Classroom Adaptations For Students With Emotional Disabilities

Notes from class:



General adaptations to help with the inclusion of students with emotional disabilities:

Prepare the class- Prepare the class for students with emotional disabilities by setting up models for tolerance and acceptance. Give examples of ways the students can help a student with emotional disabilities such as how to ignore inappropriate behaviors. Some students can be peer tutors or assistants for students with emotional disabilities to help support and reinforce appropriate behaviors. Remember that sometimes emotionally disturbed student ill do better working alone even when the rest of the class is working in small groups. Have opportunities for students with emotional disabilities to do class responsibilities such as handing out papers.

Adapt your teaching style- Demonstrate the rules with clear examples and specify rewards for following your rules as well as the consequences when the rules are not obeyed. Be consistent with enforcing the rules and make sure the atmosphere in the classroom is positive, not punitive. Use behavioral contracts with students with emotional disabilities. Behavioral contracts are personal contracts between the teacher and student with specific behaviors that the student is expected to do along with the rewards for accomplishing the goals. This is a written agreement that is signed by both the teacher and the student.

Adapt other classroom features- Consider using the following:

• Adapt the physical environment by seating arrangement and keeping potentially harmful objects or substances away from easy access. Be sure to consider how close the emotionally disturbed student is from the teacher, aides, and students who the target student does not interact well with.

• Adapt materials when needed. Have self-monitoring checklists that the student can use to check off activities as they are completed. Break assignments into short segments to avoid overwhelming the student.

• Adapt instruction to be effective and presented in a way to ensure the student understands it. Teach classroom social skills necessary for success.

• Help students focus by teaching clearly and providing additional review. Teach self-monitoring for attention.

• Adapt evaluation by having a distraction-free environment for exams, provide extended time for testing periods, and make sure the student has the skills to take the tests efficiently.