Today, over 7 million (or 14%) of students aged 3 to 21 receive special education services. You might be interested in helping these students out, which is why you’ve become a special needs teacher.
While becoming a special educator can be an exciting career move, the first day of school is always nerve-wracking. So we’re here to make your life easier!
Read on for some things you should have in the classroom to help out both you and your students.
Manipulative Objects
For many special education students, they need something physical and tangible to understand concepts. Manipulatives are great critical learning tools, as they allow your pupils to grasp more conceptual ideas.
Not to mention, they’re also excellent for tactile stimulation!
Sensory Reinforcers
Speaking of tactile stimulation, you’ll want to make sure there are plenty of sensory reinforcers or fidgets. Many special education students find themselves overwhelmed with sensory information throughout the day, so these objects will give them a nice break. So make sure you set aside some tide in the school schedule for sensory play.
Arm Guards
This might not be necessary in every classroom, but if you’re working with students who have severe debilitations, you might want to get arm guards for biting. Some special education students can lash out and can inadvertently hurt those who are only trying to help.
With arm guards, you won’t have to worry about potential bites breaking your skin. And with the right direction, you can slowly teach your students how to deal with things without lashing out and hurting those around them.
Reward System
Reward systems are a must in any classroom, not just special education ones. Rewarding good behavior goes a long way, so make sure you acknowledge how well your pupils are doing!
A simple and easy reward system is to use a sticker chart. Give your students a sticker for good behavior and when they save up, say 10, they’ll get to choose a prize from your rewards box. And if they save up 20, they can choose from bigger prizes!
A reward system gives your students something to work toward and motivates them to be on their best behavior. It’ll make things a lot easier for both you and them!
Special Education Technology
Special education technology (in addition to manipulative objects) can go a long way to help your pupils understand hard-to-grasp concepts.
You don’t even need anything special! Just a laptop or tablet can suffice.
Take advantage of all the wonderful special education apps on the internet and use them to supplement your lessons.
Be the Best Special Educator Possible
As a special educator, you don’t have an easy job. But by having the right tools, you’ll be able to make things just a little bit simpler and smoother. As a result, everyone will feel more at ease and you’ll be able to teach your pupils as best you can!
To learn more about classroom tools, check out our other blog posts now.