Twelve practical ways to make grade-level curriculum more accessible to students with disabilities.
# 12 Strategies Grade Level Curriculum
One of the most common questions in inclusive education is how teachers can keep students who work below grade level engaged and learning during class instruction. In addition to providing a modified lesson activity, teachers need to think about providing instructional supports and modifications to the lesson delivery itself. Here are 12 proven strategies.
Strategies 1 to 6
1. Outlines: Give a partially completed outline of the lecture that the student fills in at key points before, during, or after the lesson. 2. Lecture Q and A: Give student a handout that asks questions about concepts in the lecture. Student answers questions as the lecture is given. 3. True or False: Give student True or False questions to answer during lecture. 4. Concept Mapping: Student draws a concept map as the lecture progresses to demonstrate understanding. 5. Doodle Notes: Student illustrates a concept or idea from the lesson during or after lecture. 6. Focused Listening: List several main concepts and have students check them off or make notes as the lecture progresses.
Strategies 7 to 12
7. Scavenger Hunt: Have student look for key vocabulary and concepts in lecture text. 8. Pre-read: Have student read text, watch videos, or complete a related activity prior to the lecture. 9. Watch: Have student watch teacher-created or recommended video and interactive lessons prior to or during lecture. 10. Guided Note Taking: Teach student how to take notes through guided note taking. 11. Pre-read Lecture Notes: Give student the lecture notes prior to or during instruction. 12. Audio Recordings: Have student listen to a developmentally appropriate audio recording on the topic during lecture.
These 12 strategies are not just for students with disabilities. Many of them are effective for any student who benefits from additional structure, scaffolding, or multimodal engagement. When we design instruction with the full range of learners in mind, we create classrooms where every student has a better chance of success.