40 Rewording/ rephrasing of Information
Definition
Repeating content of instructions or other information already given but using different words and phrasing for clarity.
In action
Teachers can reword or rephrase information presented to the entire class or to individual students in written, verbal, and/ or visual formats to enhance student understanding and engagement.
Support Strategies
- Vary vocal tone and pitch to emphasize the most important parts of the instructions
- Provide students with a list or review of relevant vocabulary words and their definitions before or after providing the instructions
- Engage in conversations with students to see which words and phrases resonated with them from the instructions
- Ask student(s) to rephrase and/or repeat information to identify which parts need clarification
- When instructions are written, provide alternative instructions that summarize what the student needs to do using simple vocabulary
- Consider students’ needs when repeating reworded or rephrased instructions, ensuring they have time to process the information the first time
- Provide information in multiple formats
Case Study
Student: Grade five student in a language class.
Content: The students are being asked to read a short passage independently and answer two questions based on the content.
Problem: The student understands that they will be answering questions, but they are unsure about what.
Solution: The teacher provides detailed instructions to the class. Before distributing the materials, the teacher says, “story first, questions second.” By rephrasing the vocabulary into simple terms and reducing the amount of words the student needs to process, they better understand the task sequence.
Additional Resources
- Strategies for effective communication between students and faculty from University of Washington DO-IT
- General ideas for successful communication from the Child Mind Institute
- General information about processing difficulties individuals with autism spectrum disorder can experience from ARI
- Tips on presentation accommodations from the IRIS Center
