Teaching Strategy for Special Children

TEACHING STRATEGY FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN

      Special children are special because they require a more attention in many ways they are not just ordinary children, what makes these children special is that they have a mild intellectual and learning disability unlike any other children, this maybe mental disturbance, psychiatric problem, dyslexia, terminal illness, Down syndrome, autism and others.

      The teaching method requires a more strategic and specific involvement and there will always be a problem to be met every now and then, teachers are challenged with the special children because of behavioral and learning difficulties that even the simple things may requires a thorough and careful measures as simple as tying their shoes, teacher must have lots of resources and patients in dealing with them. They must also learn to exercise high tolerance and extended desire to show genuine concern for the children more than their career.

      Their families may experience a hard time sending them to school because of the needs of special children is about their condition physically and medically so parents and teachers need a total cooperation to really teach the children at home and in school. Parents need a lot of involvement with their children. They do not have to depend the teaching methods entirely to the school institution and their teachers. There are various strategies that they can consider to teach these children in a more effective manner these methods can be used by parents and teachers alike;

      Encouragement teaching – Basically giving an initial happy and approachable attitude in learning, giving them for example a good song and dance or a known play before the proper academic training, just like in Japan they use a different type of exercise for special children to condition their physical and mental attitude in learning and this is proven effective. Children are encouraged to join in some activities that are fun and exciting. Encouraging special children requires a happy attitude a simple greetings and compliments, a simple embrace or a simple kiss can encourage the students to feel that they are part of the family while in school.

      Strategic teaching method – Includes breaking down the lesson processes into small parts even if it takes time, special children may find it hard to understand or follow long winding structure but they may be able to follow a short and simple lessons, this may also include the use of modeling gestures that they can easily adopt. The use of sign language or body language can be easily followed by children subconsciously that is why it becomes a popular ways to teach special children.

      Using photos and images – This is another form of clinical testing and teaching method so that children can easily identify lessons more than verbal or written text, they can also use diagrams or paintings and the likes that deals with the subject matter. Some teachers even used the pictures of the student and their family. Some uses drawings and cartoons that’s easy to identify.

      Using multi-media technology – The modern technology basically lightens the burden of the teachers and parents these are real lessons that can be found on the internet that is already an audio visual learning approach. It includes lessons that are basically appropriate according to the needs of special children. Most of all there are interactive lessons that the teachers can use, this lessons can allow children and computer to act or talk with each other making it more fun and exciting.  These are real lesson that moves and speak that it can easily arouse the interest of the students. There are also movies that are available for home and school, the school themselves can also develop their own program using computers for a more personalized lessons. The lessons can easily be used and duplicate.  

      Practical and transformational approach in learning – Special children should also expose in simple work activities sometimes they can be even more interesting in cleaning or washing the dishes, taking care of their laundry and other work that they need to be involved such as cooking or baking etc. this can help children to become an independent individual rather than stagnant by relying mostly on their family. Parents and teachers need to watch the students carefully for they may not be able to control much of the equipments especially the delicate ones including knifes or appliances that they make broke and may cause accident. Even a simple hygiene of taking a bath, wearing their clothes and brushing their teeth should be taught practically for them to be transformed to become independent individual.

      Assessment Progression of children is also important; teaches should have a ready written data about the progress of their students to specifically assess their strength and weaknesses for evaluation purpose. This can give the parents and teacher an adjustment and focus to the problem areas that need attention just like in an ordinary schooling.  There are many new strategies that the academe has been developing but the following techniques should be enough to simply guide the children a good learning experience and quality education that they can use in their life.

Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com