getting children to follow directions

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  • January 10, 2014 at 10:03 pm
    Wings2fly
    Participant

    Is this a lack of the habit of attention or what? My 9 yo son is always messing up on schoolwork and other tasks due to failure to read or listen to and follow directions. I remind him to be sure to do what the directions say to do. There is still no improvement and we have been working on it since summer when I noticed how bad the problem is, and resulting problems from not doing the task right. I have him do it over again the right way, but he still ignores directions the next time. He does great on listening to read-alouds and giving oral narrations though. His copywork is good.

    What else can I do to help him to follow directions?

    January 11, 2014 at 4:28 pm
    Kristen
    Participant

    This sounds like my 9 yr old DS. I correct his math paper every day and it has lots wrong that if he would only read the directions he would get them right. He also narrated fairly well but has trouble concentrating while working on math. A lady just told me this, this past week; have him drink 1/2 a cup of coffee in the morning and it will help him concentrate. It did help the two mornings we tried it but I dont know if it has helped with the following directions thing yet.

    January 11, 2014 at 4:32 pm
    ruth
    Participant

    I am not sure if this will help you or not.  My ds has trouble like this with his math problems.  I usually start by asking him what do they want to know?  Then I ask what information do they give you?  How can you use that information to find out what they want to know?  He has gotten better about looking at the whole problem to get the information he needs.  Perhaps something along these lines would help with reading directions.  Have him read the directions and tell you what it is the question wants to know.  Ask where will he find the answer to his question.  Have him find the answer and then ask if the answer makes sence to the question they want to know.  I am not sure if that makes sence to you or if it is helpful.  It is what came to mind when I read your post.  HTH.

    January 11, 2014 at 6:41 pm
    jmac17
    Participant

    When I was tutoring and had students with this difficulty, I had to get myself into the habit of having them explain the directions to me before I let them start on a task.  Even if I had just given the instructions verbally, they had to tell me back what I had just said.  If that didn’t help, then I’d start requiring them to do the first part of the assignment while narrating aloud each step and why they were doing what they were doing.  This continued until I was confident that they could follow instructions.  It’s time consuming in the beginning, but it’s a habit that will definitely reap rewards in the long run.  It also makes it clear when there is something that the student doesn’t understand, rather than just a lack of following instructions.

    Joanne

    January 13, 2014 at 4:42 am
    Wings2fly
    Participant

    Yes, it is most evident in math problems. I will try your tips. Thanks!

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