Special needs education is developed as a unique service for students with mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities. It employs specific teaching strategies for developing the full capabilities of special needs students. Show
However, the term “special needs” is so broad that it’s inevitable for teachers to encounter some type of special needs students in their mainstream classroom setting. Whether it’s learning, physical, developmental, behavioral, emotional, or communicational disability, as a teacher, you need to be ready to utilize individual strategies for teaching special needs students. Today, a lot of specialists agree on the model of inclusion in education, which furthermore strengthens the argument that all teachers must possess the resources to provide a supportive learning environment for special needs students. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most common disabilities seen in typical classrooms and discuss the strategies for teaching students with those specific disabilities, as well as general tips that all students can benefit from. Special Needs Students vs. Students with DisabilitiesBefore we go any deeper into the topic, let’s make a clear distinction between “special needs students”, or better yet “special education needs students”, and “students with disabilities”. At a glance, it might seem like wordplay, but there’s a very subtle, yet important difference. The three terms are used interchangeably most of the time, which makes it that much harder to make a clear distinction. Usually, the phrase “special needs” serves as an umbrella term, while “disability” and “special education needs” are more specific. The term “disabilities” is more about physical and mental inabilities, while the “special education needs” refers to learning difficulties that make it harder for students to learn compared to most children the same age. As a teacher, it’s important for you to be aware of these distinctions, although they don’t really tell you much about the teaching approach you should take. They are important because parents might use these terms, and you should know what questions to ask and how to better understand them. Most Common Learning/Behavioral Disabilities Seen in ClassroomsTeaching special needs students is not a one-size-fits-all approach because emotional and behavioral problems need to be approached in a certain way, which might be totally ineffective for students with physical or sensory impairment like hearing or seeing problems. For this reason, we’ll take a look at the five most common special needs students that can be seen in a mainstream classroom, and discuss how to recognize their symptoms and what would be the best strategy for teaching. DyslexiaDyslexia is categorized as a learning disorder where the student has problems identifying sounds, letters, and the relationship between them (decoding). Since this particular problem most severely affects the ability to read, it’s also called a reading disability. Students struggle to process language. Students with dyslexia have normal vision and normal intelligence, which means that with early intervention and special education strategies, the child can overcome those difficulties without this condition affecting their educational potential. How to Recognize Dyslexia in ChildrenSymptoms vary depending on the age and education level of the child, as well as from person to person. Here are the common problems:
Strategies for Teaching Students With Dyslexia in Mainstream ClassroomsTo help students with dyslexia you can use the following strategies:
ADHDFrom the whole specter of neurobehavioral disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed condition in kids and teenagers. It’s characterized by persistent and severe hyperactivity and inattention incidents that last for at least 6 months and interfere with the child’s social and academic performance. It’s also the most commonly misdiagnosed condition, as a lot of children who are naturally more active and have a difficult temperament can be considered to be suffering from ADHD. To avoid making a mistake, always maintain close communication with the parents and encourage psychological assessment and support. After all, ADHD is a behavioral disorder and similar symptoms might be caused by problems at home, outbursts because of a recent traumatic event, peer conflicts or pressure, etc. How to Recognize ADHD in ChildrenHere are the most common symptoms of children struggling with ADHD:
Strategies for Teaching Students With ADHD in Mainstream ClassroomsDealing with children with ADHD can be quite a challenge, but there are several strategies that can help:
Developmental Delays“Development delays” is an umbrella term that comprises several types of difficulties including cognitive delays (awareness problems, comprehension problems, learning problems), motor delays (being clumsy, trouble walking, difficulty holding objects, etc), social, emotional, and behavior delays (problems communicating with others, playing, and interacting). This category is not a condition or a disorder because every child develops at a different pace. “Development delays” simply means the child still hasn’t reached a certain milestone in their development that most children at that age have already accomplished. That being said, children with developmental delays are at risk of developing (or having) conditions such as intellectual impairments, achondroplasia, muscular dystrophy, autism, ADHD, and should receive special attention early on. You need to use special teaching strategies to help them overcome those delays and not fall behind. You’ll recognize these children as they’ll have trouble developing basic skills and following the pace of the other classmates. Just be careful not to mistake individual differences for developmental delays. Strategies for Teaching Students With Developmental Delays in Mainstream Classrooms
AutismAlso known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this condition is a broad term that refers to difficulty in a range of social, behavior, speech, and communication skills. It’s a concerning condition that is becoming more and more prevalent in children all around the world. As of 2020, just in the USA, autism affects 1 in 54 children according to the Centers for Disease Control. Unfortunately, genetics and older parents are the two main risk factors for developing autism. Boys are much more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Early intervention is crucial, and with the right methods, the child can have a healthy development. How to Recognize Autism in Children?Here are some worrisome signs that you shouldn’t ignore:
Strategies for Teaching Students With Autism in Mainstream ClassroomsChildren with autism can range from being mentally absent and uninvolved to being loud and aggressive. Here are some strategies that will help you teach students with
autism:
Physical DisabilitiesThere are many physical disabilities that can affect the child’s normal development, but the most common are movement problems, deafness, or visual impairment. These impairments can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause. Usually, children are born with these impairments, they arise in early development due to lesions or anomalies of the brain, or are a consequence of a traumatic injury. The most common physical disability in children is cerebral palsy (CP) which is characterized by poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. These symptoms affect the child’s self-esteem and the way they interact with classmates in their surroundings. The child facing a physical disability would need a classroom and an educational program adjusted to their condition. Strategies for Teaching Students With Physical Disabilities in Mainstream ClassroomsTeaching Strategies for Hearing Impaired Students:
Teaching Strategies for Visually Impaired
Students:
Teaching Strategies for CP/Mobility Impaired Students:
General Strategies for Teaching Special Needs Students in ClassroomsIt’s always a little easier when you have enough information for the child’s condition and a proper diagnosis, but that’s not always the case. First, there may be several special needs students in your classroom with different clinical appearances. So, what are the general strategies for teaching special needs students you can implement in your classroom to make sure you have an inclusive environment? Identify the Type of Disability the Student HasThe first step in preparing the classroom, your teaching and learning materials, as well as the whole curriculum is to understand the condition of your special needs students. Knowing the difficulties they face can help you make the right decisions. You don’t need to know the medical terminology to be successful. Simply, build an honest and open communication with the children’s parents, as well as with the children themselves. Ask them how they feel, or whether something is difficult for them. Listen to them actively and try to resolve the issues that are in your control. Work in Small GroupsOne way to personalize the class is to form small groups of two to three children, who are on the same educational level or struggle with similar tasks. This way, you’ll be able to give them adjusted assignments that will help them improve the specific learning skills they struggle with, while the other students are working on more advanced tasks. Create Classroom CentersAnother way to meet the educational needs of all students in the classroom is to create specialized learning centers. They provide students with exciting opportunities to learn in a stimulating environment. This is because learning centers are filled with unique resources, like manipulatives, art materials, books, and other instructional tools that special needs students can benefit from. You can even create thematic centers or centers adjusted to certain types of conditions. For example, a learning center for students with dyslexia where the books and other materials are created specifically for them, and there’s a lot of visuals. Use Multi-Level Teaching MaterialsOne concept can be explained in a variety of ways. While the majority of children should be exposed to more advanced points of view, which can help them progress, some might feel overwhelmed, and intimidated, and might even fall behind. To prevent this, you can provide students with different-level explanations and even different-level reading materials on the same topic. To avoid discriminating against children, you can actually provide the two-level resources to all students and ask them to choose which one they want to work on. This will minimize frustration and build self-confidence, even motivation to learn. Before You LeaveAs you can see, finding the right strategies for teaching special needs students is no easy task, but hopefully, we’ve helped you get a better idea of how to identify and approach students with different types of learning difficulties, as well as prepare the classroom and yourself for inclusive education. We believe that every student is different and personalized teaching methods are the key to success. Since this is not always possible in a typical classroom setting, we believe the second best thing is to learn specific teaching strategies for children with specific special needs. What’s more, our help for you doesn’t end here. We regularly share insightful information about the education and development of children on our blog that every teacher, homeschool tutor, and parent can benefit from. We also have an immense educational worksheet library you can use for your classes. How can teachers help students with special needs?See Also. Discover your students' strengths. ... . Provide positive role models with disabilities. ... . Develop strength-based learning strategies. ... . Use assistive technologies and Universal Design for Learning tools. ... . Maximize the Power of your students' social networks. ... . Help students envision positive future careers.. What teaching strategies have you used know of that support students with disabilities?Academics & Organization. Break learning tasks into small steps.. Probe regularly to check understanding.. Provide regular quality feedback.. Present information visually and verbally.. Use diagrams, graphics and pictures to support instruction.. Provide independent practice.. Model what you want students to do.. |