Classroom Applications

Given the rising number of children diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, we, as future

teachers, are likely to encounter these students some time in our teaching career. The book gives

teachers the opportunity to understand what might be going on in the mind of a child with Asperger's. By reading the book, teachers can

develop an understanding of the struggles associated with Asperger's and how to work

around it to assist the child.

What can teachers do?

• To encourage social interaction and prevent the Asperger's student from being ostracized, teachers can assign groups for collaborative work, being conscious to place the student in a group of peers likely to be patient and accepting.

• Offer a predictable schedule or advance notice of any changes in the schedule: Students with Asperger's have a very hard time adjusting to spur of the moment changes in schedules, providing a schedule of the daily events on the board as well as a written schedule will help students with Asperger's find the structure they need.

• Reduce unnecessary distractions: noise and commotion, bright colors • Talking in complicated dialect, using metaphors, and sarcasm can throw off

students with Asperger's syndrome.

• Offering alternative accommodations to presentations • Offer alternative locations for testing or when Asperger’s students are having

trouble in class.• Use soothing colors in the classroom. • Communicate with teacher's aides, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and

speech-language pathologists to enable the best outcome for the student with Asperger's, both the teacher and the support team must work as a team. Plans should coincide with one another, and both should have the same goals in reaching the student's IEP.

• Allow student with Asperger's syndrome to share their special knowledge with the class on a determined time or day.