Prerefferal Intervention Strategies

Table of Contents

 

I.  General Academic Skills         

          1.  Is disorganized…………………………………………………          p6

2.  Has limited memory skill………………………………………     p6

          3.  Does not perform academically at his/her ability level..............          p7

          4.  Requires repeated drill and practice…………………………… p7

          5.  Has difficulty understanding abstract

               concepts………………………………………………………...          p7

          6.  Needs oral directions and questions

     frequently repeated……………………………………………..          p8

7.  Demonstrates difficulty with visual

     memory…………………………………………………………          p8

          8.  Demonstrates difficulty with auditory memory………………...  p9

9.  Has difficulty with directionality……………………………….          p9

10.  Has difficulty concentrating…………………………………..          p9

11.  Fails to demonstrate logical thinking………………………….    p10

12.  Demonstrates visual perception problems…………………….          p10

          13.  Fails to generalize knowledge from one situation to  

                another…………………………………………………………          p10

14.  Remembers information one time but not the

       next…………………………………………………………….          p10

15.     Requires slow, sequential, substantially broken-down                    

       presentation of concepts…………………………………….…          p11

16.  Fails to remember sequences…………………………………     p11

17.  Does not follow verbal directions……………………………          p11

II. Speech, Language and Communication Skills

          1.  Is unsuccessful in activities requiring

      listening………………………………………………………          p13

2.  Has limited speaking vocabulary………………………………          p13

3.  Speaks dysfluently……………………………………………     p13

4.  Does not complete statements or express ……………………          p14

 

 

 

 

 

III. Reading Skills

          1.  Has difficulty comprehending what is read…………………..   p16

2.  Does not finish assignments because of reading difficulties…     p16

3.  Fails to demonstrate word attack skills or

     recognize words on grade level……………………………….          p17

4.  Has difficulty with sound-symbol relationships……………...          p17

5.  Omits, adds, substitutes or reverses letters, words

      or sounds when reading……………………………………….          p18

6.  Reads words correctly in one context but not in another…… ..  p18

7.  Does not read independently…………………………………..          p18

8.  Understands what is read aloud but not what is

     read silently……………………………………………………          p19

 

IV. Writing Skills

          1.  Is unable to copy letters, words, sentences and numbers from

     one source to another…………………………………………          p21

2.  Fails to use capitalization & punctuation correctly when

     writing………………………………………………………           p21

3.  Reverses letters and numbers………………………………..          p21

4.  Does not use complete sentences in writing…………………          p21

5.  Fails to organize writing……………………………………...          p22

6.  Fails to use spelling rules…………………………………….          p22

 

V.  Math Skills

          1.Has difficulty solving math word problems………………….          p24

          2.  Does not remember math facts……………………………… p24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI. Behavior

          1.  Perseverates-does the same thing over and

     over……………………………………………………….          p26

2.  Does not complete assignments during class time……..          p26

3.  Does not turn in homework………………………….….          p26

4.  Does not perform assignments independently…………     p27

5.  Does not remain on task…………………………………          p27

6.  Rushes through assignments……………………………          p27

7.  Makes inappropriate comments or unnecessary

     noises in the classroom………………………………….    p28

8.  Fights with other students………………………………          p28

9.  Makes inappropriate comments to teachers…………..          p29

10.  Does not respond to praise or recognition……………          p29

11.  Is easily angered, annoyed, or upset………………….    p29

12.  Behaves impulsively, without self-control……………          p30

13.  Moves about unnecessarily……………………………          p30

14.  Lies, denies, exaggerates, distorts the truth………….          p31

15.  Demonstrates inappropriate behavior in a large

               academic group setting………………………………..          p31

16.  Is not accepted by other students……………………          p31

17.  Bothers others……………………………...……..…..          p32

18.  Ignores the consequences of his or her behavior…...          p32

19.  Cheats…………………………………………………          p32

20.  Needs immediate rewards/reinforcement…………..          p32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I.  General Academic Skills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is disorganized…

            Assign a peer to make certain the student has all materials for the task

            Provide time throughout the day for the student to

          reorganize

          Provide storage space for materials the student is not using at a particular time or minimize the materials to be kept in the student’s desk

       Have the student maintain an agenda signed daily by the student and parent with all assignments

          Provide an organizational checklist for classroom work routines

          Assign the student organizational responsibilities within the classroom

          Communicate with parents in order to share

          information concerning the student’s progress to          

encourage reinforcement of organizational skills at home

 

Has limited memory skills…

       Use multiple modalities when presenting directions, explanations, and instruction

          Teach the student to organize information into smaller units

       Have the student highlight or underline important words in directions, assignments, or word problems

       Use concrete examples and experiences

          Relate the information to the student’s previous

experiences

       Make certain the student is attending to information

       Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

          Provide environmental cues and prompts for steps to follow

       Make certain the student has meaningful and

multiple opportunities to master a task

       Have the student play word games and memory games

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does not perform academically at his/her ability level

          Structure the environment so that the student has an increased opportunity to seek assistance

          Interact frequently with the student

          Provide or post self checking materials

       Use multiple modalities when presenting directions, explanations, and instruction

          Assignments read orally

       Tape record assignments so the student can listen to the question at his/her pace

          Allow/require the student to make corrections to an assignment that has been checked once

          Modify academic tasks in format, requirements, length, etc

 

Requires repeated drill and practice…

          Reduce competitive activities

       Have the student highlight or underline important words in directions, assignments, or word problems

          Allow alternative versions of the assignments

 

Has difficulty understanding abstract

concepts…

       Use concrete examples

       Use a scale, ruler, measuring cups etc. to teach abstract concepts about measurement

       Use actual change and dollar bills, clocks etc. to teach abstract concepts about money and telling time

       Make certain the student is attending to information

       Be certain to relate what the student has learned in one setting to other situations (vocabulary words pointed out in reading, math problems, story writing, etc.)

 

 

 

 

Needs oral directions and questions

frequently repeated…

          Present oral questions and directions in a variety of ways

       Stand closely to the student when delivering oral questions and directions

          Deliver questions and directions in written forms

          Provide a signal prior to delivering directions orally

       Make certain the student is attending to information

      Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

       Give the student one task to perform at a time

          Assign a peer to deliver information on a one to one basis

       Call the student by name or make certain to establish eye contact with the student when presenting information

 

Demonstrates difficulty with visual

memory…

          Remind the student of the situation in which the material was originally presented (“Remember yesterday when we talked about…”)

          Provide verbal information with visual information

       Have the student employ concentration games

          Provide the student with written directions and lists

       Use multiple modalities when presenting directions, explanations, and instruction

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

          Highlight or underline important information the student reads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demonstrates difficulty with auditory memory…

          Provide the student with more than one source of directions, explanations, instructions

          Provide visual information to support information received auditorily

          Provide the student with written rules, directions, lists

       Tell the student what to listen for before delivering auditory information

       Be certain the auditory information is presented slowly enough and with clarity

       Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

       Use multiple modalities when presenting directions, explanations, and instruction

       Make certain the student is attending to information

          Provide visual information to support information presented auditorily

       Make certain the student has meaningful and

multiple opportunities to master a task

 

Has difficulty with directionality…

       Have the student practice following directions on paper (Instruct them to mark in the right, left, middle, etc)

          Teach north, south, east, west by using the classroom, playground, school building

       Use concrete examples and experiences when teaching directionality

       Label strips of paper left and right to be worn as armbands

 

Has difficulty concentrating…

       Make the subject matter meaningful to the student

          Structure the environment to eliminate distracting stimuli

          Break down larger tasks into smaller tasks

       Try various groupings to determine the situation in which the student can concentrate most easily

          Present assignments in small amounts (10 problems)

       Seat the student close to the source of information

 

 

 

Fails to demonstrate logical thinking...

            Provide the student with problem solving situations which require logical thinking

       Read short stories without endings and develop logical endings for the stories

       Make certain the student is attending to information

       Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

 

Demonstrates visual perception problems…

       Have the student complete partially drawn figures, words, numbers, etc

       Have the student complete puzzles or reproduce designs

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

          Highlight or underline important information the student reads

 

Fails to generalize knowledge from one situation to another…

       Use analogies and categorizing activities

          Deliver instructions by using examples of relationships

       Call attention to situations in the classroom which generalize to more global situations

       Be certain to relate what the student has learned in one setting to other situations (vocabulary words pointed out in reading, math problems, story writing, etc.)

       Use real life writing and activities

          Provide an explanation of why he/she is learning particular information

       As soon as the student learns a skill, have them apply it to a real life situation

 

Remembers information one time but not the next…

      Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

       Make certain the student is attending to information

       Make certain the student has meaningful and

multiple opportunities to master a task

       Be certain to relate what the student has learned in one setting to other situations (vocabulary words pointed out in reading, math problems, story writing, etc.)

          Teach the student to rely on resources in the environment to recall information

       As soon as the student learns a new skill, apply it to other situations

Requires slow, sequential, substantially broken-down presentation of concepts…

      Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

       Give the student short, clear and concise instruction

       Make certain the student is attending to information

       Place the student near the source of information

          Reduce distracting stimuli

          Highlight or underline important information the student reads

       Use demonstrations along with presentation of information

 

Fails to remember sequences…

          Break the task into smaller units

          Provide environmental cues and prompts

          Teach him/her to rely on environmental resources and cues

       Use mnemonic devices or associative cues

 

Does not follow verbal directions…

          Provide clearly stated verbal directions

          Interact frequently with the student

          Assign a peer to help student with directions

       Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

       Use multiple modalities when presenting directions, explanations, and instruction

          Reduce verbal directions to steps

          Deliver a signal before assigning directions

          Present directions both visually and auditorily

          Maintain close proximity to the student when giving directions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II. Speech, Language and Communication Skills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is unsuccessful in activities requiring listening…

       Seat the student close to the source of information

       Make certain the student is attending to information

       Deliver a signal prior to directions or explanations

       Make certain competing sounds are not interfering

       Maintain close proximity to the student

       Call the student by name prior to directions, explanations etc.

       Deliver directions to the student individually

       Present one concept at a time

 

Has limited speaking vocabulary…

       Label and talk about objects in the classroom

       Use hands-on or act out vocabulary activities

          Maintain a vocabulary word notebook for the student

          Prepare the list of new words he/she will encounter in an assignment to be reviewed prior to completing the assignment

       Read aloud or assign a volunteer tutor to read aloud to the student

          Teach new vocabulary within the context of known categories or associations

       Give the student a “word of the day”

       Send home new vocabulary words and discuss with parents how to reinforce these skills at home

          Provide reduced number of words for weekly tests to encourage success; gradually increase the number to be learned

 

Speaks dysfluently…

       Have the student practice techniques for relaxing

          Encourage the student to maintain eye contact during all speaking situations

          Allow the student ample opportunity to speak

          Remind the student to slow down if they are speaking too rapidly

       Try to give him/her your undivided attention so he/she will not feel rushed

       Do not interrupt or finish the sentence for him/her

          Model slow, easy speech

       Use a private cue to encourage the student to answer questions at a slow pace

          Reduce the emphasis on competitive activities.

          Provide social and academic successes

Does not complete statements or express

complete thoughts when speaking…

          Allow the student to speak without being interrupted or hurried

          Reduce competitive activities

          Demonstrate acceptable and unacceptable speech

       Make sure he/she understands the concept of a complete sentence

       Use a private signal to speak in complete sentences

          Provide the student with a topic and have him/her make up complete sentences about it

       When speaking privately, restate his/her incomplete sentences to have him/her the opportunity to identify it as incorrect

       Ask questions to stimulate language instead of yes/no questions

       Ask the parents to encourage the student to speak in complete sentences at home

          Encourage verbal output

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

III. Reading Skills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has difficulty comprehending what is read…

       Make certain he/she is reading material on his/her level

          Reduce distracting stimuli

       Pre-record the reading material and have him/her listen to it and read it simultaneously

       Have him/her read ahead on a subject to be discussed in class

          Assign a peer tutor

          Maintain close proximity to the student while he or she is reading

       Link reading with previous experiences

       Have them verbally paraphrase material

       Make certain the student is attending to information

          Highlight or underline important information the student reads

          Provide high interest materials

          Reduce competitive activities

       Write letters and notes to the student or assign a pen pal for real life comprehension activities

          Reduce the amount of material to be read at one time          ; gradually increase it

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

       Have the student use a highlighter to highlight the facts requested by the teacher

 

Does not finish assignments because of reading difficulties…

       Make sure the reading demands are within his/her ability level

          Assign a peer tutor

       Have the student repeat/paraphrase information or directions

       Read directions and questions aloud

          Shorten the length of assignments

          Provide additional time to complete assignments

          Maintain close proximity to offer assistance to the student

       Seat the student close to the source of written information

          Reduce competitive activities

       Tape record material for the student to listen to and read simultaneously

          Emphasize comprehension instead of speed

          Provide high interest reading materials

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

Fails to demonstrate word attack skills or recognize words on grade level…

       Use a peer tutor to review sight word vocabulary

       Make certain they develop an awareness of hearing sounds in relation to where they come in the word

       Draw attention to letter combinations in words

          Provide high interest materials to read

          Practice word attack skills that relate to high interest reading activities

       Make certain the student can identify and produce individual vowel sounds, both long and short

          Involve parents and provide information to reinforce vowel sounds and phonemic awareness skills at home

          Create a list of weekly words to be reinforced at home

          Modify or adjust reading materials to the student’s ability level

          Provide a variety of leveled reading materials

       Make certain the student is practicing reading skills in real life, high interest activities

       Have the student read aloud daily

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

 

Has difficulty with sound-symbol relationships…

          Practice daily the sound-symbol relationships he/she does not know

          Provide the student with sound and have him/her write the letters that make the sound

          Assign a peer tutor

          Provide the student with a desktop chart of sounds

       Make certain the student can identify and produce individual vowel sounds, both long and short

          Involve parents and provide information to reinforce vowel sounds and phonemic awareness skills at home

       Make certain they develop an awareness of hearing sounds in relation to where they come in the word

       Draw attention to letter combinations in words

          Practice a set of a few letter combinations weekly in spelling and word activities; Continue to reinforce these after they are learned

 

Omits, adds, substitutes or reverses letters, words or sounds when reading

          Modify or adjust reading materials

       Tape record his/her reading so he/she can hear omissions, additions, substitutions, and reversals

       Have the student point to syllables while reading

          Reduce competitive activities

          Verbally correct the omissions, additions, substitutions, and reversals

       Have the student point to each word as it is read

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

 

Reads words correctly in one context but not in another…

          Modify or adjust reading materials

       Make a reading “window” for the student.  The student moves the window down and across the page as he/she reads

          Reduce competitive activities

       Write notes and letters to the student to provide reading material which includes words the student frequently has difficulty with

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

 

Does not read independently…

          Modify or adjust reading materials

       Tape record reading materials for the student to listen to and read simultaneously

          Provide high interest materials

          Assign a peer tutor or volunteer to read with him/her

       Have students share interesting things they have read

          Encourage and help parents to make reading materials available at home

       Have the student read to lower grade level students or classes in the school

          Match books to the reader

          Encourage reading for enjoyment versus assessment

 

 

 

 

 

Understands what is read aloud but not what is

read silently…

       Make sure the reading demands are within his/her ability level

          Provide high interest materials

          Reduce competitive activities

          Modify or adjust reading materials

          Highlight or underline important information the student reads

          Reduce the amount of information on a page

          Maintain close proximity to the student

       Have the student repeat/paraphrase information

       Make certain the student is attending to information

       Write notes and letters to the student to provide real life reading material

       Give additional time to reread a selection

          Reduce the amount of reading material presented at one time

          Teach mapping techniques and other note taking forms to encourage comprehension

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV. Writing Skills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is unable to copy letters, words, sentences and numbers from

one source to another…

          Change the format of the materials from which the student copies (have less on a page, remove or cover pictures, enlarge the print)

          Highlight or underline the material the student is to copy

       Use a frame or window to cover all material except that which is to be copied

          Provide alternative means to copying (photocopies)

          Provide more hands on activities instead of copying materials from books

          Reduce distracting stimuli around the material to be copied

 

Fails to use capitalization & punctuation correctly when

writing…

          Highlight or underline all the capitalized words or punctuation marks in a selection and have the student identify why each is used

          Engage the student in authentic writing activities (pen pal letters)

      Make certain the student has a list of rules for capitalization and punctuation at his or her desk

       Make a notebook of rules for capitalization and punctuation to be used for proofreading exercises

 

Reverses letters and numbers…

       Have the student keep a word card with the word “bed” written on it to help remember the correct form for b and d in a well known word

          Cursive handwriting may prevent reversals and can be used as an alternative

          Provide an alphabet line or model at the student’s desk

          Reduce the emphasis on competitive activities

          Engage the student in authentic writing activities (pen pal letters)

 

Does not use complete sentences in writing…

       Write a daily log, expressing his/her thoughts in complete sentences

          Engage in authentic, real life writing activities like letters to friends

       Have the student read his/her written work aloud

 

 

Fails to organize writing…

       Write a daily log, expressing his/her thoughts in complete sentences

       Write about topics of interest to the student

       Help the student read aloud his work to identify errors in organization

          Using a piece of writing, cut apart sentences and have the student re-organize it

          Reduce competitive activities

          Reduce distracting stimuli-use a study carrel or private space

       Have the student read a peer’s writing that is well organized

 

Fails to use spelling rules…

          Require the student to use the dictionary

          Group spelling words in the weekly list by their pattern

          Reduce the number of words weekly

       Make sure the student has adequate meaningful opportunities to use and practice the spelling words

       De-emphasize memorization of words for the weekly test

       Have a personal “most often misspelled words” for the student

       Post a list of spelling rules

          Assign a peer tutor

       Make a word puzzle. Write words on cards, cut the letters apart, and unscramble them.

       Have a box of salt or sand for the student to trace spelling words in

          Reduce competitive activit