1. DESKTOP TRAINING Strategies for “At Risk” Students
Developed By
John Avera, Jan Osier
Bavaria District
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2. How to use this Power Point
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3. STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES AND METHODS FOR DEALING WITH THE “AT RISK”(for failing) STUDENT!
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4. Characteristics of At Risk Students
Rebels and doesn’t see connection between school and life.
Conformists that responds to peer pressure or low expectations
Stressed or the perfectionist
Struggles with learning
Won’t accept responsibility, perceives her/his self as the victim
Distracted, usually by personal problems
Bored or afraid of failure
Complacent with how things are at school
Single-Sided Achiever

5. YOU CAN PROVIDE THIS WITH DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION!
WHAT’S THE POINT?
Varied…
Different…
Novel…
Creative…
Instruction Meets Everyone’s Needs!
YOU CAN PROVIDE THIS WITH DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION!

6. Instructional Methods That Work (Differentiated Instruction)
Scaffolding
Cooperative Learning
Literature Circles
Writing Workshops
Rubrics
Multiple Intelligences
Modeling
Prior Knowledge Activation
Student Choice
Feedback
FLEXIBLE GROUPING

7. FLEXIBLE GROUPING Learning Styles Grouping Teacher-Led Groups
Interest grouping
Work habits grouping
Prior Knowledge grouping
Skill groups
Student-Led Groups
Teacher-Led Groups
Learning Labs
Cooperative Learning Groups
Learning Styles Grouping

8. Teacher-Led Grouping Whole Class Instruction
Introduce new skills and concepts
Identify prior knowledge
Small-group Instruction IF needed
Work with students with common needs
Independent Work
Students practice skills with partners, labs, projects, activities.

9. Learning Labs Assess student skills
Some days use whole group lessons, reviews, games, and/or contests
Students work in all Labs within 5-10 days.
Sometimes lab work is closed for the day.
Sometimes students work with students who have the same skill level and sometimes with different skill levels.
Assess student skills
Gradually introduce 3-5 Labs in the room.
Teaching Lab
Proofing Lab
Practice Lab
Lab Shop
Project Lab
NEXT SLIDE HAS FINAL INFO on Learning LABS

10. Cooperative Learning Groups
Group randomly, by need, or by teacher selection.
Groups change
Strategies require individual accountability.
Kagan Cooperative Learning Strategies are easiest to use.

11. LEARNING STYLES
Students that are grouped by the same learning style often exhibit the same behavior when performing a task.
Ideally you want groups with a variety of learning styles.
Students tend to do best with teachers that match their learning style.

12. INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES THAT WORK!
Teaching students to identify similarities and differences.
Teaching students to summarize and note-taking.
Reinforcing effort and provide recognition.
Homework and practice
Cooperative Learning
Setting objectives and providing feedback.
Teaching students to generate and test hypotheses.
Using questions, cues, and advanced organizers.
Teaching students to visualize and create graphic organizers.
Providing Hands-on activities.

13. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES THAT WORK
Use visuals and manipulatives to illustrate important points.
Use visual and auditory cues
Re-arrange the order of skills when needed.
Capitalize on prior knowledge and associations to promote understanding and retention.
Model and use samples
Sequence instruction in small steps with practice and review
Require individual mastery of skills
Use heterogeneous grouping more often than homogeneous grouping.

14. Six Ways to Promote and Support Student Motivation
Model achievement yourself
Introduce students to achievers in his/her areas of interest
Communicate your expectations to the student.
Give the student “how to” help on getting motivated.
Make sure the student has time to develop and practice the skills necessary for success.
Encourage and praise learning efforts.

15. Sources
McREL, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, 2001.
“Differentiated Programming: What it is and What it isn’t…
The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners by Carol Ann Tomlinson, 1999.
Up from Underachievement by Diane Heacox, Ed.D

16. We hope you have gained some additional knowledge from this short PowerPoint presentation. THANK YOU for your support of the students in the Bavaria District! Jan and John