How do you deal with special need students?

[missjanet]

I am currently working towards my teaching credential. I was wondering however, how teachers in states other than California or even in different countries deal with special need students. I would appreciate tips and strategies that working teachers actually employ in their classrooms. Thank you.

[Unregistered]

Are you getting your degree in regular education or Special Education?

If you are going to be a regular education teacher, the IEP will have modificatons and accommodations for the student.

If you are going to be a special education teacher, you work with the student on his or her level. First of all you must treat these wonderful kids with love and respect and you will get everything that they can possibly do for you.

[Unregistered]

From the sticks in Ontario Canada...
That would depend on the needs of the child. When I was on placement (I'm studying to be a child and youth worker). I delt with alot of "spec needs" children. I worked with a small group off ADHD/ADD/OCD children (some had more then one diagnosis). a high functioning Autistic, and a group of behaviourally-challanged kindergarden class.

I would highly suggest first off, that when you get a child with a LD that you spend some time looking up what you are going to be dealing with. I worked along side an EA that didn't even know the full implications of the disorder. Not only that, the teacher often seemed to forget that the kid had a problem and then started to wonder why they reacted badly to some of the activities.

Second, learn and keep in mind what the child can or cannot do. Don't set them up for failure. For ADD/ADHD or even children with Tourettes, they may find it easier to take tests in the library or some other quiet area. For dealing with severe ADD/ADHD/TTS/ or PDD the hall may work well. Find a place for these children to take their tests. The area shouldn't be visually stimulating or have any or much sound. there also shouldn't be people walking in and out of it.

Lastly, experiment. This was what my whole placement was about. Find things that work for this child and write them down for reference and for future years. each child is different and will react differenly even givin the same circumstance.

Good luck.

[Unregistered]

I am currently working towards my teaching credential. I was wondering however, how teachers in states other than California or even in different countries deal with special need students. I would appreciate tips and strategies that working teachers actually employ in their classrooms. Thank you.


i'm not a techer but a special needs teenager. i am in the special Ed program and all i can say to you is. First look over the IEP. then i would just observe each indivial student themselves. You cant just go off what other teachers say. 1 reason is because you dont know how well that teacher has known the student or if they are qualifed to comment on one's educational level.
Then what i would do before teaching the class given to you. go and just stop by and watch them as a person not as an adult. you might pick up on things they prefer but are too afraid to show when the teacher is present.

Sometimes you dont get to know anything about the students other then what there IEP says. which isnt always true. mine hasnt changed in 3 years but i have progressed since then but just not to there standards.

* study the students * do hands on stuff * group activitys * Talk to other special ed teacher and see how they deal with it..(unless there uptight people )

Goodluck