50 Practical Instructional Strategies for Specially Designed Instruction in IEPs (examples)

When parents first hear the phrase Specially Designed Instruction (SDI), it can feel overwhelming and abstract. You might wonder, “Okay, but what does that actually look like in a classroom?” The truth is, SDI isn’t just a label in an IEP—it’s the teaching strategies and methods that help your child reach their goals.

Instructional strategies are where the rubber meets the road. They’re the concrete ways a teacher adapts the curriculum, delivers lessons, and supports your child’s unique needs. Without them, an IEP can sound impressive on paper but won’t translate into meaningful progress.

In this post, I’m sharing examples of instructional strategies that can be written into an IEP. Think of this as your menu of options: real, practical ways instruction can be individualized so your child can access learning and actually thrive.

Instructional Strategies, which are SDIs, can feel like one of those big, abstract terms that gets thrown around in IEP meetings. Parents often hear it but aren’t given real, practical examples of what it looks like in the classroom. Without that knowledge, it’s easy to walk away from a meeting with an IEP that sounds official but doesn’t actually spell out what your child will be taught (or how).

That’s where instructional strategies come in. Strategies are the “how” of SDI. They are the specific methods teachers use to deliver instruction, adapt the curriculum, and make sure your child is learning in a way that works for them. These are not one-size-fits-all techniques. They’re chosen to meet your child’s unique needs, and when written into the IEP, they make the plan concrete and enforceable.

Too often, I see IEPs that only include accommodations, things like extended time on tests or preferential seating. Those are important, but they don’t teach. Instructional strategies, on the other hand, are what move the needle on skills. They provide the explicit teaching, modeling, and practice that helps kids actually master reading, math, social interaction, or emotional regulation.

The lists below give you examples of instructional strategies that can be included in the SDI section of an IEP. Think of them as tools in a toolbox: not every child will need every tool, but seeing what’s possible can help you ask better questions in meetings and make sure your child’s IEP is more than just words on paper.

Examples of Instructional Strategies for Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)

1. Structured literacy programs for struggling readers (e.g., Wilson Reading, Orton–Gillingham, Lindamood-Bell).
2. Explicit social skills curricula (e.g., Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation).
3. Pull-out or small group instruction for pre-teaching, teaching, reteaching, or extended repetition.
4. Visual charts to support comprehension and recall.
5. Visual schedules for routines, transitions, or multi-step activities.
6. Graphic organizers with guided repetition or reteaching.
7. Choice cards to help students learn how to make choices or communicate preferences.
8. Emotion cards to teach recognition and labeling of feelings (when not taught as part of the core curriculum).
9. Mindfulness practices such as yoga, breathing exercises, or relaxation techniques to support self-regulation.
10. Use of a scribe or oral responses for essay or open-ended test formats.
11. Teacher-created study guides with instruction and review built in.
12. Video or audio recordings of lessons for reteaching and reinforcement.
13. Sensory diet development that also teaches regulation strategies (not just accommodates).
14. Teacher-provided notes, outlines, or organizers with key terms or concepts highlighted.
15. Mnemonics and memory strategies (e.g., acronyms, rhymes, chunking).
16. Adaptive Physical Education (APE) with inclusive curricula such as SPARK.
17. Task analysis—breaking complex tasks into smaller, teachable steps.
18. Checklists and step-by-step guides for multi-step processes.
19. Guided practice with immediate feedback to reinforce skills.
20. Errorless learning strategies for students who struggle with frustration or repeated failure.
21. Repeated reading or fluency drills to build automaticity.
22. Peer modeling or peer tutoring with structured guidance.
23. Use of manipulatives (math blocks, letter tiles, etc.) to teach abstract concepts concretely.
24. Role-playing scenarios to practice social, behavioral, or functional skills.
25. Prompt fading techniques (gradual reduction of adult or peer prompts to build independence).

Behavioral Instructional Strategies (5)

26. Token economy systems with clear rewards tied to specific behaviors.
27. Behavior contracts co-created with the student to encourage ownership.
28. Check-in/check-out systems where students start and end the day with a trusted adult.
29. Positive behavior charts with visual tracking of goals and reinforcement.
30. Shaping (rewarding successive steps toward the desired behavior).

Executive Functioning Instructional Strategies (5)

Note: I have a more comprehensive list of strategies to address executive functioning deficits.

31. Color-coded materials or folders to support organization across subjects.
32. Time management supports like timers, visual countdowns, or task apps.
33. Chunking assignments into smaller, manageable parts with deadlines.
34. Explicit instruction in planning (e.g., modeling how to break down a project).
35. Checklists for self-monitoring daily or weekly tasks.

Sensory Strategies (5)

36. Flexible seating options (wiggle cushions, standing desks, beanbags).
37. Sensory breaks built into the schedule to reset focus.
38. Access to fidgets or stress balls during instruction.
39. Noise-canceling headphones or quiet corners for overstimulation.
40. Use of weighted items (blankets, lap pads, vests) for calming input.

Social Skills Instructional Strategies (5)

Note, I have a separate list of “how to teach social skills.”

41. Social stories that teach appropriate responses to specific situations.
42. Video modeling where students watch and practice expected behaviors.
43. Structured cooperative learning with assigned roles to practice teamwork.
44. Peer buddy systems for support during group work or unstructured times.
45. Conversation scripts or cue cards for initiating and maintaining dialogue.

Emotional Regulation Instructional Strategies (5)

46. Calm-down corners with tools for self-regulation (stress toys, visuals, breathing cards).
47. Zones of Regulation curriculum to identify and manage emotions.
48. Self-monitoring charts where students track their emotions throughout the day.
49. Explicit teaching of coping strategies (breathing, counting, positive self-talk).
50. Daily emotional check-ins using visuals, journals, or rating scales.

I am not lying when I tell you that I have seen numerous IEPs that were just a list of accommodations. If your document is all accommodations and no teaching, that’s a 504 plan in an IEP costume.

Instructional strategies are not just add-ons or “good teaching practices.” When they’re written into an IEP as Specially Designed Instruction, they become the roadmap for how your child will learn and make progress. A strong IEP doesn’t stop at goals. It clearly connects those goals to the specific strategies that will help your child achieve them.

As a parent, you don’t need to become an expert in every possible strategy. But you do need to know what’s available, what your child is receiving, and whether it’s being delivered consistently. The more specific the IEP, the easier it is to hold schools accountable and the better chance your child has of thriving.

Use this list as inspiration and as a conversation starter in your next IEP meeting. Ask, “Which of these strategies will help my child meet their goals?” If a strategy is being used, make sure it’s documented. Remember: if it isn’t written in the IEP, you can’t enforce it.

Remember, Don’t IEP Alone has more tools and training for parents, teachers and advocates.