- Keeping Your Teaching Credentials Fresh and Current - January 13, 2014
- Leaving the Classroom? You Can Still Make a Difference! - November 5, 2013
- Why I Resigned From My Teaching Job: It's Not What You Think - October 21, 2013
- Fluency Fix-Up Strategies Part II - October 17, 2013
- Fluency Fix-Up: Teaching Sight Word Phrases - October 8, 2013
- Working Together to Break the Silence: October is Selective Mutism Awareness Month - October 2, 2013
- Stressed Out! Helping the Child With Selective Mutism Cope With Anxiety - September 26, 2013
- Using Booktalks to Create a Community of Readers - September 17, 2013
- Beyond the Jitters: Selective Mutism and Social Phobia - September 13, 2013
- Say No to Boredom! Dynamic Incorporation of Nonfiction Into the Classroom - September 12, 2013
4. Use a gradual release model for group work- Many students with Asperger’s have difficulty interacting with peers and collaborative group work can be very stressful and frustrating. Ask the child if they would like to work in a group, but do not demand that they do so especially at the beginning of the school year. If the child prefers to work alone, allow them to do so and then ease them into group situations over time and in a very structured manner where all members of the group have a specific role or job to complete. Do not group the Asperger student with aggressive students since many times the Asperger child can be a target for bullying. If your classroom is arranged in groups or tables, ask the student where they would prefer to sit. Some like to sit alone so they can focus and concentrate. Others like to sit near the teacher or in the back of the room. Strategically placing another student that can act as a buddy to assist with note-taking and oral directions will be beneficial. Often times, the child with Asperger’s has short term memory issues and cannot remember more than one direction or command at a time. Giving clear, specific, and concise directions will greatly help the child.
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I am the mother of a 14 y/o with Aspergers and a pediatric speech-language pathologist. This is one of the best, most user-friendly and concise articles that I have read in many years. I'm printing it off for my son's new team to read. Thank you so much!
Thank you, Melissa, for your kind words and for letting me know that I met my goal in writing this article: to help other parents and teachers. My son with Asperger's is now 20, and it was a long journey, but we both learned and grew so much. All the best to you and your son! Lauren