Special needs · Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

The same routine every lesson, with memory built in

Pencil Spaces helps students with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) learn online, with a steady routine, a simple screen, steps that stay visible and recaps.

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Area

Cognition and learning

Who it helps

Students with FASD, tutors, special education teachers, virtual schools, foster and adoptive families

Also called

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (US, Canada, Australia) · foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (UK, Ireland) · fetal alcohol syndrome, FAS

What lessons need

Routine, one step at a time, visual reminders, repetition, a calm setting, patience

In Pencil Spaces

7 features available today

Part of

Special needs, need by need

What do students with FASD need from an online lesson?

FASD affects memory, attention and self-regulation. A student may understand something on Monday and lose it by Wednesday, which can look like not trying.

The same every weekPersistent Spaces · AvailableThe picture schedule and step charts stay on the student’s board, so every lesson starts the same way.
A simpler screenChild Mode · AvailableChild Mode leaves five tools and hides chat, boards and apps, which removes most of what could distract.
One instruction, in writingText · AvailableType each instruction on the board as you say it, so it’s still there when the student has forgotten it.
An end they can seeTimers & Polls · AvailableA countdown for each task shows when it will end, which makes it easier to stay with.
Less noiseNoise Cancellation · AvailableAI noise cancellation and echo reduction cut background sound, so there’s less competing for attention.
Every win markedCelebrations · AvailableReactions and stickers mark each finished step.
Home and lesson on one planLesson Summaries · AvailableA recap after each lesson, with a version for parents, keeps practice at home in step with the lesson.

The features behind it

Why can online lessons be hard for students with FASD?

Changes in routine, long spoken instructions and a busy screen all make lessons harder.

Forgetting is part of FASD. A lesson that depends on remembering last week sets the student up to fail.

What does a lesson look like in Pencil Spaces?

The lesson opens the way it always does: the same Space, the same picture schedule at the top of the board.

The tutor gives one instruction and types it. When the task is done, the student gets a celebration, and they move one step along the schedule.

Tips for teaching students with FASD online

Keep the routine identical, down to the first activity.
Give one instruction at a time, in few words.
Re-teach without comment when something has been forgotten.
Keep the screen and the room free of distractions.
Work with the family, who know what helps.

Good to know

Every student with FASD is different, and many also have ADHD or sensory needs. Pencil Spaces doesn’t assess or diagnose FASD.

Questions people ask

How does FASD affect learning?

FASD can affect memory, attention, language, math and self-regulation. Skills can vary from day to day. Students often do best with routine, short instructions, visual reminders and lots of repetition.

Can students with FASD learn online?

Many can, with an adult nearby and a steady routine. One-to-one lessons at home cut noise and distraction. In Pencil Spaces, the same Space opens each week with the student’s schedule and work still on the board.

How do I keep the screen simple?

Child Mode leaves five tools (select, move, undo, pen and eraser) and hides chat, boards and apps. Despite the name, it suits students of any age.

What happens when a student forgets last week’s work?

The work is still on the board, and the recording is there to watch again. Lesson Summaries give the family a short recap, so practice at home matches the lesson.