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Teaching SEN Students (All Teachers)
Hi everyone,
I’ve just started teaching an 8 year old with autism piano and singing.
I have just done a first piano lesson with him, he has been learning piano previously but his teacher has moved away which is why they have come to me. The Mum left the lesson as she doesn’t want him getting used to having her there but all he did for the whole half hour is play on my piano and ignore everything I say or ask him to do. How can I get past this, especially without the parent present to tell them to behave? (If children have misbehaved in lessons before I have asked the parent to sit in the lesson and this has solved the problem)
I’ve only had experience of adult SEN students before, and I know it takes time to get to know how the student works best but is there anything different I should do for a child?
His first singing lesson is next week, I want to try to avoid the problems I have had today (I’m a bit conscious that he will try to take over my computer when I play the songs)
Thanks in advance! 🙂
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3 Replies
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Hi Beckie
I don’t have any experience teaching SEN students but I do have a little experience having them as part of a youth group I have run in the past.
What I found with SEN students is they only listen to people that they feel are close to them and really care about them.
That’s why they behave when their parents are in the room.I know that you are there to teach him something but in order for him to let you do that you might have to gain his trust first, either in conversation and talking to him about what he likes and spending time getting to know him or sometimes bribing works. Either way it’s probably going to require a bit of time and a lot of patience.
I’m no expert though🙂
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Wow Wes, just read this, that’s similar to the advice I just gave you about your 18 year old! I really think what you’ve said is bang on and applies to those with confidence issues too😉
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The lessons are going much more smoothly now, thank you everyone🙂We are getting a lot more work done now!