Support understanding
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Creating an inclusive learning environment that supports students with FASD in years 1–8’
On this page:
On this page:
Current page section: Support understanding
Go to top of current page: Support understanding
Show list of page sections
Go to top of current page: Support understanding
Go to top of current page: Support understanding
Tips to support understanding
Tips to support understanding
Support student motivation
- Select topics that fit students’ interests.
- Include some easy-to-achieve elements.
Keep language simple
- Be explicit and brief.
- Keep concepts concrete.
- Use vocabulary familiar to students.
- Accompany language with gestures, using hands, arms, and facial expressions.
- Use visual cues – illustrations or posters.
Break information into small chunks
- Break tasks into small steps.
- Give steps one at a time – use visuals to represent steps.
- Use digital technologies including: video, online games, and flip learning, so students can move at their own pace and revisit content as often as they need to.
Repetition is key
- Reteach and reinforce learned concepts.
- Teach steps in the same sequence.
- Offer multiple opportunities to practise.
Check in regularly with the student
Check in regularly with the student
Ask students regularly how they are doing.
Don't wait for them to come to you.
Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Maximise hands-on learning
Maximise hands-on learning
Use hands-on, practical activities to build on the particular strengths of students with FASD and praise their effort and achievements.
Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Ten communication strategies
Ten communication strategies
Students may have behavioural reactions when they experience language problems.
Use these strategies to enhance your communication with all learners, including those with FASD.
Video hosted on Youtube
http://youtu.be/Hmlekwklg-M
Closed Captions
Giving instructions
Giving instructions
- Eye contact helps students to process verbal information.
- Use exaggerated facial and body language to convey meaning.
- Use visual cues to aid understanding and trigger memory.
- Give specific instructions, for example, “Put your reading book in the group box,” rather than “Tidy up”.
- Use the student’s name at the beginning of the sentence.
- Use the same words for the same instruction every time. This helps to place the instruction into the long-term memory.
- Keep instructions short.
- State what you want the student to do, not what they shouldn’t do.
- Just because the student can repeat instructions back does not mean they understand them. You may need to get the child to show you they know what you mean.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Everyone's In: An inclusive planning tool
Publisher: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8”:
Return to the guide “Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and learning”
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: FASD and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
-
Identify needs and how to provide supportShow suggestions for Identify needs and how to provide support
-
Support self-regulation and positive behaviourShow suggestions for Support self-regulation and positive behaviour
-
Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8
-
Helpful classroom strategies years 9-13Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies years 9-13
