My 5th grade students have recently began struggling a great deal with understanding why they need to be in LD classes. They have been very emotional lately and have shared that they don’t want to be in LD and don’t understand why they need to get help when no one else does. I’ve tried to explain that it’s not that they’re “dumb” it’s just that they learn different then others. Does anyone have any advice on how to help the cope with these personal struggles they’re having? Thanks!
Re: how I get my student's to understand what LD is
Check out Mel Levine’s books such as ALL KINDS OF MINDS or KEEPING AHEAD IN SCHOOL.
This is what it says about these books on his website:
ALL KINDS OF MINDS
This book was written to help children in the elementary grades (7-11 years old) understand how they learn and how they may have different strengths and weaknesses in some areas of learning. It tells the story of a fictitious group of five friends: how they discover their own learning strengths and weaknesses and how they come to appreciate all kinds of minds. A manual is available to help adults use this book with children. Audio tapes of the text, read by Dr. Levine, are also available.
Keeping A Head in School
This book was written to help older students (from 11 years and up) understand and appreciate their own distinct learning profiles. It offers specific alternatives to approaching schoolwork and different ways to bypass or strengthen their weaker functions . Audio tapes of the text, read by Dr. Levine, are also available.
His books are excellent for helping students understand their learning styles and are great tools for “demystifying” LDs. Highly recommend his stuff.
I do believe that children are empowered by understanding their learning styles, strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps there are some interest/personality type inventories. One type has colors that describe personality traits. Then along this line of learning about ourselves you could show parts of Richard Lavoi’s (sp) F.A.T. City video that shows what it is like to be learning disabled. There are also some books for younger students that describes their unique styles. There are stories about famous people with learning difficulties. Help them plan realistically for middle school expectations and the kinds of jobs they would like to do when they grow up. Give them assignments that mirror what other 5th graders are doing, but provide the structure and small steps to help them be successful. Well, I’v thrown out a lot of ideas and perhaps one or two interest you. We can talk more specifically about the logistics of doing one or more of these activities.