5 Creative Methods To Help An Autistic Child That Really Work
Nowadays, students with special needs are no longer isolated in “Special Ed” classrooms. They thrive in the presence of their peers. Children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD) usually do well in if the classroom is arranged well to accommodate their special needs.
But how to do that?
How to accommodate autistic students in your classroom?
Well, one of the most common issues of autistic students is they struggling to work independently. In fact, most of the autistic students are accomplished of working at age related expectations. Nevertheless, some autistic children really do need constant support.
Autism is a lifetime developmental special need characterised by noticeable difficulties in social communication, impaired interation, restricted and repetitive interests as well as behaviours with sensory sensitivities.
Research shows that most learners with ASD will benefit from anorganized and explicitly outlined teaching method with clear expectations.
Teaching Strategies for Teaching Children with Autism
Here are five fun activities to help children with autism feel welcome in your class ---
Create a Strategic Environment
Did you know the autistic kids feel more protected when they have a prearranged routine with clear structures? Hence, make sure that your teachingsetting and lesson plans are well-structured in a way that meets all required checkpoints. Give instructions in as few words as possible as kids with the autism usually have problems in understanding spoken directions.
Name Game
The Name Game is an exclusively fun social skills activity for students with autism. You need to do this at the beginning of the school year. This entertaining group communication activity imparts students with autism an important skill.They learn how to introduce themselves and learn someone else’s name.
To play this, assemble your learners in a circle so they can all see each other. Start by pointing at yourself and saying your name (“I am Mr. or Ms. _____.”). Then, ask astudent on your right to share their name just like you did and then repeat your name while pointing at you. Have each kid take turn saying their name, then pointing at another kid in the class and repeating their name.
Fun Sensory Activities for Autistic Kids
Try Computer Based Programs
To hold the interest of students with autism, try computer-based programs. There is many visual learning as well as assessment tools for special education teachers working with young children with autism. You can also use your own images to personalize lesson plans for learners who have explicit interests.
A Flexible Workstation
Don’t abruptly set it up one day as a “surprise” and expect autistic children to be overjoyed! Autistic kids do appreciate predictability but often they find change difficult, due to their fundamental anxiety and need for time to develop the changes. Talk about the change with them first and clarify that you’re going to give it a go. It might help to show them pictures of adult workstations so they recognise that it’s a lifetime strategy that they can use.
Sorting With Snacks Activity
This tangible activity for students with autism can be a fun way to involve students throughout math time. Provide everyone in your class a food that is easy to sort, like chewy snacks or small crackers. Multicolored snacks are perfect, but you can also use food that comes in different shapes, textures, or sizes.
So, at first, ask them to sort the food by color, shape, or another distinctive. Then, use the snacks to teach students basic math skills like counting, adding, or subtraction. Once they’ve gripped the concept you want to teach, reward your students by letting them eat the snack.
Conclusion
All of the tactics suggested in this write-up are evidence based. The special education courses are something that will prepare you to deal with autism students in a more equipped way! These creative approaches help special education teachers advance the effectiveness of their teaching. All it needs to understand is a little compassion, acceptance, perceptive, enthusiasm, and change the way of thinking.
