Strategies for Teaching Special Needs Students

Special needs education is developed as a unique service for students with mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities. It employs specific teaching strategies for developing the full capabilities of special needs students. 

However, the term “special needs” is so broad that it’s inevitable for teachers to encounter some type of special needs students in their mainstream classroom setting. Whether it’s learning, physical, developmental, behavioral, emotional, or communicational disability, as a teacher, you need to be ready to utilize individual strategies for teaching special needs students. 

Today, a lot of specialists agree on the model of inclusion in education, which furthermore strengthens the argument that all teachers must possess the resources to provide a supportive learning environment for special needs students. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at the most common disabilities seen in typical classrooms and discuss the strategies for teaching students with those specific disabilities, as well as general tips that all students can benefit from. 

Special Needs Students vs. Students with Disabilities 

Before we go any deeper into the topic, let’s make a clear distinction between “special needs students”, or better yet “special education needs students”, and “students with disabilities”. At a glance, it might seem like wordplay, but there’s a very subtle, yet important difference. 

The three terms are used interchangeably most of the time, which makes it that much harder to make a clear distinction.

Usually, the phrase “special needs” serves as an umbrella term, while “disability” and “special education needs” are more specific. The term “disabilities” is more about physical and mental inabilities, while the “special education needs” refers to learning difficulties that make it harder for students to learn compared to most children the same age.  

As a teacher, it’s important for you to be aware of these distinctions, although they don’t really tell you much about the teaching approach you should take. They are important because parents might use these terms, and you should know what questions to ask and how to better understand them. 

Most Common Learning/Behavioral Disabilities Seen in Classrooms

Teaching special needs students is not a one-size-fits-all approach because emotional and behavioral problems need to be approached in a certain way, which might be totally ineffective for students with physical or sensory impairment like hearing or seeing problems. 

For this reason, we’ll take a look at the five most common special needs students that can be seen in a mainstream classroom, and discuss how to recognize their symptoms and what would be the best strategy for teaching. 

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is categorized as a learning disorder where the student has problems identifying sounds, letters, and the relationship between them (decoding). Since this particular problem most severely affects the ability to read, it’s also called a reading disability. Students struggle to process language. 

Students with dyslexia have normal vision and normal intelligence, which means that with early intervention and special education strategies, the child can overcome those difficulties without this condition affecting their educational potential. 

How to Recognize Dyslexia in Children

Symptoms vary depending on the age and education level of the child, as well as from person to person. Here are the common problems:

• Delayed speech development and problems speaking (especially with long words, for example: saying “hecilopter” instead of “helicopter”).
• Unable to use correct words when expressing themselves.
• Problems learning the letters and sounds. 
• Mixing letters, for example writing “6” instead of “9”, or “b” instead of “d.”
• Confusing the order of the letters.
• Reading slowly and making mistakes. 
• Problems with phonological awareness. For example, unable to answer the question “How many words can you think of that rhyme with the word “cat”?”

Strategies for Teaching Students With Dyslexia in Mainstream Classrooms

To help students with dyslexia you can use the following strategies:

• Allow the use of a tape recorder. Students with dyslexia usually have more problems reading and writing, while their listening and speaking skills are intact. 
• Divide the workload into smaller parts. Give students with dyslexia less work, so they don’t feel intimidated as they work at a slower pace than the other students.
• Clarify written instructions. Whenever the instructions are written, you make sure to say them aloud with simpler words. 
• Give separate or additional learning materials. There are many learning materials adjusted for students with dyslexia. You can use instructional games, partner activities, special textbooks, or worksheets.  
• Learn about how to give students a positive learning experience by reading our in-depth article. 

ADHD

From the whole specter of neurobehavioral disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed condition in kids and teenagers. It’s characterized by persistent and severe hyperactivity and inattention incidents that last for at least 6 months and interfere with the child’s social and academic performance. 

It’s also the most commonly misdiagnosed condition, as a lot of children who are naturally more active and have a difficult temperament can be considered to be suffering from ADHD. To avoid making a mistake, always maintain close communication with the parents and encourage psychological assessment and support. After all, ADHD is a behavioral disorder and similar symptoms might be caused by problems at home, outbursts because of a recent traumatic event, peer conflicts or pressure, etc. 

How to Recognize ADHD in Children

Here are the most common symptoms of children struggling with ADHD:

• Trouble waiting their turn to speak and interrupting others.
• Sudden outbursts of anger, shouting, and even manifestation of physical aggression.
• Hyperactivity in the form of running, jumping, fidgeting, or squirming during the class. 
• No interest in finishing school activities and tasks. 
• Trouble holding their attention even when you’re addressing them directly. 
• Making mistakes, forgetting things, and/or having trouble keeping track of things. 

Strategies for Teaching Students With ADHD in Mainstream Classrooms

Dealing with children with ADHD can be quite a challenge, but there are several strategies that can help:

• Seat them away from distractions, like windows or doors. Make sure there are no other classmates around that might provoke them or try to get their attention. 
• Give them instructions on a step-by-step basis, using simple words. 
• Use visuals and colorful, stimulating teaching materials that can grab their attention. 
• Start with more difficult activities, as their attention is lower near the end of the day. 
• Adjust the exams or evaluations to their needs. For example, allow them to take exams orally rather than having them write down answers for open-ended questions. 
• Divide long-term projects into smaller segments and reward them for finishing each segment. 
• Talk to parents about organizing and finishing homework. 
• Give them stress balls or similar anti-stress toys when they become nervous or unable to focus. 
• Vary the activities, make them unpredictable, funny, and interactive. 

Developmental Delays

“Development delays” is an umbrella term that comprises several types of difficulties including cognitive delays (awareness problems, comprehension problems, learning problems), motor delays (being clumsy, trouble walking, difficulty holding objects, etc), social, emotional, and behavior delays (problems communicating with others, playing, and interacting).

This category is not a condition or a disorder because every child develops at a different pace. “Development delays” simply means the child still hasn’t reached a certain milestone in their development that most children at that age have already accomplished. That being said, children with developmental delays are at risk of developing (or having) conditions such as intellectual impairments, achondroplasia, muscular dystrophy, autism, ADHD, and should receive special attention early on. You need to use special teaching strategies to help them overcome those delays and not fall behind. 

You’ll recognize these children as they’ll have trouble developing basic skills and following the pace of the other classmates. Just be careful not to mistake individual differences for developmental delays. 

Strategies for Teaching Students With Developmental Delays in Mainstream Classrooms

• All the tasks must fit the needs of the individual, which means they need to be personalized.
• Utilize simple and fun obstacle tasks where the child will be able to practice their motor skills. 
• Use outdoor activities, modeling crafts, or games with toys (clay, paper, pencils, crayons, safety scissors, etc) to promote the development of fine motor skills. 
• Plan field trips and fun outdoor activities like gathering autumn leaves. 
• Use topics or activities that the child likes, to motivate them to work harder (for cognitive delays). 
• Be specific and use simple words when giving instructions. 
• Praise the effort, not just the results. 
• Speak directly and slowly to the students so they have time to process the instructions (for cognitive delays).
• Reinforce communication attempts. 
• Use gestures to support your words. 
• Be patient when the student is speaking, and wait longer than usual. 
• Encourage interactive communication in the classroom or within groups. 
• Explore feelings through the use of play.
• Set specific “good morning” and “goodbye” routines. 
• Ask students to imagine how their behavior might affect others.

Autism 

Also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), this condition is a broad term that refers to difficulty in a range of social, behavior, speech, and communication skills. It’s a concerning condition that is becoming more and more prevalent in children all around the world. As of 2020, just in the USA, autism affects 1 in 54 children according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Unfortunately, genetics and older parents are the two main risk factors for developing autism. Boys are much more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Early intervention is crucial, and with the right methods, the child can have a healthy development. 

How to Recognize Autism in Children?

Here are some worrisome signs that you shouldn’t ignore:

• Not responding to their name. 
• Avoiding eye contact. 
• Repetitive movements. 
• Not smiling when you smile at them. 
• Getting upset over sensory information (smells, sounds, etc).
• Not understanding what others are feeling. 
• Not being able to express how they feel.  
• Getting very upset when making changes. 
• Not socializing with other classmates. 

Strategies for Teaching Students With Autism in Mainstream Classrooms

Children with autism can range from being mentally absent and uninvolved to being loud and aggressive. Here are some strategies that will help you teach students with autism:

• Let the child know what will happen next. Children with autism don’t like changes and can be upset if they find themselves in an unfamiliar situation. You can even set timers or use “What comes next” pictures for the activities during the class. 
• Be consistent and follow through. Children with autism should feel comfortable with you and trust you.
• Give them a choice. You can simply say “Today we’re going to practice vocabulary. Do you want to work like this, or with this?” This will make them feel in control. Just don’t use too many options as you can easily overwhelm them. 
• Use a weekly and daily schedule. This way the child will know what comes next and parents can also prepare them before coming to school. 
• Don’t resist if the child wants to hold on to something. For example, when moving from one activity to another. Let them keep an object or give them time before they’re ready to transition. 

Physical Disabilities

There are many physical disabilities that can affect the child’s normal development, but the most common are movement problems, deafness, or visual impairment. These impairments can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause. Usually, children are born with these impairments, they arise in early development due to lesions or anomalies of the brain, or are a consequence of a traumatic injury. 

The most common physical disability in children is cerebral palsy (CP) which is characterized by poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. These symptoms affect the child’s self-esteem and the way they interact with classmates in their surroundings.

The child facing a physical disability would need a classroom and an educational program adjusted to their condition.  

Strategies for Teaching Students With Physical Disabilities in Mainstream Classrooms

Teaching Strategies for Hearing Impaired Students:

• Prepare the class by teaching students about the difficulties their classmate faces, and explain how they’re supposed to interact with them. 
• Present lecture information in a visual format (printable handouts, PowerPoint presentations, and so on).
• Use sign-language too whenever you speak or give instructions. 
• Provide transcripts of audio information. 
• Provide special audio-visual materials that aid the learning process in hearing-impaired students.
• Be patient and allow for some extra time when the student is working on a project or giving an answer.

Teaching Strategies for Visually Impaired Students:

• Always describe or explain any visual materials used during classes. You can also dictate whenever you’re writing something on the board. 
• Give oral instructions. Whenever you use printed materials, read the instructions and the assignment out loud. 
• Change the classroom rules. For example, ask children to clap when they want to ask a question, instead of raising their hand. 
• Rely on tactile information whenever possible. For example, when you’re learning about nature and plants, bring examples of leaves and different types of plants, so children can touch them, instead of using pictures. 
• Use assistive technology. Many school textbooks can be found in an audio format. Give visually impaired children the opportunity to listen to the lecture on headphones while others are reading the material. If you prepare your own reading material, you can record yourself reading the lecture, and give the tape to the student, so they can listen while others read. 

Teaching Strategies for CP/Mobility Impaired Students:

• Inspect the classroom and report any physical barriers that might be an obstacle for children with mobility impairments. The goal is to have an accessible classroom. 
• Rearrange desks, so there’s more space for children in wheelchairs. 
• Permit students to record the lecture, instead of writing or taking notes. 
• Partner a student with a classmate who can help them while working on projects. 
• Students who can’t write need to have the option to take exams orally. 

General Strategies for Teaching Special Needs Students in Classrooms

It’s always a little easier when you have enough information for the child’s condition and a proper diagnosis, but that’s not always the case.  First, there may be several special needs students in your classroom with different clinical appearances. So, what are the general strategies for teaching special needs students you can implement in your classroom to make sure you have an inclusive environment? 

Identify the Type of Disability the Student Has

The first step in preparing the classroom, your teaching and learning materials, as well as the whole curriculum is to understand the condition of your special needs students. Knowing the difficulties they face can help you make the right decisions. You don’t need to know the medical terminology to be successful. Simply, build an honest and open communication with the children’s parents, as well as with the children themselves. Ask them how they feel, or whether something is difficult for them. Listen to them actively and try to resolve the issues that are in your control. 

Work in Small Groups

One way to personalize the class is to form small groups of two to three children, who are on the same educational level or struggle with similar tasks. This way, you’ll be able to give them adjusted assignments that will help them improve the specific learning skills they struggle with, while the other students are working on more advanced tasks.  

Create Classroom Centers

Another way to meet the educational needs of all students in the classroom is to create specialized learning centers. They provide students with exciting opportunities to learn in a stimulating environment. This is because learning centers are filled with unique resources, like manipulatives, art materials, books, and other instructional tools that special needs students can benefit from. You can even create thematic centers or centers adjusted to certain types of conditions. For example, a learning center for students with dyslexia where the books and other materials are created specifically for them, and there’s a lot of visuals.  

Use Multi-Level Teaching Materials

One concept can be explained in a variety of ways. While the majority of children should be exposed to more advanced points of view, which can help them progress, some might feel overwhelmed, and intimidated, and might even fall behind. To prevent this, you can provide students with different-level explanations and even different-level reading materials on the same topic. 

To avoid discriminating against children, you can actually provide the two-level resources to all students and ask them to choose which one they want to work on. This will minimize frustration and build self-confidence, even motivation to learn. 

Before You Leave 

As you can see, finding the right strategies for teaching special needs students is no easy task, but hopefully, we’ve helped you get a better idea of how to identify and approach students with different types of learning difficulties, as well as prepare the classroom and yourself for inclusive education. 

We believe that every student is different and personalized teaching methods are the key to success. Since this is not always possible in a typical classroom setting, we believe the second best thing is to learn specific teaching strategies for children with specific special needs. 

What’s more, our help for you doesn’t end here. We regularly share insightful information about the education and development of children on our blog that every teacher, homeschool tutor, and parent can benefit from. We also have an immense educational worksheet library you can use for your classes.