Special education “Be your specialist” series – 2

Be Your Specialist Series – 2

Topic ( The 5 Basic Thumb Rules while Teaching Your Child )

While you are still looking for a specialist, hopefully, you have begun making small efforts toward early intervention based on common sense.

Here’s some more crucial information to assist us all as we advance.

When we begin teaching a new idea, we should remember the five
basic thumb rules of instruction. You may term them “Teaching
Principles,” i.e., what aspects should be considered while preparing aids/teaching
materials for effectiveness.

Principles of Teaching:

1. Known to unknown;
2. Simple to Complex;
3. Whole to Part;
4. Concrete to General;

5. Real to Artificial:

 

Let’s look at them one by one with the help of examples from our daily life.

Teach through Fun Activities.

 

 

1. Known
   to unknown;

Example:   
The word often used in India for Water with children – mum ( not mother
here) teach the correct word so that in your absence others can
understand. So;

1^st.  use both words together i.e Mum Water and

2^nd. when the child is getting used to it, slowly replace it with the
word Water. So, what did we do…We went from Known (Mum) to Unknown  (Water )

A word of caution:

Whenever we introduce something new be it a word or anything, we must say both the old and new terms at the same time, rather than separately, until the child begins to respond to the new word. This is the case whenever we present something new in a different form, such as water being named MUM, but the child was able to identify the picture or actual water at that point. After finishing, gradually cease using the wrong word (MUM).

 

 

 

2. Simple
   to complex;

               Example:  

For making the transition smooth and effective

1^st. Take a two-piece puzzle it is easy to assemble.

1. Once done and repeatedly done correctly move on to a three-piece puzzle.

 

 

3. Whole
   to Part;

Example:   
Teaching a child about the body parts

1. Start by showing the picture of the complete body
2. Illustrate the parts
3. Once the awareness is built make a comparison of the picture with the actual human body, of a family member then do the same with the child’s body
4. Now show various parts separately and discuss their position on the human body.
5. Discuss the function of each part as well.

 

4. Concrete 
   to General;

Example:   
Teaching a child about Colours

1. Show and tell them that colours exist all around us.
2. Pick up a color from the color box, tell the name such as green, which is so widespread and abundant.
3. Do some practical work by going around and matching it with the colors in nature and also matching it to objects at home and around. A traffic signal might also be a good idea.

4. Depending on the child’s comprehension level, you might be able to raise the level once they have grasped it by talking about how it feels to see the color and other things.

 

 

5. Real
   to Artificial;

Example:   
Teaching a child about the difference between

(how a real body feels/does and artificial body feels /does)  / ( Fruits and Vegetables )

 

Illustrate with an example how a person can speak, clap their hands, and experience ticklish sensations while applying a similar concept to a doll or model that lacks these feelings.

Try applying it using fruits and vegetables as well.