How to Tutor Special Needs Students
The world is a terrible place where people with talent can succeed while those without it have to work hard to catch up to those who are gifted. Giving people mental illnesses is another instance of how cruel the world can be. These people were born with these conditions which deprives them of the cognitive function that would have allowed them to be regarded as normal. These people nevertheless make an effort to learn and become educated despite all the disadvantages they could encounter.
While some schools allow students with special needs to attend regular classes, others offer a specific class only for them. Since they are more fragile than the average student, those in charge of these students should be skilled in handling them. However, what if it is your first time dealing with an individual with special needs? Then fear not, for this article will educate you on the common learning disorders along with tips on how to teach individuals with special needs.
Table of Contents
What will be some common disorders you may encounter?
When one refers to an individual with special needs, they are referring to an individual with one of the many mental disorders that prevent them from being considered normal. There are a variety of disorders that can affect one’s cognitive ability and hamper their learning. However, the three most commonly observed disorders are autism, dyslexia, and ADHD. Here is a quick rundown of each of the top three mental disorders observed:
1. Autism
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. Individuals with autism often have a developmental disability affecting their verbal and non-verbal communication and social interactions.
At first glance, individuals with autism look just like any regular child of their age. However, the symptoms of autism often show when they are tasked with activities that require them to socialize with others such as talking with others or maintaining eye contact. Individuals with autism are also known to have frequent repetitive behaviors.
2. Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability; dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language. Being a disability that affects language, individuals with dyslexia often struggle with subjects that require a lot of reading such as literature.
Even though dyslexia hampers an individual’s ability to read, an individual with dyslexia can be able to read properly. However, these individuals may have difficulties spelling the words that they have read earlier.
3. ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. Individuals with ADHD are notoriously known for being hyperactive which may result in disrupting the order and flow of classes.
Individuals with ADHD are also known to have a really short attention span which can hamper their ability to learn new things as they tend to stray away from a topic that does not interest them. ADHD, autism, and dyslexia are separate disorders that affect different parts of the human brain; however, it is not rare to see an individual with overlapping mental disorders.
How to tutor students with special needs?
Since they are more challenging to manage, teaching people with special needs requires a lot of work and effort. There are some essential guidelines to get one started on the route to becoming a teacher who can instruct students with special needs, but being accustomed to teaching people with special needs takes time. Here are some pointers:
1. Have loads of patience
Having patience is the first piece of advice that those who are tutoring people with special needs should internalize. And prepare a lot of it. Teaching people with exceptional disabilities requires patience because they frequently learn more slowly than an average student their age. One can often experience instances where they have to repeat the instructions multiple times in order to make the individual with special needs understand them. This takes a lot of patience to pull off. One also has to deal with other issues regarding individuals with special needs such as short attention spans, and difficulties with reading.
2. Observe the student
Observing the person before choosing a plan of action is another crucial tip for working with people who have special needs. Every person is different and has a personality, and those with special needs are no different.
To choose the optimal course of action, one must first conduct unbiased observations about the personality and traits of the person with special needs. While some people may be well-behaved and may make every effort to blend in and obey directions, others might require a little encouragement. The best approach to teaching them will rely on the individual and their specific characteristics.
3. Use positive reinforcement
Giving someone praise for a job well done is known as positive reinforcement. Due to their condition, children with special needs can face a lot of backlash or insults. This is why it’s crucial to give kids praise whenever they complete a task really well. The person will feel happier and more upbeat as a result of this. In order to get greater recognition from the teacher, they will also try their hardest in other circumstances. Giving praise for a job well done can start a vicious cycle of positive reinforcement, which makes the person feel good, improves their performance, and so on.
4. Avoid any activities that may induce humiliation
Avoiding activities that could embarrass people with special needs is another piece of advice. It would be wise to prevent someone who struggles with reading from reading in front of another person. This does not imply that you do not want to help the person grow; rather, it means that you are shielding them from embarrassment. Be it intentional or accidental, humiliation for an individual with special needs can seriously lower their self-esteem. These individuals already have low self-esteem to begin with, due to their condition, and humiliating them will only lower their self-esteem even more and might damage their sense of worth.
5. Speak in a kind and caring manner
One of the emotions that individuals with special needs often encounter aside from pity is anger. Anger for them not being able to do what is considered basic tasks by society. But just because they often receive this type of emotion doesn’t mean that they are immune to it. In a world of flames, become the water that cools them down. One can achieve this by speaking in a kind and gentle manner every time one is speaking to an individual with special needs. Speaking mildly and gently will do wonders in making the individual feel safe and secure in a classroom as they will view the person in charge as mild and caring.
This is a great way to make the individual feel safe with the teacher and will build trust between the individuals. This will help them open up to the teacher and will follow instructions given to them by the teacher more willingly as they now see the teacher as an ally.
6. Adapt and tweak your teaching methods
Since every person is different, not every person with special needs will benefit from the preceding advice. This is why it’s critical to modify one’s teaching methods to fit the needs and personality of each individual.
If a tutor wishes to work with students who have special needs, flexibility is a crucial quality. Every time a new problem emerges, this quality will enable them to adapt to it and take charge of it. Since they have to evaluate a situation as best they can and devise a solution, this trait also demonstrates the degree of critical thinking a person possesses.
Conclusion
Tutoring students with special needs calls for tolerance, compassion, and flexibility. Tutors can establish a nurturing and productive learning atmosphere by comprehending common learning impairments like autism, dyslexia, and ADHD and utilizing strategies like positive reinforcement and individualized teaching approaches. Establishing trust via courteous communication and steering clear of awkward situations creates a secure environment where pupils can flourish. Tutors who are committed and adaptable can have a big impact on the lives of students with special needs by assisting them in overcoming obstacles and realizing their full potential.
Carelle
Carelle is a teacher who has been through the ups and downs of the teacher and learner life. She wishes for every learner to gain educational satisfaction that will help embody the people they want to be in the future.
