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Inclusion


How do I include students with special needs in class discussions?

Here are a couple of simple methods you can use to better include a student with special needs in class discussions. Remember, the key is to try and provide the support students need to feel comfortable enough to participate and to feel successful and appreciated while participating.

Give that student extra time to develop an answer by telling the student ahead of time what will occur during the class discussion. For example, you are going to be doing a brainstorming activity and you want to include a student with special needs. Tell the student 15-20 minutes before group time begins by quietly saying, “Today in science we will be talking about ears. I want you to think of something to say about what you already know about the ears and I will call on you first.” This gives the student time to formulate and answer.

Another idea is, say the student’s name before you ask the question so they attend more fully to the question. Or, call on them when you see they are paying attention. Don’t call on the student only to punish him or her for not paying attention..

Give students with special needs plenty of wait time. This will help ALL students, but is especially important for a student with disabilities. If the student cannot answer after a reasonable amount of time, tell him you will call on one more person and then come back to him.

If a class discussion is not going well and no one is talking, try whispering the answer in a student’s ear. This is a but non threatening way to stimulate the discussion and let the students know what you are expecting as answers.

Try to have class discussion the involves the student’s interest.

Let the student be the monitor and call on who goes next.

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