Sometimes special education students may have a disability that makes them prone to wandering mentally, above and beyond what is seen in a regular education student. Walking by and gently tapping on the corner of the desk is a great way of refocusing the student without having to announce to the rest of the class that that student is off-task. Since some special education students might take exception to the sensation of touch by another person, an alternative strategy would be to tap on the desk and shift the student's paper to draw his attention to the assignment, which may prevent a verbal confrontation.
Some special education students respond well to a soft touch for redirection. This form of nonverbal communication can be delivered without the knowledge of any of the other students in the class as the teacher walks by the desk. It may be perceived by the student as a friendly reminder that the she should get on task, or it may be perceived as a stern reminder after a previous reminder.
A nonverbal form of communication that is recognized by regular education and special education students alike is that of the thumbs up or thumbs down. Facial expression to match the positive or negative nature of the thumb may help to communicate the desired message. Many students crave affirmation of performance and therefore respond favorably to the thumbs-up gesture. On the other hand, students who have engaged in inappropriate behavior can be redirected with a simple thumbs down to indicate dissatisfaction.
Some special education student resent being singled out and will respond quickly to proximity control to correct behavior or refocus attention. If a student is off-task, the teacher may intentionally walk by the student's desk or stand very near the student's desk and continue with instruction without giving any other indication of dissatisfaction with student behavior. This type of nonverbal behavior is very valuable because it helps students to learn to self-correct without teacher assistance.
Establishing eye contact is one of the most useful nonverbal communication tools. It is an effective tool that regular education and special education teachers use to clue students. Many students are familiar with "the eye" at home and recognize that need to correct behavior. Eye contact can convey approval, particularly if accompanied by a smile. It can also convey disapproval or pose a question when accompanied by an uplifted brow. The experienced and well-respected teacher can use eye contact to maintain discipline in the classroom.