how to teach someone with learning difficulties.

[Ummu Sufyaan]

:sl:
i need some advise on how to go about teaching someone with a learning disability. she tends to have a lot of trouble understanding and grasping basic concepts. she may understand it, but can easily forget it. i dont think its a memory problem and her mum says she is just generally slow with learning, speaking, etc.

she only seems to know the letters of the alphabet (im teaching her arabic) if she goes over it in her head....sort of like how one would count on their fingers....so she cant recognize random letters if they were pointed out unless she "counts" them over in her mind.


i've tried various methods with her that i feel would work, such as drawing pictures, describing certain concepts in a "childish" way...but nothing seems to work.

any ideas?

[glo]

It depends very much on what level of learning disability and what level of cognitive understanding and use of language this person has.

I would suggest you try the following:

• very simple language
• pictorial information (i.e. pictures instead of written information)
• short sentences
• symbols
• repeat information over and over, try not to tire or lose patience
  
  
  
  
  

If you are trying to teach the Arabic alphabet, perhaps you can connect letters with pictures of things which are relevant to her?

Also bear in mind that she simply may not have the cognitive ability to learn a new language.
How articulate is she in her mother tongue, and how much does she understand?
Can she read and write in her own language?

[tango92]

you can try teaching her some harder work, that way the basic stuff will seem easy...

[syilla]

I think first you need to tackle her concentration... then InshaAllah you can use pictures and graphics. Avoid distraction. Probably need more one to one teaching method. Don't let her be in class yet.