What does it take to be successful when teaching students who have Special needs? It
             takes patience and professionalism, consistency, caring, and a sense of humor.
             There is not doubt about it, special needs students can be frustrating, infuriating,
             rude, disrespectful, and even dangerous. That is why it is important to be patient and
             professional when working with them. Teachers must always keep in mind why the
             students acts that way. Teachers do not need to take verbal attacks personally, but realize
             that they respect authority, and that a special needs student may not. Teachers must win
             special needs children's trust over time, and it will take a lot of time.
             It is very important to be consistent with special needs children, and to create a
             predictable environment for them. Structure is very important to them because their
             out-of-school environment is usually very chaotic. When the teacher creates a predictable,
             structured environment, the special needs students can relax.
             An anonymous teacher once said," The systems are useful for keeping records and
             helping students see their behavioral progress, but that it meant nothing unless the teacher
             could 'hook' the student." She meant that all the techniques in the world would never
             really work unless the teacher cares about, and believes in the student. Also, the student
             must care about, believe in, and trust the teacher. If this kind of relationship can be
             establishes, real behavioral change can take place.
             One of the greatest gifts we have is the ability to laugh at ourselves. Most
             problems in the special needs classroom can be avoided through humor. If the special
             needs teacher has a good sense of humor, he/she can teach the students to laugh at the
             situations that happen in life instead of taking things so seriously. Teachers have a real
             opportunity to make changes in students' lives. Teachers often ...