Special education, often known as special needs education, is the education of special children who are socially, physically, or mentally different from the average to the point where regular school procedures must be modified. The special education students require additional assistance and adaptive pedagogical approaches in order to engage and accomplish learning objectives.

It has now become quite a challenge for the teachers to teach students online for the regular students. Just imagine teaching the special students how much effort needs to be put into the teaching setup. Remote Learning is the new normal in the system of Education. Coronavirus has upgraded it and forced the educators to teach from home. 

For the special students, schools need to adjust their standard instructing strategies to an internet-based stage, to meet the prerequisites of youngsters’ IEPs (Individualized Education Programs) and consent to government equivalent open door regulations. This incorporated the utilization of innovation apparatuses, remote parent/educator gatherings, and teletherapy meetings.

Struggles special education students face learning from home

Now the special students confront problems while learning online which are just like other students but amplified by their special demands and needs.

A significant problem for these children is the absence of teachers in the learning environment. Most special education students receive additional help in a small group setting, from a co-teacher in a general education setting, paraprofessional support, or even academic topic area consultant services. This degree of help is substantially reduced when learning at home. Despite the fact that we have access to more technology than ever before, technology cannot totally replace the actual presence of a teacher to provide help. 

With this, children studying from the home encounter a variety of additional problems. Students do not have access to a study environment that is both pleasant and distraction-free. This is especially harmful to pupils who have sensory sensitivity and/or focus problems. Additionally, pupils may lack access to the tools and equipment needed to learn. So, here we are presenting you some really good special education ideas as kids learn from home.

Strategies in special education for students learning from home 2022

• Build an emotional bond with your students: For the special needs students, teachers are required to be patient and emotionally connected with them, especially in the times of tension and changes that are happening around all of us in this era. Try to know the students better, talk to them politely, make them laugh, set questions for the [parents so that they answer, and strengthen your familiarity with the kid. You may write letters to special needs pupils, chat about their hobbies in-class sessions to connect with them remotely. Every interaction contributes to the development of a supportive connection. Earn their trust, let them know they are in safe hands and you are really the one who is going to brighten their future other than their parents’ efforts. 
• Well instructed ‘basics’: Another effective way is to present basic topics to the student in a well-instructed way. The instruction is really important here, even for the basics. This is really beneficial at the individual level as well. Read the comprehension tactics, arrange the writing ideas, use sample plans for the special education, math fundamentals, use thematic instruction( tie single theme to the multiple subjects), etc. 
• Speak with the guardians oftenly: Include parents in lesson preparation, inform them of how the child’s IEP has been fulfilled, and keep them updated on their development. To accommodate families in difficult situations, use a variety of communication methods (email, phone, video chat, text). Communicate with parents on a regular basis, tell them the goals and aims of the institute and education system. Share with the progress of the child, be clear with the parents. Give at-home ideas to the parents that they can use and help their children learn with fun.
• Stay proactive: Teachers should stay proactively engaged in the class with a growth mindset. Set up a solid structure of educating the kids, schedule the classroom and weekly plan, don’t forget to take help from the student. Perhaps make sure that each topic has varied levels of textbooks and other teaching resources. Having a variety of levels on hand will allow each student to study at their own pace. This reduces irritation while increasing the student’s confidence and forward momentum. Classes can be designed in a way that suits the individual level of functioning, regardless of the degree of their disability.

Harmony and integration are important no matter what curriculum areas or levels your students are working on.

• Useful tech resources: For kids and instructors, there are several free websites that offer services such as oral reading, voice to text, and dyslexia font. Flipgrid, read theory, Ted-Ed, Seesaw, are some of them. Teachers can use these and customize their classes according to desired plan.

Wrapping up: 

Hope these strategies work for you. We are happy to help teachers in their teaching methodology to make it even better and side by side helping students undoubtedly makes us super excited and joyful.