Strategy

Description of Strategy

Implementation in the Science Classroom

How it Provides Access to Students with ASD

Graphic organizers are visual and graphic displays used to organize information and key conceptual relationships.[1]  Graphic organizers can be completed as a teacher-directed activity or independently by students.

For more information:

k8access center page on Graphic organizers

Graphic organizers can convert information containing words in a meaningful way for students.  They can be used to display textbook information, illustrate key science concepts, and organize steps in processes such as laboratory experiments.

For example, for a textbook chapter on the differences between meiosis and mitosis, a graphic organizer can be used to summarize the information and display the steps in each cell process.

Cognition – Graphic organizers can help students with ASD understand difficult content by displaying it in a meaningful way.  They can provide easy access to necessary background information.

Communication – Graphic organizers can allow students to access information from science textbooks, even if they have difficulty reading the text.

In peer tutoring, student partnerships link higher-achieving students with lower-achieving students or those of comparable achievement for structured study sessions.  Peer tutoring increases students’ motivation to achieve classroom goals.[2]

For more information:

k8accesscenter page on peer tutoring

Peer tutors can be used to help students gain information from text, to review or study key science concepts, and to assist with appropriate behavior and implementation during lab experiments.

For example, during a laboratory experiment, a trained peer tutor can interact with and help a student with ASD use appropriate social skills.  That peer tutor can also assist the student with ASD in performing necessary tasks and gaining information from the experience.

Cognition – Peer tutors can help re-teach and explain concepts to students.

Social Functioning –Specific peer tutoring strategies can be used to have socially competent peers teach and support appropriate skills and behaviors for students with ASD.[3]

Behaviors – Peer tutoring can provide positive reinforcement and feedback to students with ASD to increase social behaviors and decrease unwanted behaviors.