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Teaching Strategies For Asperger Syndrome
Teaching Strategies For Asperger Syndrome
Teaching strategies for Asperger Syndrome are essential for any teacher with AS
students. The students have difficulty navigating social situations, and as such, are
often teased and used as scapegoats in the school setting. More so, they often have
"odd" behavior such as being clumsy and being obsessive about specific subjects.
Some strategies teachers use can make the classroom successful.
Uniformity Requirements
Many children with AS are overwhelmed by even the smallest of changes. They are
highly sensitive to their environments and rituals. When these are thrown off, they
can become very anxious and they worry obsessively about changes in routine or
unexpected occurences. There are ways to deal with this type of scenario as a teacher.
Social Interactions
Although most children understand what a smile means and why someone puts out a
hand to be shaken, many children with AS do not understand some of these common
social interactions and social contacts. It is important as a teacher to realize that the
child may not understand some jokes and may be unable to interpret body language
very well.There are several teaching strategies that can help with the social aspects of
AS.
Visual schedules
Organization
Routine
Assigned classroom duties
Modeling behavior
Cooperative learning
Clear expectations
Consistent consequences for behaviors
Other Teaching Strategies
Working with children with AS involves understanding that they are often gifted student who see and
experience things in a different way. Other concerns teachers should be aware of include the difficulty of
many AS children to concentrate and their limited range of interests. They often lack coordination and
some struggle with academics. There are teaching strategies that can work in most of these instances.
Limit obsessive behavior about topics by setting a specific time in which the children
can ask the focused questions. Do not allow the children to keep asking questions or
discussing a topic as they wish to.
Positive reinforcement works well for children with AS. When they accomplish a
desired behavior, compliment then and praise the child. Even simple social interactions
should be praised.
Incorporate visual rewards for every student in the class. Working toward a goal is a
great motivator, and any area in need of attention can be addressed including but not
limited to:
Sharing
Academic objective and goals
Behavior chart
Time-on-task
Following directions
Try to seat children with AS at the front of the class so the teacher can instruct them
directly and regularly. Since concentration is often a problem, develop a system of
nonverbally reminding them to pay attention, such as a pat on the shoulder.
For physical coordination problems, ensure a child with physical limitations is in an
adaptive educational program rather than a general PE class.
Academic struggle is common with children with AS. The educational program used
for the students should be geared to their specific needs. Simplified lessons may be
required. Ensure the child understands what is being said to them. It is common for a
child to simply repeat what is being taught without understanding the concept.
It may seem quite demanding to implement these teaching strategies for Asperger
syndrome children, but it can be one of the most rewarding of experiences for both
the teacher and the other students.