. 2. Peer guidance: some pupils get help and improve their alphabetic knowledge, but some others don’t. 3. Heterogeneous grouping: willing slow-learners benefit most, but unwilling ones sometimes stay as indifferent as before.

11. How to monitor these students better? 4. Playing games: Pupils are interested in class. However, T has to be selective about which games involve more Ss and help with slow-learners more. 5. Multi-media instruction: Pupils become interested in learning. However, they may not have access to the equipment at home.

12. Suggestions • Other activities can be included in teaching to make learning English more fun: - Creative work: e.g., art & craft - Songs - Learning by doing: e.g., making a sandwich - Field teaching: e.g., going to the Scientific Centre / convenience stores 2. Try to avoid giving too many quizzes. (quizzes = pressure)

13. Suggestions 3. Future plan: If peer guidance can help, how do we motivate fast- learners to be enthusiastic about helping slow- learners?

14. Examples of interventions for slow learners Environment: • Reduce distractions. • Change seating to promote attentiveness. • Have a peer student teacher, and allow more breaks.

15. Examples of interventions for slow learners Assignments: • Make assignments shorter and with more variation. • Repeat work assignments in various forms. • Give more hands-on work. • Have assignments copied by students. • Have students use “three transfer” method.

16. Examples of interventions for slow learners Assessment: • Use shorter tests. • Use oral tests when possible.. • Redoing tests. • Short feedback times. • Don’t make students compete. • Have test errors redone correctly. • Give more hands on assignments.

17. Examples of interventions for slow learners What to avoid: • Don’t use cooperative learning that isolates the student and places him or her in a no-win situation.

18. Examples of interventions for slow learners What to encourage: • Grouping with a patient partner. • Learning about the child’s interests. • Placing the student in charge.   • Mapping, graphic organizers, and hands-on work.

19. Proven ideas to help slow learners • Use the “Three Transfer” form of learning, in which the student must take information and do three things with it beside reading.  For example, read it, explain it to someone else, draw a picture of it, and take notes on it. • Be patient but consistent. • Do not reward unfinished tasks.

20. Proven ideas to help slow learners • Provide a quiet place to work, where the child can be easily observed and motivated. • Keep homework sessions short. • Add a variety of tasks to the learning even if not assigned, such as painting a picture of a reading assignment.

21. Proven ideas to help slow learners • Allow for success. • Teach how to use a calendar to keep track of assignments. • Read to the child.

22. Tell me and I forget, Teach me and remember , Involve me and I learn.

23. Thank you