“Most of us have a preferred learning domain and within that domain, a preferred learning
style.”3
It is important to recognize that teaching styles will be a natural reflection of an individual‘s
own learning style. What may seem like an obvious and natural way to teach may not meet
the needs of the learner. It may be necessary to present new materials in a variety of ways.
The challenge is to integrate all the learning modes into lesson plans. (Source unknown.)
What are Specialized Learning Strategies?
Learning strategy approaches focus on efficient ways to learn that include specific
techniques for organizing, actively interacting with material, memorizing and monitoring
any content or subject (NALLD, 1995). Specialized learning strategies are ways of teaching
to an individual‘s learning strengths or preferred learning styles. There are three overall
ways that experts who have worked with learners with learning disabilities teach to the
learner‘s strengths (LDAC, 2001).
Use of accommodations
- The use of accommodations is “working around the learner‘s problem areas.”
Making use of accommodations is knowing what compensatory strategies and
techniques help particular learners according to their learning style and personal
strengths. Two examples of accommodation would be using a tape recorder in
class or having a scribe take notes.
Building up a weak area
- There is evidence that some types of learning difficulties can be reduced through
intensive exercises using specialized techniques. For some people, these
exercises help to “rewire” the brain. This is, for the most part, impractical in the
field of literacy because it is time intensive and costly and time spent with the
learner is limited. A way of building up the weak areas in a literacy program
would be intensive work in phonics for an individual with auditory processing
difficulties.
Building on strengths
- Building on strengths is therefore the most accessible and easiest method of
working with the learner with learning disabilities in the field of literacy.
Working with the learner‘s strengths involves working with his/her favoured
learning styles to ease the task of learning and lead to the development of
strategies that promote success.