Five Teacher Intervention Strategies Using Creative Teaching Products to Meet STAAR Testing Standards
5 teacher intervention strategies, and creative teaching products, that will help educators prepare struggling students study for STAAR and CCS testing.

TYLER, TX, October 17, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For teachers approaching students who may be at risk of falling behind in school because of behavior problems, reliable teacher intervention strategies are important to learn and utilize. When attempting to give all students the same access to education and meeting the requirements of STAAR testing, creative teaching products and strategies often must be kept close at hand. The following is a list of the top five teacher intervention strategies for educators who have students at risk in their class.

1. Give clear directions and instructions. Try to avoid leaving students unsure of anything they are supposed to be doing. Keep the amount of instructions given to a minimum—with too many directions and commands, students will be even more confused than if they had no direction at all. Students at risk often cannot remember more than three things at the same time, so be sure to check in with them often and make sure they are comfortable and know where they are going. Mentoring Minds offers flip charts for teachers, on subjects from mathematics, reading and spelling, to bullying, accommodations, and behavior. Pulling concise instructions from these creative teaching products is an easy way to ensure students feel properly informed of their tasks.

2. Modify assignments for students you know may be at risk. Do not be hesitant to simplify the task at hand or shorten the length of the activity for a particular student. Don't be afraid of spending extra time on the front end of the activity if it will save your student from confusion, wasted time, and misunderstanding. Mentoring Minds has accommodations wheels, flip charts and guides for learning how to best modify and tailor regular assignments and activities to the needs of a student facing challenges in the classroom.

3. Pay attention to where students at risk are sitting in the classroom. Try to ensure they are seated next to a peer who is willing and able to help them if necessary. Or, place them near the front or side of the room where you, the teacher, can have easy access to them if they have a question or look confused. Remind yourself that students at risk will not often speak up if they are having trouble—you need to be there to sense or witness their frustration and come to their aid if required.

4. Spend more one-on-one time with at risk students. If the majority of the class is engaged in an activity, try to take a few minutes to work alongside your at risk students and see how they are doing. Students with challenges in the classroom will always require more of your time—it's up to you how you spend that time and if it is before a problem occurs, rather than afterwards.

5. Engage in a contract with students at risk. Put together a written list of the student needs to complete and then check off tasks as they are accomplished. This helps student prioritize how their time is spent at school and also provides a good feeling when things are completed.

Press Release Contact Information:

Kevin Burns
Mentoring Minds
Partner
Mentoring Minds, LP P.O. Box 8843
Tyler, TX
United States 75711
Voice: 800-585-5258
Fax: 800-838-8186
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