Western Governors University (WGU) SPED4516 D005 Considerations for Instructional Planning Practice Exam

The strategy utilized by Ms. Sousa of pairing students who struggle with attention with their classmates who do not is known as peer support to enhance focus. This method fosters an environment where the more attentive student can help guide and encourage the student having difficulty maintaining focus. By creating a supportive dynamic between peers, the students can share strategies, remain engaged in the learning process, and potentially improve the attention levels of the student who struggles. This approach is particularly effective because it leverages the social connections between students, allowing the more focused peer to model attentive behaviors and practices in a natural, relatable setting.

In contrast, accountability partners emphasize mutual responsibility for each other's learning and goals, which is not the primary focus here. While modeling behavior refers to demonstrating expected actions or attitudes, that concept isn't as direct in context as the peer-support dynamic being applied. Group collaboration, while beneficial for fostering teamwork and diverse interaction, does not specifically target the attention difficulties of individuals in the way that pairing students for focused support does.