Antecedentes

There are many practical strategies that are effective in the classroom. It is up to the classroom and special education teacher to ensure that appropriate strategies are being used in the classroom to assist individual learning styles and provide success to all students with special needs. It is recommended that a multi-modal approach be used, visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile for optimum success.

Classroom Environment:

Delivering an academic program to a room full of unique students is certainly a challenge. Implementing some of the strategies listed in this chapter will provide a comfortable learning place for all students regardless of their academic abilities. To create a healthy classroom environment important points to remember are:

• Proper physical placement of the child in the class • Behavioral management of the child

• Time management and transition

• Teacher student interaction and reciprocity • Peer support

Reflection

• Tabulate the teaching strategies and instructional material which you will prepare taking into consideration children with special needs present in your class.

• What class room barriers you think should be changed taking into consideration children with special needs present in your class?

Physical Placement:

While good room arrangement is not a guarantee of good behavior, poor planning in this area can create conditions that lead to problems.

1. The teacher must be able to observe all students at all times and to monitor work and behavior.

2. The teacher should also be able to see the door from his or her desk.

3. Frequently used areas of the room and traffic lanes should be unobstructed and easily accessible Students should be able to see the teacher and presentation area without undue turning or movement.

4. Commonly used classroom materials, e.g., books, attendance pads, absence permits, and student reference materials should be readily available.

5. Some degree of decoration will help add to the attractiveness of the room 6. Properly lighted classroom without noise distraction

7. Design of windows and illumination levels to eliminate glare. 8. Reduce distance between the child and the chalk board 9. Minimize risk of injuries – avoid projections, sharp edges etc 10. Use of bright colors

Behaviour Management:

1. Avoid confrontations and power struggles. 2. Provide an appropriate peer role model

3. Modify rules that may discriminate against student with neurological disorder. 4. Develop a system or code that will let the student know when behavior is not

appropriate.

5. Ignore attention seeking behaviors that are not disruptive to the classroom. 6. Arrange a designated safe place that student can go to.

7. Develop a code of conduct for the classroom and visually display it in an appropriate place where all students can see it, review it frequently.

8. Develop a behavior intervention plan that is realistic and easily applied. 9. Provide immediate reinforcers and feedback.

Time Management and Transitions

1. Space short work periods with breaks.

2. Provide additional time to complete assignment. 3. Allow extra time for homework completion.

4. Inform student with several reminders, several minutes apart, before changing from one activity to the next.

5. Reduce amount of work from usual assignment. 6. Provide a specific place for turning in assignments.

Teacher Student Interaction and Reciprocity a. Rapport formation

b. Building trust among the students for the teacher c. Motivate CWSN as and when required

d. Seating arrangement should be such that teacher can have eye contact with all the students.

e. Teacher should be aware about the strength and weaknesses of the student f. Teacher should also regularly conduct “parent teacher meeting” may be once in a

month

g. Teacher should provide appropriate reinforcement/ reward to the student while accomplishment of the target behaviour.

h. Patience is the key for successful teacher and student’s interaction. Peer Support

1. Learning and playing teaches them togetherness

2. Peer tutoring helps CWSN understand the topic effectively

3. Motivation and cooperation from peer group is expected for CWSN 4. Peer support will help erase feeling of hostility among CWSN

4.8 CONCLUSION

In a nutshell, the concept of mainstreaming of disabled has gradually been taking root in the education system. While such a step is eminently desirable in the larger social perspective the teachers need to acquire special abilities to identify the ordinary needs of the individual child develop among themselves and appropriate management skills in a class comprising children of diverse levels of learning abilities use of special equipment adopt special instructional methods and material adapt the normal educational curriculum to suit the situation and above all in displaying a humane approach in handling children with special needs.

It is hoped that this chapter will help the teachers to develop a sense of awareness regarding requirements of CWSN and will translate the same into effective method of instructions.

Reflection-

•How effectively the classroom can be utilized? Note down the various strategies according to your school

Reflection-

• Arrange meetings regarding IEP with the Head of the schools, Classroom teachers, Parents of CWSN and CWSN.

• How effectively the classroom can be utilized? Note down the various strategies according to your school

UNIT V - ROLE OF SPECIAL TEACHER

Dr. Rajashree Pradhan

5.1 Introduction 5.2 Objectives

5.3 Guidance & Counseling 5.4 Counseling to Parents 5.5 Counseling to Peers

5.6 Counseling to Children with Special Needs 5.7 Maintenance of Records

5.8 Maintenance of Resource Room 5.9 Networking and Liaisoning

5.9.1 Liaisoning with Parents

5.9.2 Liaisoning with General teacher 5.9.3 Liaisoning with Principal

5.9.4 Liaisoning with Community

5.9.5 Liaisoning with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) 5.10 Conclusion

5.1 INTRODUCTION

An inclusive school is one that educates all students in the mainstream. Educating all students in the mainstream does not mean merely placing them into regular classroom without having any planned strategies. Developing effective classrooms requires acceptance of diversities and addressing wide range of needs. For this, provision of guidance and counseling services for children with diverse abilities and backgrounds plays a significant role for effective planning and implementation of inclusive education successfully. It is the special teacher who equips the children with diverse needs and backgrounds to face the real life challenges more courageously and helps them to become a productive member of society. After assessing the children with diverse needs teacher has to be proactive in preventing the problem situation rather than reacting to the situation and assist to optimize accomplishments of children with diverse needs. The special teacher plays a significant role in meeting the needs of children with special needs and making inclusive education a reality.

5.2 OBJECTIVES

After studying this unit you will able to-

• Identify your role in counseling to the parents, peers and the children with special needs.

• Establish and maintain a proper system of networking with different persons and organizations for effective implementation of Inclusive education.

• Learn the importance of record maintenance for further use.