Cri Du Chat modifications?

Question

I need classroom modification ideas for a child with cri du chat syndrome. I'm a first year third grade teacher and this is my first encounter with a child with this kind of special needs.

Answer 1

Cri Du Chat Syndrome is French for Cats cry, due to the babies cry sound very much like a cat, this condition is a genetic disorder. The child may have mild to profound intellectual disability, will have delayed speech and language skills, with slow developing motor skills (due to low muscle tone), and have very poor attention span.

These child tend to be loving and sociable little beings, and have a wicked sense of humour.

Ideally the child should have an IPP Individual Personal Plan or an IEP Individual Education Plan, which takes into consideration the child's strengths and limitations, these are invaluable when working with children with special needs, giving the teacher and teachers aid tools to use with the child's particular needs.

For communication you may use Makaton sign language, a communication book or a com pics (computer pictures).

To keep the child on track, try to have activities short and interesting, bright and colourful.

Keep information given to a minimum, short and to the point.

Always tell the child what is going to happen, when and where.

Patience is a virtue as the saying goes, this is especially true when working with special needs students.

Sorry I could not give you more specific information, its a bit hard when I don't have enough information about the child and their strengths and limitations, including how the Cri Du Chat syndrome effects their overall development.

I have included a few links which have some good information about teaching special needs students, which I hope will help some.

Good luck