How to punish a boy with special needs while still being fair?

Question

There's a boy in my class with special needs (I'm a new teacher) and he has a problem where he can't help saying something because he doesn't know what it's like, so he'll say things to people all the time and he makes fun of a dispraxic boy in my class, and he gets really upset, so I don't know how to punish this special needs boy without being unfair.

Answer 1

I don't think "Jay Z" quite understands the term "special needs", so I think you should disregard his advice (unless, of course, you find it helpful...).  I have 2 special needs nephews, one of which has a similar problem to the one you are describing.  What is this boys age?  I think you have to take in consideration his actual age and his mental age before you can come up with an acceptable solution.  Also, you should consult his parents because often, children like this are seeing counselors and they usually give advice to the parents regarding acceptable and understandable forms of punishment.  If this boy is not working with a counselor, maybe you should ask the one employed at the school where you work.  Otherwise, you could either establish some form of points-and-rewards system, geared towards his own personal interests or hobbies.  Or, use the "When-Then" system.  Say this boy is saying these inappropriate things to the other child, you could tell him "When you stop calling "CHILD" names and hurting his feelings, then I will let you participate in "ACTIVITY" or whatever it is he is disrupting.  

Special needs kids can definitely be challenging, try to distract him from the things he is about to say by giving him a book to read or a small errand to run that will make him feel important.  Sometimes they just want to show you that they can handle a responsibility, even if it is something small like stocking the blackboard with chalk and clean erasers.  

Good luck, and thank you for being one of the very few teachers who are willing to work with these kids!!  You are so important to those of us with special little guys or girls on our lives!!

Answer 2

The above advise sounds good.  I'd also suggest, for a way to teach him some social conventions, to have a role-playing type of game, or a story.  Have the game or story reflect a situation wheere a child is getting made fun of, and have the child who is doing the teasing respond to questions such as, "Is the boy being a good friend?"  "What should the boy do?' or something like that.

Answer 3

You did not say what condition the special needs boy has? It would make a difference.

Mostly you can use a reward system. He can work for a reward and the "work" is not making fun of others. If he does, he does not get the reward.

This works well with some autistic, ED, BD and AHDH kids but if the boy has Downs Syndrome or MR then it might be harder.

The goal will be the end of the behavior and rewarding positive behavior is the way to start.

Answer 4

put him in a seat next to your desk and ask him to assist you all day.then watch him change for the best .be a adult not a child .

Answer 5

I can see your dilemma.  I am not sure whether this is weak of me, but I found that I could almost always manage the classroom to avoid most things.  Sometimes, that meant identifying those who needed to be furthest apart as a prelude to determining the seating plan; sme groups it was providing something they'd fiddle with the moment they came into the classroom (eg those puzzles with small metal balls you need to balance, or a folding paper exercise)

I am not sure how the boy says something to the other.  Does he put his hand up and say it to the class or does he say it to the boy as he enters?   I would imagine the key is to make clear that sentences that do not adhere to whatever guidelines you give, will be ignored, and then to try to make sure all children know - again I don't know ages and class situations, but you could have a laminated smiley face and a laminated sad face, and if the boy says something not right, point to the sad face and try to get the class just carrying on - perhaps say 'I am disappointed in you, X' but try not to make a thing of it - or even have a box on your desk with some sort of reward so you remove one everytime a bad thing is said and perhaps give it to anyone who was the recipient of the bad words.  This could be done while your voice was still teaching the lesson so the child who likes to disrupt does not have the reward of disruption.  For most children, if you appear to ignore it is a bad message, or at least fail to be emotional about an incident, they can become bored with it.  I understand that you may not this way be able to console the boy who is upset, but if you confide in him, or his parents or an LSA if you have one, then you may find that the fact the other boy is being chastised/dealt with is sufficient.  He knows you and the other kids 'don't count' the comment so neither does he.

Answer 6

making this boy 'special' itself is a degradation and punishment. treat him like others and teach him from what is right and wrong.

that is respect.