We discuss some effective teaching strategies to increase productivity and efficiency of the quality of instruction in special needs schools of New York.

2. Forming Small Groups
■ Creating small groups of two or three children can help in
providing personalized attention.
■ One group can be working on the basics of math while the others
can be working on more advanced problems.
■ When creating such groups, students must segregated on the
basis of their skills.

3. Creating Classroom Centers
■ Students in special needs schools of New York and surrounding
areas can be grouped on the basis of classroom centers.
■ Such centers specialize in one particular area and happen to be
self-contained in terms of the instructions provided.
■ A teaching assistant, volunteer or parent can facilitate the running
of such groups who rotate their responsibilities to help provide
appropriate guidance.

4. Adding Specialized Instruction Along
with the Basics
■ Students with varying levels of aptitude, when taught in a single
group, can be taught general concepts and provide individual
attention at the same time.
■ This greatly helps students with special needs to understand the
subjects irrespective of their proficiency levels.
■ Some of the general topics which can be taught include basics of
math, scientific theories or helping them organize their writing
ideas.

5. Thematic Instructions
■ Thematic instruction involves using one theme for instructing
many subjects.
■ Such a theme could range from current events, writing on a
particular topic, or honing reading comprehension skills.
■ The theme should be such that it grabs the attention of the special
need students and keeps them engaged.

6. Using Books and Materials of Varying
Levels
■ As the proficiency levels of the students will be different, so the
textbooks and teaching materials which will be used need to be as
such.
■ Using books of varying levels will enable students to learn at their
own appropriate level in special need schools of New York and
surrounding areas.
■ Such a practice helps in minimizing frustration levels and boosts
confidence in kids.