Instructional Strategies to Increase Accessibility © Education Development Center, Inc. 2007 Addressing Accessibility in Mathematics
Helping Students Understand Tasks	Promoting Understanding through Discourse
Reword directions or questions Have students paraphrase directions and questions Provide visual and auditory directions Preview vocabulary Have students highlight key information Change context to make it more familiar or appealing to students Show examples of the finished product	Have students work in pairs or small groups Use cooperative learning Keep class discussions short and focused Provide timely and constructive feedback Check in frequently with students Use questions, prompts, and hints
Helping Students Access Math in Varied Ways	Helping Students Manage Tasks and Organization
Build on students’ prior math knowledge Make connections across math topics Move from concrete to representational to abstract Use multiple representations Provide additional examples Offer manipulatives Use technology strategies Use visuals like charts or projected images Offer alternative ways for students to show what they know Provide kinesthetic learning opportunities Building Student Independence	Reformat handouts to provide more workspace Reduce amount of copying Provide a checklist Provide time management cues Set up a notebook organizational system Provide project organizers to help the students keep track of tasks Offer tools such as highlighters and postits to help students focus
Building Student Independence	Adjusting Tasks to Student Needs
Offer timers to help students with pacing Teach highlighting and color-coding Use “think alouds” and other metacognitive strategies Teach and model strategies for: Organization Self-questioning and self-monitoring Problem-solving Memory (such as mnemonics) Clarify expectations (use rubrics)	Adjust level of difficulty Use friendlier numbers Break complex tasks into smaller parts Adjust amount of time for tasks Adjust amount of work Create multiple versions of a problem, in order to offer alternatives to a range of learners Adjust pacing to optimize attention
Providing Tools and Handouts	Creating a Supportive Environment
Provide study guides with key information to reduce copying and note-taking Offer calculators and multiplication charts Provide resource sheets Provide templates for tables, graphs, writing, and other tasks Use graphic organizers Provide practice problems Provide a word bank with key vocabulary words and visuals	Post and reinforce classroom expectations Post homework assignments in a consistent location Seat students strategically, based on needslike vision or hearing. Seat distractible students away from windows or doors. Use nonverbal signals to cue attention or behavior Use consistent and familiar routines Provide easy access to manipulatives, templates, and other tools in the classroom