Zack*(not his real name) gets off the bus, he is met by his one on one aide. She greets him with a beautiful smile and getting down to his level a greeting. "Hi Zack,(pause) Hi Mrs T." she says. Zack says "Hi T." and so starts their day. They might not get into the actual classroom for another 5 minutes or so because Zack is taking the time to smell the flowers, literally. As he bends down he is ripping blades of grass out and watching them fly to the ground.Then he is enjoying the blue sky with his arms wide open and rejoicing with a word, "sky." If there is a puddle it could take maybe 10 tries to get him past it, throwing rocks in to see a ripple can throw Zack into a stimming session that could last all morning long. If you're in a hurry this would not be your idea of a good morning. To Zack its a necessity. This is how Zack learns.
The Autistic child is living life through his own senses and his needs are basic. A teacher would have to have a patient heart, mind and soul to work with such a child to maintain a trust and have a successful teaching experience.Each child has a new set of habits, ideas and sensory issues. Child enters school with an Individualized Education Plan. These are words on paper that will tell you about the child's family, habits and goals. It will also give you a chronological age and a developmental age for the child, a crucial piece of information. Looking at the child head on is deceiving because though a child may look 7 or 8 years, or be as strong as a child of that age. If the child has a developmental age of 2 or 3 you are dealing with a totally different student. You will have to adapt your classroom to the interest of several different thinkers. It is a challenge not every Special Ed teacher is ready for.
Schedules are very important, and it is good to keep to the schedule.Their clock is the one thing that works readily in the Autistic child. They know what is going to happen next. They adapt to their schedule quickly. Even if there is a substitute teacher, the schedule should not be broken. The Autistic child does not like surprises. If it is a happy surprise they still demand warned transitions to and from activities. A timer can be a great tool.Unwarned transitions can cause a child to go from happy, to sad, to flopping on the floor mad at the whole world.
Repetitive behavior and oppositional behavior though two separate issues can also drive a classroom into a battle zone. Some children on the Autistic Spectrum have short fuses and when not allowed to let their senses run free and will throw tantrums. A behavior plan for each child should be set up with a protocol for emergencies. Most schools should have a fast team of staff trained in restraint if needed, with a plan set in place to keep all the other children in the class safe from harm if a dangerous tantrum erupts.
To set up a classroom for children on the Autistic Spectrum, several sensory pieces are vital.Think about your own senses. For sight you will need bright things to look at, books, toys, and paper. For hearing maybe a music player with headsets, decks of cards to flip and listen to and other toys that talk. For taste there should be candy reinforcer's, you can ask a parent what they would like for you to use as a reinforcer for good behavior.The teacher can set up a token board where a child can earn a treat for work completed. There should be lotions to smell, and soft, coarse, smooth and rough surfaces to feel. Kids enjoy balls that squish and stuffed animals that are soft, and puppets to play with.
With help of a behaviorist and a few staff trained in discrete trials, a new age way to teach children on the Spectrum by using a repetitve tecnique. You are on your way to maintaining an outstanding class. Leave room for change, mood swings and remember to acknowledge the little things. Chart those "aha" moments and your class will be a very happy place and keep it positive. "Sensory beings" are just that, "sensory beings". If their senses rule their day they will feel when you are tired, angry and even hungry and they know when you like or dislike them so be sure you are in a good placement if you are unhappy at your job ask for a different placement.
Let patience be the teacher, and the classroom will be successful.To remember that there is an art to teaching and that some kids will never learn some very basicskills. There may come a time when you might have to pass on an activity just to smell the roses just like Zack, and learn from the child. If we could all just do that. They could teach us all so much.