HELP CHILD UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF HIS/HER DIFFICULTY

• Read books on the subject
• Emphasize child's abilities instead of "disabilities"

REASSURE CHILD OF HIS/HER SELF-WORTH

• Help child become aware of his/her own special unique talents
• Don't' pressure
• Praise when it is deserved
• Avoid negative remarks, e.g.:
  • "Can't you do a simple thing like this?"
  • "I've told you that twenty times already."
  • "If you don't bring up those grades, you'll be grounded for six weeks."
  • "You could do it if you just try harder."
  • "You're just being lazy."

HELP CHILD LOCATE AND DEVELOP OTHER TALENTS

• Sports
• Art
• Music
• Mechanics
• Hobbies

STRUCTURE CHILD'S LIFE AT HOME

• Regular routine: meals, play, T.V., chores, bedtime, etc.
• Keep belongings in the same place
  • Help the child remember where to put them
  • Remind him/her as often as necessary
  • Use visual reminders
  • Be patient when he/she forgets

Keep instructions simple - one at a time

• Be sure he/she understands
• Ask him/her to repeat instructions
• Give your child time to think
• Break tasks into small parts, or steps; give steps one step at a time

HELP IMPROVE SELF-IMAGE AND CONFIDENCE

• Give tasks your child can master
• Build on what he/she knows
• Don't assume anything; if a child doesn't understand, show him/her

HELP WITH SCHOOL WORK

• Provide a place to study with minimal distraction
• Help plan long term assignments
• Help schedule your child's homework; include breaks
• Read assignments to him/her
• Ask questions; discuss his/her work
• Act as your child's secretary; write assignments as he/she dictates

WORK CLOSELY WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER

• Explain his/her difficulty to them
• Ask for lighter homework loads
• Ask for permission for you to write assignments for your child
• Ask that he/she be allowed to do more oral than written work
• Request that your child be assigned projects instead of written work
• Ask the teacher not to call on your child to read aloud

TEST MODIFICATIONS: LOWER THE READABILITY

1) Original

Compare and contrast the deciduous forest and the tundra.

    Revised

 How are the deciduous forest and tundra alike?  How are they different?

2) Original

Plants respond to things in their environment.  List three stimuli to which most plants respond.

    Revised

Name three things to which plants respond.

3) Original

Name those structures that are found in both plant cells and animal cells.

    Revised

What parts do animal cells and plant cells have in common?

4) Original

Distinguish between a nuclear reaction and a chemical reaction.

    Revised

What is a nuclear reaction? What is a chemical reaction?

5) Original

Identify some of the plants and animals that live in freshwater habitats and some that live in marine habitats.

    Revised

Name a plant and animal that lives in the freshwater habitat.  Name a plant and animal that lives in the marine-habitat.

6) Original

Discuss reasons why animals hibernate.

    Revised

Why do certain animals hibernate over the winter?

7) Original

Volcanoes are produced by what conditions?

    Revised

What causes volcanoes?

8) Original

Laura Thomas needs insurance for her personal belongings but not for her residence, since she lives in an apartment. If her semi-annual insurance premium is $47.00 , what amount will she have paid in two years?

    Revised

Laura Thomas lives in an apartment and needs to insure her belongings. Tlic, insurance premium costs $47.00 every six months (semi-annually). How much will she pay in two years?