This slide show discusses the various strategies special education teachers (specifically ELA teachers) can use when working with individuals diagnosed as having Autism Spectrum Disorder

1. Classroom Management & The
Importance of Discovering and
Utilizing New Mediums When
Teaching Individuals Diagnosed with
Autism Spectrum Disorder
By Anthony Policastro

2. As education continues to evolve, new concepts, strategies and
studies are being explored to further enhance student chances for
success. This is particularly shown in special education through the
advancements and contributions that have been made in the last
50 years by various people (Skinner, Grandin, etc.). However this
presentation will be focused on effectively teaching students who
are diagnosed as having Autism Spectrum Disorder. This will also
be focused on strategies to use in an ELA class because I am in 9th
grade ELA teacher at an alternative high school for behavioral
students.

3. As an English Language Arts Teachers we have the unique ability
to use many different mediums to get the intricacies of language
across to students.When teaching students figurative language,
poetic devices, reading comprehension or literary elements we
can utilize:
● Texts
● Music
● Plays
● Lyrics
● Graphic novels
Since English Language ARts is a humanity, unlike some other
major subjects in American schools there is room to explore these
mediums and use them as tools to enhance student learning. In
the following slides I will discuss some other effective mediums
to improve learning for Autistic students

4. Music in Collaboration with Poetry
When teaching students poetry, teachers have a tremendous opportunity to build understanding and
enthusiasm by incorporating music. This would be an excellent strategy to employ because of the obvious
similarities poetry and music share, such as meter, rhythm, imagery and (sometimes) rhyme scheme. Music
is also been proven to improve individuals with ASD understanding of a topic, as well as help develop social
and communication skills, which is also a big part of our jobs as special education teachers. Not only has
Music has been identified as a strength in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, but is finally receiving
statistical evidence that it can used as an effective intervention for ASD students. In a recent 2018 study it
was shown that “music intervention can indeed also improve social communication and functional brain
connectivity, lending support to further investigations of neurobiologically motivated models of music
interventions in autism” (Chowdury 2018). For anyone who may be reading this who is not an ELA teacher,
but perhaps works with younger ASH students, music can also be a calming source for students when
frustrated or anxious. Before I was a teacher I was a home assistant for a young Autistic boy, and I witnessed
the positive effects of music with him first hand during moments of stress or frustration.

5. Using Social Stories in Collaboration with a Text
As stated in the previous slide part of our job as educators of special education is to improve a student’s
social and emotional skills, as well as their academics. One of the ways we can accomplish this is with
Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as the collaboration with the student’s school psychologist or social
worker. One of the ABA strategies I use in my classroom is Social Stories. According to Maegan Pierce, social
stories or narratives “are viewed as an effective, evidence based strategy for addressing this target behavior
in individuals with ASD and are “narratives that describe social situations for learners by providing relevant
cues, explanation of the feelings and thoughts of others, and descriptions of appropriate behavior
expectations.” One of the ways I incorporate ABA in my classroom is when we read a text such as a play or
nonfiction/ fiction novel or short story we will discuss a characters actions as a class. We discuss the other
options a character may have had in the social situation, and why the events following their decision
occurred. Obviously when a student and a psychologist discuss social stories they may talk about real
situations in the students life, but my strategy can be an informal, effective way to help students understand
how certain actions and behaviors play out. This can be particularly helpful for ASD students because some
effects of ASD are characterized by impaired social interaction, and problems with verbal and nonverbal
communication (Nwokeafor 2009).

6. Effective Classroom Management and
Environment for ASD Students
When creating a positive and effective classroom environment for ASD students there a multiple
strategies one can use:
● Get organized in terms of accommodations and supports for your students. This is an extremely important
aspect of our jobs as special education teachers and if we are not properly accommodating students we are
failing them and ourselves.
● Make sure you provide clear expectations for your students in concrete terms, as ASD students can have
trouble interpreting figurative or not cogent language.
● Include time to model appropriate behaviors for your students as well as create a structured environment.
● Utilize schedules throughout the day for ASD students. This can be a huge help in terms of students
maintaining good behaviors, as changes to schedules or unfamiliar situations can cause anxiety and stress in
ASD students.
● Collaborate with the other professionals and paraprofessionals who work with your students to ensure
everyone is doing as much as they can for the student to be successful, academically, socially and emotionally
(American College of Education. 2020. Module One: History of Behavior Assessment and Analysis).

7. References:
1) Chowdury, Rakhee; Custo-Blanch, Melanie; Foster, Nicholas; Hyde, Krista; Jamey, Kevin; Nadig,
Aparna; Sharda, Megah; Tan, Melissa; Tuerk, Carola. October 2018. .“Music improves social
communication and auditory–motor connectivity in children with autism”. Translational Psychiatry
2) Nwokeafor, U. Cosmas. 2009. “Conundrum of Autism: A Review of its Causes and Significant
Impact on the Education of a School age” Conundrum of Autism: A Review of its Causes and
Significant Impact on the Education of a School age Child
3) Pierce, Maegen. “Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum
Disorder”. BreakThrough Behavior
3)