10 Classroom Strategies to Ensure Inclusive Education for Students with Special Needs
November 2, 2021
Children with special needs thrive when included in education and integrated with their peers. There are many lessons they can learn from other children, and many friendships to be formed. Children with autism spectrum disorder and other learning disabilities, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, perform better, academically and socially, if the classroom is set up to accommodate their special needs. Teachers must also be creative and innovative when setting it up. Managing an inclusive classroom is easier when simple teaching strategies tailored to students with special needs are implemented. The following tips will help you create a learning environment that helps students thrive and be included.
1. Arrange classroom desks in rows, instead of using circular seating around large tables. Students with autism need their own space. A student with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder is easily distracted, so a suitable seat for them is close to the teacher and facing forward. Children with special needs in general are easily distracted, so keep their desks away from windows, doors, and activity areas in the classroom.
2. Post classroom rules in a visible place in the classroom, and review them regularly. Have students take turns reading the rules aloud as part of the daily routine. Make sure all students understand the classroom rules and the consequences of not adhering to them. It can be helpful to let them help draft the classroom rules.
3. Give verbal prompts frequently, and make sure your instructions are easy to understand. Repeat instructions if the student does not seem to understand what you are saying.
4. Use visual aids such as charts, diagrams, and pictures. Use vibrant, colorful pictures. Children with autism tend to respond well to technology. Phased learning lines are very engaging for them and allow them to interact while learning.
5. Peers can be great role models for students on the autism spectrum. Pair compatible children together when working on projects or participating in classroom activities. Many children welcome the opportunity to be role models for students with special needs. The experience is not only positive for the student with autism, but for their peer as well.
6. Establish a predictable schedule. Children with autism tend to prefer predictable routines. Give advance warning if the daily schedule is going to change. If there is a field trip, a guest in class, or a substitute teacher, try to tell the class in advance. Unexpected changes in routine can be difficult for a child with autism.
7. Teach social skills such as hand-raising, turn-taking, and sharing as part of the learning curriculum. All students will benefit when reminders are given. Children with autism often engage in self-stimulatory behaviors such as hand-flapping or rocking. Help other students in the class understand these behaviors.
8. Provide breaks. Read a story or play a short game. Sometimes the opportunity to get out of the seat and walk around the room is very calming for a child with autism. Try to pay attention to signs indicating that a student may need a short break.
9. Focus on the student's strengths. If a child is interested in dinosaurs, baseball, pets, or water sports, they need an opportunity to show their interest in this
area. We primarily developed Ynmo to empower teachers to design an individualized educational program for each child with special needs tailored to their strengths and needs. Students with special needs thrive when individualized programs tailored specifically to them are developed.
10. Reduce environmental stimuli. Loud noises, bright lights, and hot or cold temperatures can disrupt a child's thinking pattern and cause undesirable classroom behaviors. Be mindful of these environmental stimuli and eliminate them whenever possible.
Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.
