[ejs]

Does anyone have any good ideas for teaching students with learning disabilities how to answer extended response questions. I would greatly appreciate any advice, good websites or books to use. Thanks!

[dramacentral]

I'm not familiar with what an "extended response" question is - can you give an example?

[ejs]

Extended response is when students are given a math problem. Usually a word problem and then they have to write out in word how they solved the problem. (kind-of like writing out how they are processing the problem. It is a state goal of ours and I have difficulty teaching it to students with Learning disabilties every year!

Google CGI - Cognitive Guided Instruction. I use bits of it that I've learned from other teachers. Basically, I follow these steps:

1 - read/tell the story (problem).
2 - have the student tell it back to you.
3 - act out or use manipulatives to act out wha tis happening in the story
4 - draw what is happening in the story.
5 - use numbers / labels to explain the picture.
6 - write to tell how you know you're right (include whatyou already knew and what you did).


My students know they have to use pictures, words, and numbers in their final answer (that's what our state tests ask for also). I began with a checklist of those 3 things with each question, but now the kids know and will write it by themselves if they even need to see the checklist.
I've seen successes with my very limited 3rd graders with much modeling and scaffolding.