Some might think that teaching children with special needs can be difficult. Yes, that may be true.  However, there can be strategies to help in decreasing the alleged difficulty. It is up to the classroom and special education teacher to ascertain that appropriate strategies are being used in the classroom to assist individual learning styles and direct all students with special needs towards successful learning. It is recommended that a multi-modal approach be utilized – visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile for optimum success.

For the classroom, you can use the following suggestions to have an environment conducive to learning:

1. 1.Make available the use of a study carrel when appropriate.
2. 2.Make sure the students sit in area from distractions.
3. 3.Get rid of all unnecessary materials from student desk to lessen distractions.
4. 4.A checklist would be useful to help student get organized.
5. 5.Have at hand an extra supply of pencils, pens, books and paper in the classroom.
6. 6.Consider allowing the student frequent breaks.
7. 7.From the beginning, have an agreed upon cue for student to leave the classroom.
8. 8.Decrease visual distractions in the classroom.

With regards to time management and transitions, you can make use of the following to effectively manage the time spent for teaching and learning as well as having efficient transitions which is very crucial in teaching children with special needs:

1. 1.Be mindful of spacing short work periods with breaks.
2. 2.Make sure you give additional time to complete assignment.
3. 3.Provide extra time for homework completion.
4. 4.You should inform student with several reminders, numerous minutes apart, before changing from one activity to the next.
5. 5.Lessen amount of work from typical assignment.
6. 6.Inform the students for a specific place for turning in assignments.

When you equip yourself with proper knowledge and skills in understanding how strategies work for educating children with special needs,  you will soon realize that the task is not really daunting at all.

By: Ma. Janette G. Manlapaz | Special Education Teacher I | Liyang Elementary School | Pilar, Bataan