Co-op and Learning Differences

 This year, like every year, my classes have kids with learning differences.  Here is an area where a I’ve had some experience.  How do you make accommodations?  One easy way is to set a minimum number for activities.  Yesterday, we were working through dichotomous keys.  There are 15 images to work through.  I set a minimum of six images.  When everyone had completed keying out at least six images, we moved on to the Jelly Belly dichotomous key.  In the time the last group had keyed six organisms, some of the other groups had completed all of the images.  Guess what?  Everyone understood how to use a dichotomous key.  I had to work with a couple groups one-on-one.  We keep things moving and make accommodations as needed.  Just be sure to set a number sufficient to understand a concept or learn a skill.