Re: Special Ed students and the art teacher

Sp.Ed. kids need sensory and hand strengthening activities. Place
the water for watercolors on the opposite side of their dominate
hand so they cross their midline. I've taught art to sp.ed. almost
20 years and your best source is their classroom teacher. For
example, if Susie needs help with circles, it's most likely the
rest need help too. Read their IEP's and see what you can do to
help piggyback what the teacher is trying to do with them. Having
a "product" may not always be for their best interest and you may
need to focus on "process."

On 11/17/08, Meaningful Lessons wrote:
> Dear Amy:
>
> I am a first year art teacher and I have a situation exactly
> like yours. Lessons where you talk about shapes, lines and
> textures are fabulous. Color mixing is fun. You can do
> rubbings from leaves and stencils. You could also have shapes
> cut out and paper torn and have them make a collage. Hand
> print art is also fun. Modeling clay, sculpey and model magic
> would also be great to use. I always end class by reading a
> story. This is one of my favorite classes to teach. Good
> luck...I'm sure they will love you!
> On 10/23/08, You are in luck..... wrote:
>> i was forced to do a "literacy" homeroom with this
>> kids...they couldn't read the lowest level and I wasn't
>> about to sit there and listen to them "try" to read. The
>> rest of the year I gave them markers and paper and they went
>> to town. That's all it takes, I'm serious. If you have
>> instructional assistants that come with them, you can have
>> them "supervise" the kids while you do grading and lesson
>> planning at your desk while I did. I miss last year,
>> (except for the smells you get with that kind of group, LOL)
>> LOL. Now I have kids who can actually read so I have to
>> actually do the literacy activities with them, lol.
>>
>> On 9/22/08, Amy wrote:
>>> I have a group of VERY LOW functioning autistic and downs
>>> syndrome students 2X/wk for 30 mins. each. I am a art
>>> teacher and need help. It's just the beginning of the
>>> school year and I am already at a loss when it comes to
>>> meaningful ideas/lessons for these kids. Any
>>> help/suggestions would be appreciated!