Elementary Visual School Arts

Helpful Hints for Teachers of Mainstream Students

(Summarized from Module VIII of Students with Disabilities in the Mainstream)

As the teacher you must always insure that ALL students have an equal opportunity to achieve
success. A good rule to remember when teaching students with special needs:

I hear and I forget

I see and I remember

I do and I understand

Hints to success:

• Seek student participation in planning the learning activities.


• Encourage appreciation for the abilities of other individuals.


• Challenge the student's interests and abilities.


• Encourage students to solve personal and social problems.


• Strive to maintain learning situations in which students will succeed.


• Prepare instructional units in shorter units of work.


• Provide more frequent evaluations of student progress and more remedial work.


• Recognize that the student's vocabulary may be limited and less precise than others.


• Keep the student aware of his/her progress at all times and give him/her reason to
  believe that he/she is succeeding.


• Use real visual objects and life-like teaching aids.


• Use manual activities rather than written or read assignments.


• Search for reading material with easy vocabulary yet suited to the student's age level,
  interest, and experience.


• Remember that may special needs students have less cultural opportunity at home,
  less educated parents, less reading material at home; and in general, a poorer
  background for learning.


• Be content to attempt less in your instruction.


• Be patient and promote self-worth.


• Let the student know that you are there to help him/her SUCCEED.


• See the students as individuals and make an effort to understand their personal problems.


• Demonstrate whenever possible. Students learn by your example.


• Be flexible.


• Get out from behind the desk when talking with a student.


• Set up ground rules and guidelines that will define behavioral limits and adhere to these
  principals and rules.


• Plan repetition for reinforcement. Use a variety of methods to prevent boredom.


• Allow the student to proceed at his/her own pace--don't rush him/her.


• Treat all efforts with respect.


• Judge students objectively--don't play favorites.

Practices to avoid:

• Do not criticize a student in the presence of his or her peers.


• Do not preach.


• Do not subject the students to changes without advance notice; they are insecure enough.


• Do not be afraid to admit your mistakes.


• Do not expect to reach every one of your students.


• Do not take slight irregularities of conduct too seriously.


• Do not measure achievement in terms of grades only and do not compare to others.


• Never argue with a student in class.


• Do not do things that you do not want students to do.


• Be a good role model.