Ministering to Students with Special Needs
Over the years, we have had several students with special needs come through our ministry. Looking back, I see many ways that we could have served these kids and their families better. This deficit was not due to a lack of love, but a lack of understanding.
I became a high school English teacher this year. Now, my graduate schooling is colliding with real life experience. Consequently, I am learning an incredible amount about ministering to and teaching students with special needs.
Here are the six most important things that I have learned about meeting the needs of our students with exceptionalities:
1. Routine….Routine…Routine
Most students with exceptionalities thrive on routine. Do your best to have a set schedule posted for your Sunday morning and mid-week activities. If they can see when things are going to happen, they can prepare emotionally and socially. If your routine is going to change one week, do your best to let them know ahead of time that things will be different.
This is the daily schedule that I use in my English classroom. It is simple, but it allows my students to visually see what comes next.
*Follow the link to the Canva template I created and adjust it to fit your needs.
2. Get to know them!
This seems like a no-brainer. However, each student with special needs is very different from the next. Ask about their family. Get to know their likes and dislikes. Use their gifting in your ministry! Do they play an instrument? Get them involved in leading worship. Do they like video games? Have them help you set up the game area each week. Find out who they are and build rapport. They more you see their individual personality, the better you can reach them with the Gospel.
3. Use Visuals
Students with special needs often have trouble with auditory processing. Using visuals helps give them an advantage to comprehend whatever you are teaching. This can be as simple as a powerpoint presentation with a break down of your points. Another helpful idea is to print off the PowerPoints for them or make an easy to follow handout. Overall, you want these student to be able to clearly see what you are teaching.
Here is a basic template to use for your sermons. Do not leave it completely blank. That will be overwhelming for your students with special needs. Be sure to fill it in with some points to help drive student learning.
4. Preferential Seating
In the classroom, most students with accommodations get preferential seating. In short, they sit close to the teacher near the front of the room. In your student ministry, having your students sit in the front removes a ton of distractions from their view and gives them a clear subject to focus on while you lead.
5. Positive Correction
Replace “Don’t speak while I am speaking” with…… “Let’s see if we can remain quiet while I share the lesson.” Do you see the difference? Our students with special needs tend to be extra hard on themselves. Instead of telling them to stop doing something, give them a goal to works towards. Then, be sure to praise them when they achieve that goal!
6. Leave the Jokes at Home.
I quickly learned that my sarcastic jokes mean nothing to my students with exceptionalities. They take everything at face value. On day two of teaching, I asked my class to put their notecards on the corner of their desk to be collected. Two of my students sat and perfectly lined up their notecards. It was at that moment I realized that every word out of my mouth would be taken literally this year. Most students with special needs won’t understand our corny jokes. Leave them out or be able to explain them right away, so they aren’t confused.
If you are reading this, I am praying for you as you seek to reach your students with the Gospel. Having students with special needs in your student ministry is a gift! I am no expert, but I pray that these six tips will help you to better understanding and minister to your students this year. Please reach out if you have any addition tips that have been beneficial in your ministry!