John O'Hara
all messages by user
1/15/2019
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
John O'Hara
|
One of my 5th grade music classes includes a boy who is autistic. If it were up to him, he would be perfectly content to refrain from participating. He often has an object with him that he is interested in. Sometimes it is something he has created (usually very intricate). Sometimes it is a toy car. He's usually absorbed in the object, pretending, imagining..etc. I frequently remember to cue him after I've cued the class. I try to do it as inconspicuously as possible. For example, if we're standing up behind our chairs to strike our boomwhackers, I'll check to see if he's standing. If not, I'll get his attention and repeat the direction. It usually doesn't require much motivation to get him involved. He doesn't fight me on it. I think I'm just setting the expectation that he will be participating in music. I see my role as reminding him that I'm not going to ignore him and I'll always be there expecting him to try. |