How to Manage Autistic Children in the Classroom

Autistic children can be difficult to manage because they have difficulty communicating.

Autism is a neurological disease in which a person has difficulty communicating with others. Children with autism can be difficult to handle in the classroom because they sometimes show signs of aggression, exhibit repetitive behaviors and can be difficult to control. You can manage autistic children by creating a routine, having a structured classroom, using lots of visual teaching tools, creating and implementing a color-coded system, keeping the language you use concrete and simple and rewording what you say when necessary.

Things You'll Need

• Schedule
• Structured classroom
• Visual learning tools

Instructions

1. Create a routine and structure your classes. Autistic children do better when they have a routine and structure. Make a list of consistent rules or create a visual schedule. Also, use structure in your classroom layout so that specific areas are used for specific purposes.

2. Use visuals. Autistic children learn faster and easier with visuals. Similar to how advertisements use visuals to catch a person's eye, visual leaning tools help to maintain a child's interest and focus. For example, show pictures of children greeting the bus driver, their parents, their teachers and their friends when you are teaching greeting skills. Keep your explanation for each visual picture simple and short.

3. Create a color-coded system to help autistic students manage their behavior. For example, use a red card to let a student know that his or her behavior is inappropriate, a green card for appropriate behavior and a yellow card to tell the student his behavior is becoming disruptive.

4. Keep the language you use in class simple and concrete. Use as few words as possible to get your point across. Reword your sentences if your students do not understand what you are saying. Ask students to tell you what you have just said to know if you have been understood. Avoid using sarcastic expressions such as saying "Great!" when something goes wrong. Avoid using idioms such as "keep your eyes peeled" and "zip up your lips" Give your students clear choices during your lessons and avoid giving open-ended questions and choices.

References

• KidsHealth: Autism
• Families: 8 Difficult Autistic Behaviors (And Why They Happen)
• Child-Autism-Parent-Cafe: Teaching Autism Students in Inclusive Classrooms
• Principal Kendrick: Twelve Tips for Setting Up An Autism Classroom