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.

 

[dee]

What kind?

Are you talking the kind of kid who can't read? or the kid who stands up and swears and throws chairs? or the kid who cries at the drop of a hat? of the kid who has a nurse because of feeding tubes and seizures?

I have children who happen to have special needs. I teach them at their level just like a teach the kid who reads 3 grades above. Differentiated instruction.

It's definately hardest to teach the child who stands up and swears and throws chairs, but you just deal with it.

It's like trying to explain War and Peace in less than 50 words!

 

[istoleahalo]

I agree, a blanket statement can't be made as how to handle "special needs kids" each situation is diffrent.

I have been teaching special needs for 6 years and every year I find myslef at least a few times online trying to leanr more about a new problem, be it medical, mental, or whatever. That is my main advice...just keep up to date on what each kid needs. If you get a kid whith autism and have not had one before...go research it so you know what you are dealing with.

Good luck

 

[j.bush]

I have been teacheing Special Education for 7 years. I absolutely love it..... Working with Special needs students is like putting a puzzle together.... you never know what is going to work for each child, but you need to keep trying to figure it out..... researching the student's disabilityis a really good thing, and remember that the student didn't ask for their disability and they just want to be like everyone else.... to be normal.... my kids know that in my room they are safe...it is an area where they are treated normal and I will try to help them as much as I can..... they learn to trust me... I don't judge them and make them feel worse.... and ultimately I love each and every one of them as if they were my own child....and sometimes that requires that I pull them aside and tell them that they need to get their act together.... or that their after school activities are not acceptable.... and that I really care what is going on in their life in school and out.... it really takes a special kind of person to teach Special Education.....

Good Luck and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do...