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For information on Bridges to Practice training in your area, please contact:
Dr. Rochelle Kenyon, Project Director
rkenyon@aol.com

There are two basic models that are common in teaching students with learning disabilities: direct instruction and information processing.

Direct Instruction

Direct Instruction offers a structure to teach basic skills, such as knowing how to decode words to how to write a five-paragraph essay. There are four basic steps in the Direct Instruction model.

The steps for Direct Instruction are:

Step 1: Provide objectives for the learner, establish expectations, and introduce the skill to be taught.

Step 2: Introduce and model the skill through a step-by-step process. The learner watches as you visually show the student what is to be accomplished and verbally tell the student what you are doing.

Step 3: Guided practice with feedback where the learner tries the skill while you monitor what is being done. Initially, you should help at each step so that the learner does not become frustrated.

Step 4: Independent practice and generalization where the learner now can complete the task without your assistance. Once a learner can complete the task, you must then help the learner generalize how this same process can be used in other areas.

This model of instruction is primarily used in the learning of skills and procedures.