TIPS FOR THE MAINSTREAM
BY MONICA G. OSGOOD CTC 2002

Attention
    Class size is crucial-Classrooms that are too small or over-crowded can be chaotic and very disorganizing

• Seating arrangement
• Buddy system
• Own space
  
• Incorporate sensory-motor breaks
  
• Allow children to working in non-traditional positions (standing/sitting on
  the floor)
  
• Break class up into smaller groups when necessary
  
• Support sustained attention and engagement through positive interactions
  and feedback
  
• Praise, praise, praise

Facilitate participation in activities

• Encourage the child to raise her hand/answer and ask questions
  
• Ask questions to bring student back to activity when fragmenting or not
  attending
  
• Allow student to participate in the presentation of the lesson
  
• Increase hands on activities
  
• Use visual supports and reinforcement for participating
  
• Praise, praise, praise

Modify Instructions

• Emphasize key points/words
  
• Slow down your language when reemphasizing points to the student(be
  discretedon't let on that you are doing this for the particular child)
  
• Support language with gestures and visuals
  
• Break tasks up into smaller steps
  
• Don't require the student to do more work than they can do
  
• Set up for success

Independence

• DON'T OVER-PROMPT!!!!!!!!!!
  
• Encourage students to think for themselves (e.g., "What is everyone doing
  right now?")
  
• Ignore prompt seeking behaviors
  
• Praise for "Doing it all by yourself"
  
• Break down tasks to insure success
  
• Focus on independence rather than perfect task completion
  
• Be organized-When things are clear anxiety is reduced and
  attention/independence is increased
  
• Facilitate student "being organized"
  
• Incorporate visual supports/Timers/Check lists
  
• Have student check their own work
  
• Support motor planning opportunities
  
• Praise, praise, praise

Self Esteem

• When a child feels successful, they will try harder and succeed more
  
• Give special jobs to the student/Allow them to run errands
  
• Reminding student of past successes
  
• Encourage asking for help when needed/Make mistakes okay
  
• Teach positive self talk
  
• Point out student's strengths to them and to their classmates
  
• Praise, praise, praise

Abstract Thinking

• Encourage building bridges by regularly asking your students to
  give reasons behind concepts
  
• Encourage predicting by asking your students to stop and think what might happen next in specific situations
  
• Facilitate abstract thinking by encouraging students to look
  beyond the obvious and determine underlying meanings/reasons
  
• Facilitate independent problem solving by encouraging students to "work it out on their own". Don't foster Learned helplessness

Key words to remember:
· Regulation
· Sense of Self 
· Self Esteem