Help! What Do I Do to Adapt for one student in my class?

Question:

Help!  What do I do when I have one student who is unable to complete the same academic activities as the rest of my class due to their developmental level?

Idea:

• Try putting together simple tasks in a bin that you could pull out to have him or her do while the other kids are doing their academic small group work or even when everyone is at circle and the activities may not be developmentally appropriate.
• Ideas to fill the bin with:

1. put in tasks with a clear beginning and end (these could   include putting pegs into a jar, popsicle sticks into a container,   large coins into a slot)
2. basic 3-piece puzzles with the large knobs
3. cause-effect toys (musical toys)
4. small bins for sensory such as sand, beans, or rice with cups 
5. board books with objects to feel or music to play

• Change out these items as the child gets bored or masters them
• Use a choice board with photographs of the items in the bin to help the child make choices on which activity they would like to do.
• Start with items the child really likes and slowly introduce more academic-type activities such as, put in tasks, simple matching, & simple sorting.
• Alternate more rewarding items with non-preferred activities using a first-then visual.