Introduction to Peer Tutoring
- Introduction
- Learning Disabilities
- Mild Disabilities
- Life Skills Class
- Attention Deficit Disorders
- Emotional Disorders
- Autism
- For Teachers/Evaluation
Learning Disabilities
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability, or LD, is a disorder that affects people's ability to either interpret what they see and hear or to link information from different parts of the brain. These limitations can show up in many ways: as specific difficulties with spoken and written language, coordination, self control, or attention. Such difficulties extend to schoolwork and can make learning to read, write, and do math difficult. A student who has a learning disability has an average to above average I.Q. (Intelligent Quotient), but their achievement in reading, writing, or math falls significantly below their I.Q. due to their learning difficulties.
[Source: National Institutes of Health, 1993]
Students who have learning disabilities are often overwhelmed, disorganized, and frustrated in learning situations. Learning can sometimes be a nightmare when there are memory problems, difficulties in following directions, and an inability to perform certain paper and pencil tasks (i.e., writing compositions, note taking, doing homework, taking tests). Due to their history of academic problems, students with learning disabilities may believe that they can not learn or that school tasks are just too difficult and not worth the effort to succeed. You can help a student with a LD find success in the classroom despite these difficulties.
How can a tutor help in the classroom?
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Find a quiet place to read an assignment out loud with a student. Take turns reading. You can model good reading and assist your student with her reading. Reading out loud will help to improve her reading skills. Discuss the material as you go and assist with note taking skills if necessary.
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Assist the student with note-taking during lectures.
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Use charts, graphs, diagrams or webs to organize information when assisting with note-taking. These visual displays are useful for facilitating memory.
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When solving math problems in class draw a picture of the problem so your student can visually see what they are being asked to do.
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Break a math problem down into smaller steps. Check off each step upon completion.
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Break a long term research paper in English down into the smaller steps. Set goal dates for completion of each step.
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Show them how to do something. Demonstrate a new concept by giving of examples before the student begins to solve problems on their own.
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Assist the student with daily homework assignments. Give suggestions for improvements and check his work for accuracy.
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When studying for tests you can not review enough with the student. If you know any tricks to remember something teach the students tricks that will help them remember the information. For example, synonym means same or similar. Synonym, same and similar all start with S. Antonym, then, means opposite.
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Read tests and quizzes out loud to a student especially if they struggle with reading. A test, unless it is a reading test, should test whether the student knows the information, not their reading skills.
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Help the student keep materials for class and their locker organized.
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Give encouragement to the student often. Your encouragement may be just what they need to keep going and not give up.
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Be a friend. Say hi to the student you tutor in the hallway and introduce him or her to your friends. Take an interest in his or her life and really get to know them.
To learn more about learning disabilities, try visiting the following web sites: