How should you decide delivery of instruction to your students? The short answer is to see what your students respond to the most. Do what works for them! Delivery of instruction can be different in every special education classroom, you just have to see what works!
Before starting off, you should decide how you want to deliver your lessons. You can deliver your instruction in whole group, small groups, individually or 1:1, stations or centers, or independent work.
Delivery of instruction in special education refers to the methods, techniques, and strategies used by teachers to effectively communicate and present information to students with diverse learning needs and disabilities. It encompasses the way educators plan, organize, and deliver lessons, ensuring that instructional content is accessible, engaging, and tailored to meet individual student’s unique learning styles and abilities.
In the context of special education, delivery of instruction goes beyond traditional teaching approaches. It involves the use of specialized instructional techniques, accommodations, and modifications that support the diverse needs of students. This may include providing visual aids, manipulatives, assistive technology, multisensory materials, and differentiated instruction to address various learning challenges.
Effective delivery of instruction in special education also involves creating a positive and inclusive learning environment where students feel supported, motivated, and empowered to actively participate in the learning process. Teachers employ strategies such as modeling, scaffolding, guided practice, and frequent checks for understanding to ensure that students grasp and retain information.
By implementing a variety of instructional approaches and adapting teaching methods to meet individual needs, teachers can optimize learning outcomes for students with special needs. The delivery of instruction in special education aims to foster student engagement, independence, and academic success while promoting inclusive practices and supporting the overall growth and development of each student.
Whole group instruction is great when you are teaching a new concept to your students. This is one delivery of instruction method. I also use whole group instruction when my assistants need to take lunch or breaks and I have only one other assistant in the room. This allows the group to be in one location and focus on your instruction completely.
Small group instruction is awesome when you have a related service member in the room that is working with 2-3 students at a time. This is one delivery of instruction method. This allows you to work with the other 2-4 students in the classroom as well. In an ideal world, you would rotate through both groups so that your related service member could get their minutes met as well.
A teacher can also use small group instruction to reteach skills or target certain skills with a group of students that need more practice or attention.
1:1 instruction can be used to work on IEP goals or really give your attention to a skill and a student’s progress on that skill. This is one delivery of instruction method. I use many individual sessions with my students that are working on life skills such as tying shoes, zippering their coat, brushing their teeth, etc. This allows my attention to be solely with that student and supporting them through the completion of the task or activity.
Be careful when using 1:1 sessions that you aren’t supporting the student too much, and are fading prompts and supports when necessary. Here is a prompting hierarchy that I use in my classroom to support my learners to gain independence.
Stations and centers are great opportunities for your assistants to step in and support. This is one delivery of instruction method. Make sure to check out my post on How to Set Up Stations for more details on how to use stations and for what activities! Stations help promote independence in working skills and confidence in their abilities to complete tasks with less supervision. As I said before, use your assistants to guide activities or take IEP goal data.
Want to set up centers read more about how to!
When considering your delivery of instruction, make use of Independent time. This is one delivery of instruction method. Independent work is amazing for building confidence and independence in your learners. You give them an activity that they can complete by themselves and you give them significant praise or reward when they complete it. I typically use independent work towards the end of the school day as the student is fatiguing and losing focus.
They are given a simpler task to complete to feel confident in their abilities! Once they complete the task, they typically get a break or reward! Very motivating for my students! This is also a great time to work on perseverance. I may say things like “I know you’re tired and it’s the end of the day. Do this activity and then you can play on the iPad for 15 minutes.”
What are you looking for?
COPYRIGHT © 2024 Full SPED Ahead
