Accomodations for Student
Sample
1999-2000
Middle School

1. We have found that the most successful way to help student is a continued Team Approach, with the team defined as student , his teachers and principal, and his parents. The daily agenda book will continue to be our main communication tool. Student will record his dail assignment for your classes and each teacher will sign their initials next to the assignment to indicate that they have read it and agree that it is accurate. Sufficient time will be left at the end of class to allow student to get the teacher's signature. Student is conscientious most of the time, but his teachers need to ensure that he is getting the assignment. The homework hotline will be supplemental, but not in place of the agenda book.
2. All instructions for class assignments must be written in the agenda book or on a handout. Student is a visual learner. Verbal instructions are inadequate. Lectures will be supplemented with written material. Student will be encouraged to take notes.
3. If teachers use videos, audio tapes, or lectures as the basis for a written assignment, student must have a means to take notes or somehow record the auditory information. Since he is a visual learner he will lose more of the auditory information. The best help will be written information, but he may also be allowed to borrow a tape.
4. Student needs a second set of books at home.
5. Teachers will not grade student down for late assignments, unless it can be demonstrated that student was accurately informed of the due date in writing in his agenda book, understood the deadline, understood the instructions, and the teacher has an established pattern of homework turn-in. If any of these is lacking, student will get a chance to do the assignment without a late grade. Teachers will be careful to evaluate him for his abilities, not grade him down because a particular assignment fails to make accomodations for his disability. Because of medication issues and symptoms of AD/HD, it is very difficult for student to do homework after dinner; homework deadlines may need to be flexible for that reason.
6. Student responds best to positive reinforcement. Teachers will not make derogatory written comments on student's work when they make an assignment that is inappropriate for a child with AD/HD. For example, an unstructured, free-time, collaborative, without-guidance kind of assignment. Student is a cheerful, conscientious, kind person. Please find ways to cultivate these traits.
7. Multiple teachers can create stress for all children if they schedule major project deadlines at the same time. The team and special education teacher may need to ensure that student understands the deadlines and they are written down. If assignments are in multiple steps, make sure the steps and their deadlines are recorded. All tests must be announced in the agenda book at least two days prior to date given so that he has time to prepare adequately. Tests will be formatted so student can clearly see each question, has room to answer the question, and will not be confused by too much information crammed into too small a space. Sometimes student may need extra time to complete a test, and if the proper format is not followed, he may need to be retested.
8. Student does best when tests and other assignments closely reflect the content of materials he is exposed to in class. Please try to avoid textbook assembled test that do not test for mastery but rather aptitude and include information not mentioned in course materials.
9. State and national exams will be administered to student in isolation from the other children. This is a right granted by state and federal law.
10. Encourage student to reread assignment and directions for assignments and to check his work before turning it in. He is less able to focus on directions than normal children with his IQ. Help student learn self-monitoring techniques.
11. Teachers will encourage students who work with student on projects to understand his strengths and tolerate his weaknesses.
12. Seat student nearest the teacher, wherever that is in the classroom to help him stay on task.
13. Transitions are still somewhat difficult for student. People like predictability. Tell student and the other kids what the schedule will be, especially if there is a change in the daily routine.
14. Whenever possible, allow student to use a computer to do his work. This includes word processing and the use of other types of computer software whenever it is appropriate for doing an assignment. He should be encouraged to make creative multimedia presentations and websites when appropriate.
15. At the beginning of the school year, someone needs to ensure that student receives his medication at school at the proper time, without embarrassing him. It takes him at least three weeks to responsibly develop a new routine for this. Keep an eye on him at lunch and recess to see that he is ok. This is a transition time for his medication, a time when he is more likely to have problems.
16. Ideally, student's core academic courses should be in the morning.
17. Encourage student to do oral presentations and performances, and give him instructions on how to do it successfully.