24th October 2019

When it comes to teaching special education students, engagement holds the key in bringing success to those involved. Increased interaction and more comprehensive understanding of the materials can prove challenging and be of a unique perspective for every student, especially when it involves teaching students having a wide range of learning disabilities. Creativity in special education courses adds an element of success and fun while pursuing the course and focusing on techniques in improving the overall learning outcome for the students.

A special education teacher training is essential in healing the teachers reach out to the needs of the special children. The capabilities gained through this degree helps improve the learning outcomes while expanding the qualifications of the teachers towards greater opportunities in the field of special education.

To engage the special education needs students, teachers need to understand their needs and mold the activities as per their requirements. The belief that every student can learn can inspire you to do great things. Evaluating the individual needs and doing some creative thinking to figure out how these can be fulfilled is one of the most rewarding aspects on being a special education teacher.

Here is a look at some of the measures that can be taken for improving classroom engagement among special needs children.

Question Formulation Technique

Rather than merely teaching the students, the Question Formulation Technique acts as a prompter for the students to ask questions. Any question is permitted, and this is a technique that works for almost every available subject matter. History, for example, can be about the picture of a time period and the teacher answering question that students put forward about the same.

Turning lessons and instructions into a bunch of songs

Music has always been a powerful tool for engaging children who have a wide range of learning disorders. Melody and rhythm help in improving memory and aids in better understanding of key words. Turning key information and lesson instructions into songs help encourage the students into singing and drumming along the tune.

Getting a menu of activities

A good way to engage students is by connecting classroom information with activities you carry out in the real world. Anything that is found in the real world can be brought into the classroom as a means by which to engage the students. For instance, students can select questions of their choice from a menu, like the one you get in a restaurant. The questions to be answered can be listed under headers such as “dessert”, “appetizer” and “entrée”.

Involve the students in creating something

Another successful strategy by which students in special education classes can be engaged is by virtue of helping them make something of a creation. How you go about detailing this strategy to achieve the goal will have its fair share of variations because the main aim is to bring out the creative edge of the students. It may not have any direct connection to a lesson plan but will go a long way in helping improve the self-confidence of the special ones.

Finding learning possibilities in the things that the students love

Anything and everything that the students find enjoyable can be put to use for teaching them something of note. Activities, movies, and songs can all be used in teaching subjects such as numbers and vocabulary. You can ask the students what they like before you start sorting out learning possibilities in the lot.

Special challenges bring special rewards

Interactions with special education students calls for creativity and flexibility. After your special education teacher training, you will know the right approaches of interacting with special needs students where you get to learn about their individual interests and needs and at the same time are able to transform the same into classroom activities that will help them thrive and grow.

Conclusion

By virtue of a special education training program for the teachers, you will be able to develop the necessary skills that will help you improve your engagement with the students and motivate those having a wide variety of learning disabilities.