Here are some handy tips for special educators

The profession of teaching does have its extensions. Special education is one such, and sadly, one of the less recognised ones. Teaching is a demanding profession and when it comes to teaching students with special needs, the effort is doubled as it not only requires the skill but can be draining physically as well as emotionally.

In a classroom with special needs students, there are challenges as well as setbacks along the way. However, the determination to help them through and adopting some strategies can help you transform the teaching and learning experience in the classroom for the best. This article can help you find out how you can smooth the journey for students with special needs

Communication

Children with special needs have persistent problems with social interaction and communication. Their ability to interact and express themselves is curbed, especially in the case of students on the ADHD spectrum. Facing challenges with this basic need, their confidence takes a hit.

Educator’s Tip: It is essential to ensure that these students have a high level of comfort with their teachers so that they can take their time to express themselves in the classroom. What teachers can do is make sure that all students in the classroom are tolerant and patient with each other. In inclusive classrooms as well, it is important that students encourage each other among their peer groups and work towards healthy social integration and empathy.

Pace of Learning

We are aware that all students learn at their own pace and students with disabilities might take much longer than the average child to learn and grasp information, process and understand it. Their ability to write or grasp verbal information can be slower and this may delay their understanding of the concept. Children with special needs take time to fully grasp questions, register facts and carry out instructions. The time they take to respond is longer than that of the average student. This causes problems and obstacles among their social learning groups as well as with the learning outcomes derived.

Educator’s Tip: Allow children with disorders to take their time and encourage them to participate when they are ready and have formulated their thoughts. You can bring technology into the classroom to aid and accelerate their learning. This can be done by allowing these students to record lectures or maybe by sharing the learning material online so that they can work on it in advance or refer to it later.

Resistance to Change

Many children with special needs fear change and new experiences.

This usually happens due to the discomfort of having to face the unknown and the challenges new learnings might pose. It also can cause anxiety and worry that that will not be able to learn things as quickly as others do.

Educator’s Tip: Familiarity is what eases things for students with special needs. What educators can do is prepare a routine for the class which all students understand and are familiar with while incorporating small changes at a time.

Problem with Focus

Students with learning disabilities are usually unfocused and hence end up ‘spacing out’ in class and not understanding or remembering what they were taught. This can make it very difficult for them to successfully complete assignments and prepare for tests.

Educator’s Tip: It is essential to eliminate distractions from the classroom as much as possible. A structured learning plan and the teacher’s concise, written guidance coupled with minimal verbal instruction would be beneficial.

These are some tips that special education teachers can incorporate to create a better learning environment for the students. We would like to know about your experience with your special needs students. Do share your journey of teaching with us at feedback@learnedtalk.com