Tutoring Students with Learning Disabilities
Students with learning disabilities have learning styles that reflect strengths and weaknesses in how they process information. Some students may have trouble recalling lectures or long verbal instructions, others may read slowly or have difficulty retaining what they have read. Before you begin tutoring, ask your student how he or she learns best, then teach using that method.
Teach to the Student's Strength
Here are the three major modalities of teaching, with suggestions for each following:
Visual
- Charts/graphs
- Books
- Pictures
- Visualization
- Drawing
- Written Instructions Notes/notecards
- Color Coding
Auditory
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Audiotapes
- Verbal Instructions
Kinesthetic (Hands-On)
- Acting
- Drawing
- Building/models
- Highlighting
- Cutting things into pieces (such as essays)
Repeat Information
Students with a learning disability may not recall information they have learned even just a day or two before. Never assume that a student will recall what has been covered previously. ALWAYS review before moving forward. This can be brief (5 minutes) if the student shows good recall, or it can take half the tutoring time. It will depend on how much the student retains.
Teach by Example and Imitation
Students with a learning disability may benefit by seeing a concept demonstrated and then practicing it themselves several times with supervision. If you are teaching a student math, for example, show how to do a problem type with two or three examples, then ask the student to imitate those examples. Make the problems as similar as possible so your learner can generalize the rules before adding more complications.
Encourage students with praise of correct or promising work. Always begin by telling them what they did well, then discuss mistakes or areas that need improvement.
Contact
Phone: (916) 558-2087
Fax: (916) 650-2781
VP: (916) 374-7218
Hours
Monday to Thursday:
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday:
8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Location
Student Services Building, STS 104
3835 Freeport Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95822
DSPS High Tech Center Location
Student Services Building, STS 138
3835 Freeport Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95822
Staff
Counseling appointments or other DSPS questions: Sophanna Lim
Email: LimS2@scc.losrios.edu
Phone: (916) 558-2913
Alternate Media Support: Stacy Bernstein
Phone: (916) 558-2105
Email: BernstS@scc.losrios.edu
Proctored Testing Support: Aurora Dalske
Phone: (916) 558-2545
Email: DalskeA@scc.losrios.edu
Deaf & Hard of Hearing (DHH) Support: Cassie Foster
Phone: (916) 558-2313
Email: FosterC@scc.losrios.edu
Support Services: Marina Zanardelli
Phone: (916) 650-2792
Email: ZanardM@scc.losrios.edu
Learning Disability Services: Sarita Serup
Phone: (916) 558-2283
Email: SerupS@scc.losrios.edu
Technology Support: Stacy Bernstein
Phone: (916) 558-2105
Email: BernstS@scc.losrios.edu
Supervisor: Anita Sanders
Email: SanderJ@scc.losrios.edu
Phone: (916) 558-2116
DSPS Proctored Testing Center Location
Student Services Building, STS 139
3835 Freeport Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95822