Characteristics
Students with processing speed needs may require increased time to calculate simple mathematics, locate visual information, read, copy and/or make decisions.
What it is
An area of student need, involving difficulty with the speed and automaticity of cognitive skills.
Teaching Strategies
Instructional
• Assess the student to determine greatest areas of need with processing and to determine an attainable goal for the student to work on.
• Provide additional time for the student to respond and complete work.
• Pair oral with visual instructions.
• Give the student advanced warning of a question for him/her to answer.
• Reduce the quantity of work expected.
• Teach the student to ask questions to clarify his/her understanding.
• Provide copies of notes.
• Have the student highlight important items on notes.
• Teach phonemic skills and sight words to strengthen automaticity.
• Encourage the use of a calculator/multiplication table.
• Use math fact drill practice.
• Use a visual timer or a stopwatch for the student to increase his/her speed on learned skills.
• Use assistive technology and/or computer programs for basic skills.
• Develop and use a home communication tool.
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Environmental
• Use preferential seating to reduce distractions.
• Post reference materials for the student.
• Post and refer to a daily/class schedule.
• Use a visual timer.
Assessment
• Provide additional time.
• Chunk assignments and tests into parts, with an indication of the dates/times they are due.
• Provide a choice in assessments.
• Provide written instructions and rubrics for assignments.
• Encourage the use of computers/assistive technology.
• Check to ensure that the student understands the questions.
• Use reading to / oral testing / scribing.
• Avoid the use of timed tests.
• Use a variety of test questions (short answer, true false, matching, fill in the blank).
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