Special+Needs+Students

Let's not kid ourselves. We all fear it. The student who can't see an inch in front of him. The child whose attention span is practically nonexistent. The kid whose constant depressed attitude rubs off on you. There will be students with special needs in your classroom from time to time, but they can be dealt with in a reasonable and effective manner.

[|How NOT to deal with a student with ADHD]

[|Students with Behavioral and Emotional Disorders]

[|WARNING: DO NOT CLICK]


 * Students with Behavioral/Emotional Disorders**


 * Find a psychology report for the background
 * Familiarize yourself with a behavior intervention plan for the student
 * Take all steps to maintain the student's self-control
 * Avoid giving a variety of tasks at one time
 * Stay relaxed and predictable
 * Make instructions brief
 * If problem is serious, use behavioral therapy (arranging environmental events to influence behavior)
 * Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing**


 * Use adaptive devices such as hearing aids, if available
 * Always face these students for lip-reading purposes
 * Plan their seating arrangement accordingly
 * Use captioned versions of videos whenever possible
 * Some deaf students require interpreters
 * Students with Visual Impairments**


 * Read everything out loud
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Tape recorders might be necessary
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Encourage students to ask for help or sit/walk closer to any displays
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Acknowledge their degree of awareness of social cues
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Use large print, or if the condition is serious, Braille
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Use optacons (this translates written materials into tactile representations)



<span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">
 * English Language Learners**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Don't assume! Get a background of the student's experience first
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Learn some key words in their native tongue
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Use continuous body language
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Misunderstandings will happen, so be patient, helpful, and available
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Assist the students in any way possible to improve their English proficiency [|(make it into a game)]

Sources: __Classroom Management for Middle and High School Teachers__ by Edmund T. Emmer and Carolyn M. Evertson __Effective Instruction for Students with Special Needs__ by Bob Algozzine and Jim Ysseldyke Image obtained from []