Understanding and Supporting Students with Special Needs

Understanding and Supporting Students with Special Needs

Children with special needs require different and additional support to learn effectively. In Chapter 10, I learned about the various ways in which educators can provide this support. One aspect that will be valuable in my practicum is understanding the different educational laws that relate to special needs students (Machado & Botnarescue, 304). For instance, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees certain rights to these students and their families. As an educator, I must know these laws and how they can impact my work with special needs children. I will adhere to them to ensure that all my students receive a fair and equal education.

Another key thing in meeting the needs of students with special needs is developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). IEPs are developed specifically for each student and outline the goals, services, and accommodations that will be put in place to support their learning. As someone working with children with special needs, I must be familiar with developing IEPs (Machado & Botnarescue, 308). I will be able to use this knowledge to create programs tailored to my student’s individual needs. For instance, if a student has difficulty with fine motor skills, I can include goals and activities to help them improve in this area.

Thirdly, instilling confidence in special needs students is crucial for their success. As I learned in Chapter 10, many special needs children have low self-esteem and lack confidence in their abilities (Machado & Botnarescue, 314). This can impact their motivation to learn and participate in class. As an educator, I must create a positive and supportive classroom environment. I will do this by setting high standards for all my students and providing them with the encouragement they need to reach their potential. I will also provide positive reinforcement when they display progress. By doing this, I hope to instill confidence in my special needs students and help them to succeed in their learning.

Works Cited

Machado, Jeanne M., and Helen Meyer Botnarescue. Student teaching: Early childhood practicum guide. Cengage Learning, 2010

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Students with Special Needs

State 3 things that you learned in Chapter 10 that will help you throughout your practicum experience.