Resources for special needs children

[Kiera]

I work in a school with special needs children.

There is a child who is 7 years old but but has no one to one. The school is not good on resources. Her memory is very poor. Unfortunately she cannot keep up with the class and needs to do work on her own. Are there any resources ie board games etc that she can do on her own while the teacher is talking/teaching the rest of the class? I need a website or a list of activities if possible to pass onto the teacher or get the resources myself, which I am willing to do, to help the teacher.

Thanks

[Jules001]

When I worked in a school as a Learning Assistant to special needs children, we used to prepare a folder of work (along the lines of what the rest of the children would be learning, but easier) the folder would be kept at the back of the classroom and both the child and the teacher knew where this was kept, the teacher could prompt the child to get the folder or before she began teaching the rest of the class, she could have a quiet word with the child about getting on with work in the folder. This work could be done in any order and were generally loose sheets. Mostly these were photocopies from teacher resource books kept in the staff room, however LA's did prepare their own after discussion with the teacher re lessons plans

[Kiera]

Thanks

Will have a word with the teacher and have a look at the teachers resources book.

[sunflower68]

Keira many of the teachers at the special needs school I work in use TEAACH as a system of education http://www.teacch.com/
It doesn't work for all children and I don't know if the child has autism but what is nice is that every day the child has something achievable and educational that she can just pick up and get on with independantly.
It is repetitive (usually done daily) but she will know that she picks up her 'independant work' box and goes and sits and completes it.
Make it achievable for her but taxing too. Not sure on her level but it can involve a jigsaw, tracing handwriting, matching up coins to amounts, copying out her address, colouring, measuring pre-drawn lines etc. You can even have a 'science' box, 'english' etc.

[sunflower68]

I meant to add kiera that the 'tasks' be individually placed in ziploc bags into a large box with her name ie 'Sally - Independant Maths'
Once completed, each task is put back in bag and zipped up and put in a 'finished work' tray.
Once the box is empty her work is completed and she is allowed free time for a specified time.
All you then have to do is check and maybe record her progress. You can have a folder and rate whether the tasks where achieved and how well, then 'undo' the work in the bags ready for her to do it again the next day.
Lots of children, not just autistic, appreciate the routing and order of this method. I apologise if it is wrong for the little girls needs as I am not sure what they are.

[Kiera]

Thanks Sunflower

She is not autistic, has not got a statement.

Its just she cannot retain any information so is well below the class.

Thanks for the website, will pass it on to the teacher and also the ideas for the independent work.

The main difficulty would be trying to think of different games/work for the child to do on her own.

[sunflower68]

It sounds as if you have your work cut out here, being the one assistant in the class. Sorry, I thought it was a specialist school, in which case she would have a statement.
If she is in mainstream it is hard for you but as you seem interested I advise you speak to the teacher about you going on a course relative to her needs. There are many around which the school will pay for. I find usually if I google 'special needs one day courses' you should be able to narrow it down. Does she perhaps have mild ADHD?http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/symptom.htm
The courses give you a wealth of ideas and the school should be grateful for your interest and care.

[wendsteve]

I have worked as a TA and am now a teacher. I have found that instructions could be written in different colours and kept simple. Listening skills can also enhance memory, so if there are gaps the child could complete some simple colouring instructions eg colour the 5th one pink, put a number 2 on the tree etc Try lots of visual clues, for example has the child their own visual timetable on velcro that can be removed and changed as task is completed. As a teacher if the TA prepares a "working station" folder it helps so much and could encourage more positive releationships with child ta teacher parent. Hope that helps

[Kiera]

Thanks Wendsteve
Good idea
Will try and incorporate in my teaching, we do use visual timetables but did not think of using it with this child as she does not have a statement.