Working at A Special Needs School

Introductions!!!!!!

• Name, City, #year ALT,

ME

• 浜松聴覚特別支援学校 AKA. Hamamatsu Choukaku Gakkou, Hamamatsu Special needs school for the deaf.

• Second Year ALT• Elementary & Junior Highschool

Differences? Base School & Special Needs

• May be different age group• Needs vary depending on the type of

school/student abilities (non-diagnosed, development delays)

• Location• Responsibilities (bathroom breaks, etc)• English Teaching

What is expected of you?

• ARRIVE! (day/time/keep schedule)• Be prepared (back up lessons/games/input)• GENKI!• Spend time with the students

(lunch/recess/breaks) *comfort level

Staff Room/ Out of school relations

• Know who is in charge of you• Socialize with other teachers• Family dynamic• Bunkasai/sports day/ enkais• If you see your students, say hi!!!!• Try and remember names (name tags)

Challenges

• Behavioral (crying, shouting, disruptive, nonresponsive)

• Discipline (discuss with your JTE- have a system)

• Special Needs *** extra attention to detail (microphone/understanding/hearing)

• Language Barrier

Rewards

• HUGS AND KISSES!!!!!!!!!!• Progression• Student to student relationships (aiding each

other)• Behavioral/attitude improvement• English ability!!!!

Lesson Planning

• Who’s making the lessons?• Keeping Contact• Sharing information/ Ideas• Topics/ Curriculum (TB learning??)

Lesson Planning Part 2

• Keep in mind that every child does not have the same abilities

• INCLUSION• Adapt activities so that every child in the class can

participate (partial participation)• A little LESS trial and error (do not set them up for

failure)• People first language (person before disability)• REPETITION (I know, I know)• Movement!!

Discussion: Popular Topics

• Colors• Animals• Favorite Things• Body Parts• Places• Sports• Music• Numbers• Others??????

GAMES!!

• Simon says (body parts)• I spy ( Colors)• Bingo (animals/sports/ANYTHING works)• Songs! (London Bridge etc, head shoulders

knees and toes, The Hokey Pokey, Ring Around A Rosie)

• Four Corners (use colors, animals, anything)• Heads up 7 Up! (colors, animals, any topic)