Strategies for motivating slowlearners in the classroom
Prepared and presented by:
Abdelaziz Adnani
You will never leave where you
are, until you decide where
you'd rather be.
Dexter Yager
Your aspirations are your possibilities.
Samuel Johnson
If constructive thoughts are planted
positive outcomes will be the result. Plant
the seeds of failure and failure will follow.
Sidney Madwed
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
What do we know about slowlearners:
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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
What do we know about slowlearners:
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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
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Also:
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They do well with manipulative or hands-on tasks
Can perform repetitive tasks well
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Can master skills when broken into steps
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The problem is:
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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?
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.
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 slowlearners more.
5. Multi-media instruction: Pupils become
interested in learning. However, they may not
have access to the equipment at home.
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)
1.
Suggestions
3. Future plan: If peer guidance can help,
how do we motivate fastlearners to be enthusiastic
about helping slowlearners?
Examples of interventions for slow
learners
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Environment:
Reduce distractions.
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Change seating to promote attentiveness.
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Have a peer student teacher, and allow
more breaks.
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.
Examples of interventions for slow
learners
Assessment:
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Use shorter tests.
 Use oral tests when possible..
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Redoing tests.
Short feedback times.
Don’t make students compete.
Have test errors redone correctly.
Give more hands on assignments.
Examples of interventions for slow
learners
What to avoid:
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Don’t use cooperative learning that isolates
the student and places him or her in a nowin situation.
Examples of interventions for slow
learners
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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.
Proven ideas to help slow learners
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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.
Proven ideas to help slow learners
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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.
Proven ideas to help slow learners
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Allow for success.
Teach how to use a calendar to keep track of
assignments.
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Read to the child.
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Tell me and I forget,
Teach me and remember ,
Involve me and I learn.
Thank you