Introduction

• Provide access to computers.• Provide access to calculators and/or addition and multiplication grids.• Provide visual cues (e.g., posters).• Provide extra time to complete problems or tasks or answer questions.• Reduce the number of tasks used to assess a concept or skill.Modifying Curriculum ExpectationsStudents who have an IEP may require modified expectations, which differ from the regular grade-levelcurriculum expectations. When developing modified expectations, teachers make important decisionsregarding the concepts and skills that students need to learn.Most of the learning activities in this document can be adapted for students who require modified expectations.The following chart provides examples of how a teacher could deliver learning activities thatincorporate individual students’ modified expectations.Modified ProgramWhat It MeansExampleModified learning expectations,same activity,same materialsModified learning expectations,same activity,different materialsModified learning expectations,different activity,different materialsThe student with modifiedexpectations works on the sameor a similar activity, using thesame materials.The student with modified expectationsengages in the same activity,but uses different materialsthat enable him/her to remain anequal participant in the activity.Students with modified expectationsparticipate in differentactivities.The learning activity involves solvinga problem that calls for the addition ofdecimal numbers to thousandths usingconcrete materials (e.g., base ten materials).Students with modified expectationssolve a similar problem thatinvolves the addition of decimal numbersto tenths.The activity involves ordering fractionson a number line with unlike denominatorsusing Cuisenaire rods. Studentswith modified expectations may orderfractions with like denominators on anumber line using fraction circles.Students with modified expectationswork on a fraction activities that reflecttheir learning expectations, using avariety of concrete materials.(Adapted from Education for all: The Report of the Expert Panel on Literacy and Numeracy Instruction for Students With SpecialEducation Needs, Kindergarten to Grade 6, p. 119)It is important to note that some students may require both accommodations and modified expectations.Principles Underlying Effective Mathematics Instruction 43