Many children with special needs must have structure in their lives, or it becomes difficult for them to continue their day. Teachers who are teaching in an inclusion classroom should be aware of this issue and write the lesson plan down on the board. Every morning, before your class, write down your lesson plan so that students know what to expect. Go over your plans verbally several times for students who are too young to read.
Integrate art within the classroom, whether you are an inclusion classroom or an exclusively special needs classroom. Many children of all cognitive ability love to create art, so chances are that all children will enjoy themselves. Before you begin a lesson, have children make a short craft or draw a picture of something you will discuss. For example, if you are to teach about family and family structure, have the children create a picture of their families. It need not be perfect; the art can be abstract. This activity is about children expressing themselves.
Transitioning from one activity to another can be a challenge when it comes to children with special needs. Unexpected changes can cause tantrums and withdrawal, so it is important that teachers ease them gently into the transition. Before you transition from one activity to the next, warn the children ahead of time. Keep reminding them that a transition will occur. You can do this verbally or by incorporating something like a bell or buzzer so children know when to expect a change.
Role-playing activities can help children with special needs learn what is "acceptable" in society and what is not. Use role-playing scenarios similar to those in children's lives, such as sharing toys in the classroom, being quiet when the teacher is talking and how to behave when a friend feels sad. These five-minute activities help children understand and model appropriate and expected behavior within a social context, which may be very difficult for some special needs students to learn.