Students with special needs sometimes require hands-on training rather than the regular classroom style of teaching. These students respond with enthusiasm when information is presented orally and visually through chalkboard, pocket charts, posters and overhead projectors. Whenever possible, throw in hands-on components. If you want a special needs student to answer a particular question, you can throw a koosh ball to that student. The result of this method is that all the students in the classroom are forced to stay focused and attentive. Hands-on teaching basically means accommodating and acknowledging the unique learning styles of all these special needs students.
Hands-on learning is especially beneficial for special needs students in the science classroom. Because these students (especially students with Attention Deficit Disorder) may feel overwhelmed while comprehending larger episodes of instruction, you can break up the lesson into smaller digestible chunks, involving experimental procedures. Make these students repeat what they have comprehended in their own language. Use one-on-one instructional style on special needs students in the laboratory. This will help them comprehend the subject matter and perform better as they will get individualized and undivided attention.
Music, especially classical or instrumental music playing softly in the background helps students with special needs to focus their concentration. This kind of music therapy is particularly beneficial during laboratory exercises and with students suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder. Reassurance and reinforcement of positive behavior with praise can help these students make progress with their academics and co-curricular activities.
Students with special needs should not be allowed to remain passive in the classroom. Nor should they be forced to learn by rote or memorize. Active learning, hands-on, inductive, experimental learning, collaborative and cooperative activities and varied methods of evaluation of student performance have to be encouraged. The emphasis should be on developing skills for high order thinking while learning key principles and critical concepts. These hands-on methods help special needs students perform better.