LOGIN/Sign up
Teaching strategies for SEN pupils help SEN children get regular education in a tailored classroom setting. This article will provide a detailed description of some teaching strategies for SEN pupils. These strategies are widely used in the United Kingdom.
Who are SEN Pupils?
Before going into the depth of teaching strategies for SEN pupils, let us first understand who they are. Also, why a different approach in teaching strategies for SEN pupils even exists.
The word SEN stands for “Special Educational Needs.” Their brain development is not the same compared to someone of the same age and gender. Some people can confuse this disability with autism. But it is not autism if it is just a specific disorder in some people, making their learning process slower and less efficient.
According to neuroscience, their nervous system does not transmit information to their brain cells very effectively compared to normal pupils. Some of their brain cells and hormones are also not in a sufficient amount required for a certain age.
This difficulty or disability in learning requires a teaching provision for them. So, an arrangement of a different classroom environment for them and introducing differentiation strategies & framework for SEN are necessary.
Since SEN pupils do not have the same ability as ordinary people to understand everything in a regular teaching environment, the teaching strategy for SEN pupils differs from normal pupils.
These strategies are termed SEN strategies for teachers. It is because teachers play an essential role in SEN pupil teaching. They need to imply these strategies in their traditional teaching methods.
Teaching Strategies for SEN Pupils
The strategies for SEN pupils help in working towards their mental development. These children will not feel any less about themselves. Instead of focusing on their disability, they can study in an environment that is fully customized for them.
However, teachers can also get themselves professionally trained to learn a different set of strategies. Courses like SEN teaching would help and give them that professional accreditation as a SEN teacher.
We will discuss the six most essential teaching strategies for SEN pupils. These following strategies are used to help in their overall learning and development.
Strategy 01: Teach in Smaller Groups
Teachers can form small teaching groups consisting of 3-4 children of a similar calibre. It will help them focus on every one of them individually and work on their difficulties. Grouping children with other pupils of the same learning capacity brings a form of confidence in them too.
Teachers should analyse all their students capabilities before forming groups. For instance, if a particular group of children is very good at science, they should not be with those who struggle with it and have a disability in learning.
Moreover, being with a group of more capable people would make them even less confident about themselves. It will also affect their mental health, and lead to depression. Children who suffer from depression or any mental issues can hardly concentrate on anything. It lowers their learning capacity even more!
Strategy 02: Provide a Range of Learning Materials and Books
Since one of the teaching strategies for SEN pupils includes personalized teaching in smaller groups, this also means providing various levels of teaching materials and books to different groups. These materials can be a summarization of the discussed topics, teaching feedback, or even some infographics.
Similarly, it would ensure that the children are learning according to their calibre. This strategy would increase efficiency among the children and help wipe out their frustration in fitting in with others or feeling less confident about themselves.
As should be obvious, instructing specialized curriculum understudies successfully can be upgraded for specific changes. Notwithstanding the seriousness of their inabilities, classes can be organized to oblige the individual degree of working.
It would confuse the children. Teachers should assist students in these different groups according to the lessons taught in that group, and refrain from mixing up any tasks. Instead, they need to spend time with each student and provide personalized notes and materials.
Strategy 03: Increased Use of Scenarios and Photos
Usage of various themes and photos in teaching increases the interest level of children. They also make teaching and learning more fun and engaging.
Therefore, teachers can develop different scenarios and try to link them with the topic of discussion. For example, if it is a science lesson and the topic is “Importance of a healthy diet’’, to make it more fun, the teachers can show pictures of different healthy food and share essential recipes.
Furthermore, if they want their students to cooperate and become more engaging in the classrooms, teachers can ask them what their daily diet is and if they consider it healthy or not. This practice will help them absorb the topic and understand it thoroughly.
Likewise, when they see different photos related to a topic, their brain cells would process the information more quickly. They will remember it for a longer time because pictures speak ever louder than words!
Also, using different graphs and charts in explaining a topic also helps and works towards differentiation of strategies for SEN. Teachers can teach mathematics and statistics through these. Using manual counting methods such as abacus is also effective.
Strategy 04: Increased Praising and Appreciating
Who doesn’t like a little praising? We all have to admit that a bit of praising uplifts our mood. It also motivates us to do better things in our daily lives.
Similarly, praising is also one of the essential teaching strategies for SEN pupils. If teachers frequently praise them for even the most minor achievements, it will make them feel very accomplished. It will also raise their optimum daily performance
Teachers have to make a habit of using common praising phrases such as “Well done’’, “I’m so proud of you,” “Excellent work,” “Brilliant performance,” etc. These words or phrases spread positivity. It is also enough to bring a smile to someone’s face!
However, praising can also be a form of appreciation. Appreciating these SEN pupils in the classroom will encourage them to study harder and do better results. It will also make them feel that their efforts are not going unnoticed.
It is one of the essential SEN strategies for teachers that they need to follow. Teachers have to build up this practice to appreciate and praise these special children. Because it increases their productivity in learning and personal development.
Strategy 05: Clear verbal and written instructions
Teachers need to give clear and precise verbal instructions on a given topic. They need to make sure that the students are following the instructions as well.
Therefore, teachers need to ask them to repeat the instruction they deliver and ask them frequent questions related to the discussed topics.
And clear written instructions are essential teaching strategies for SEN pupils. Teachers should write down the critical lecture points to ensure that it doesn’t get skipped by the students.
Also, while giving homework, they have to mention precisely which topics a particular question covers and the key points.
Strategy 06: Adjustment of Time
Time adjustment is a significant factor in classrooms. In a regular setting, teachers are more likely to pressure children to finish a specific task. For example, to solve a maths problem, the teacher can set a time limit for everyone to finish it.
A well-functioning brain will be able to take the load and deal with the pressure accordingly. But, it would be difficult for SEN pupils.
Therefore, adjustment of time for them is significant. You cannot expect an answer from them as soon as you ask a question. Teachers need to give them specific and added “thinking time” to the primary reaction time.
This thinking time will help them assess the question and process the answer in their head. Teachers should not make them rush into any solutions or conclusions because this would either make them come up with no answer in that given time or put an adverse effect on their brain while trying to look for a solution within a specified time limit.
Concluding Remarks
SEN pupils need extra care from their teachers as well as from their surrounding people. They need our support to make them feel alright about themselves and gain self-confidence.
Therefore, teaching strategies for SEN pupils open up a room of opportunities for these special children with learning difficulties and do not make them feel neglected.
All schools should take the initiative in the UK and have a separate setting for SEN pupils and implement the teaching strategies.
