Definition
At-risk learners are students who are considered to have a high-probability of failing or dropping out of school. This term may be applied to students who face any circumstance making it difficult to complete school. This includes, but is not limited to: homelessness, incarceration, teenage pregnancy, serious health issues, domestic violence, or transiency. This category could also include other conditions, such as: learning disabilities, grade retention, or any other learning-related factors that affects academic performance.
Characteristics
At-risk learners include a wide variety of students. Characteristics vary, but may include:
- Erratic or no attendance
- Lack of interest in school or wishes he/she could leave school
- Low literacy and numeracy abilities
- Low attainment
- Negative interactions with peers
- Behavioral issues, including aggression, violence, or social withdrawal
- Significant change in behavior or attendance
Accommodations
Accommodations for a wide-variety of at-risk learners include, but are not limited to:
- Extended time on assignments and quizzes/tests
- Reduce classroom stress
- Stay flexible, try to meet the student half-way
- Give frequent positive encouragement and praise
- Provide feedback in a helpful, non-threatening manner
- Allow the student to tape-record lectures or provide the student with a lecture handout
- Orally give instructions or read the text/problem
- Allow extended due-dates for homework and at-home projects
- Stop=the-clock breaks
- Provide study guides and guided notes for at-home learning
Modifications
Modifications for a wide-variety of at-risk learners include but are not limited to:
- Modify an assignment to have less words in a text or math problems
- Change grading system
- Give alternate homework
- Change presentation of material
- Creating individualized benchmarks
Resources
- School-based strategies to engage at-risk learners
This website gives teachers prevention and intervention ideas to promote and maintain the engagement of at-risk learners. It includes strategies for instruction.
- The Four Keys to Helping At-Risk Kids
This resource includes four ingredients for catering to at-risk learners needs. The author, a professor of psychology, helps teachers to understand what at-risk learners are going through and identifies strategies to teach these students.
- How to Help Students At-Risk
When using this website, a teacher will acquire strategies for teaching at-risk youth. This resource includes easy ways a teacher can best help these learners.
- At-Risk Students
This resource is all-inclusive, providing a teacher with definitions, program strategies, and ways to identify at-risk learners.
- At-Risk Online Learners
This website includes important information on teaching adult at-risk learners. This specific resource helps teachers through the online learning process with adult at-risk students. It includes a definition, characteristics, barriers, and strategies to continue to reach these learners over the internet.