Simple Ways to Help Children with "Special Needs"

Modifications

Tips for Teachers  

Modifications  

Preferential seating
Establish eye contact before giving instructions
Reduced assignments
Alternate assignments
Extended time lines
Special materials such as graph paper, felt tip markers, special lined paper, etc.
Use of film strips or overhead projector to provide more/better visuals
Read test orally
Taping of content material
Acceptance of special projects in lieu of reports
Calculators
Multiplication matrix
List of commonly misspelled words
An assignment notebook
A study skills notebook
A daily schedule attached on the inside of notebook to be checked daily
Multiple choice or true/false versions of test in lieu of essay completion
Performance contract between teacher and child or parent and child
Taped reports (as opposed to written)
Credit for class participation
Give one-step, short, simple directions
Call students name to remind him he will answer next question
Assign a peer study buddy to help him get organized and complete work.
Tap on student's desk to help student refocus on task
Cut assignment in half. Have child finish one half, turn it in, then complete the other half
Use Highlighting and color coding to help child get main point of information
Frequent, positive reinforcement
Use color overlay

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Tips for Teachers 

For Inattention

Seat Student near the front
Seat student near good role model who can be a "peer study buddy"
Cut assignments into segments giving student 1 segment at a time
(Example - cut a math paper in half and have child complete task and turn it at that time give him the other half.)
Use cueing to regain child's attention
(Example - holding up a bright color paper, tapping on desk, touching shoulder)
Establish eye contact before giving instructions
Give short direct instructions using both visual and oral cues when possible

For Impulsivity

For Hyperactivity

Allow child to stand at times
Supervise Transitions
Allow to run errands

For Academic Success

Provide extra time to complete work
Shorten assignments
Use multi-sensory methods of teaching (Visual, oral and tactile)
Accept work from typewriters or word processors and tape recorders
Remind child to check work to see if completed
Help child learn self monitoring techniques
Use daily assignment sheets

For Organization Skills

Enlist parents help
Use daily assignment sheets
Use one notebook for everything
Check notebook often and positively reinforce good notebooks

These tips were furnished over the years by different physicians to many parents. They have been compiled by Opal  Harris.

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