Support participation and build confidence
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8’
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Give instructions in close proximity
Give instructions in close proximity

Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Create a secure environment
Create a secure environment
- Use the student’s name when addressing them.
- Create clear, planned pathways for moving around the classroom. Minimise random obstacles.
- Familiarise the student with a new classroom layout BEFORE making changes.
- Encourage all students to position themselves in optimum environments to support their engagement and attention.
- Discuss with the student the best places for them to sit to access information at a distance.
- Make learning support tools – text-to-speech, graphic organisers, planning tools and so on – available for all students.
- Create a culture where students support each other.
Support environmental preferences
Support environmental preferences
A darker environment increases the clarity of the image.
Teach touch typing
Teach touch typing
A student practises touch typing so that he can participate in literacy-related tasks alongside his peers.
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Useful resources
Useful resources
Self advocacy traffic light system in a primary classroom
A blog post on how the traffic light system can be used to help students self-assess their learning at their own pace. A colour-coded system would greatly assist low vision learners and their teachers with ongoing formative feedback.
Publisher: The English Classroom
Dance mat typing
A BBC typing programme, in the form of a game, that has been used to effectively support students with low vision.
Publisher: BBC
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8”:
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Current page Support participation and confidence
Return to the guide “Low vision and learning”
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Guide to Index of the guide: Behaviour and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
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Commit to whole-school approachesShow suggestions for Commit to whole-school approaches
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Design learning for allShow suggestions for Design learning for all
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Foster wellbeing and mental healthShow suggestions for Foster wellbeing and mental health
- Use trauma-informed practices
- Prioritise wellbeing
- Support mental health
- Teach relaxation techniques
- Teach coping strategies
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Embed social and emotional learningShow suggestions for Embed social and emotional learning
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Be proactiveShow suggestions for Be proactive
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Respond in challenging situationsShow suggestions for Respond in challenging situations