To create classrooms where all students feel supported, educators must understand and meet the unique challenges of teaching exceptional learners. This includes students with disabilities and language barriers, as well as those who are gifted.Teachers excel in this area when they adopt strategies such as differentiated instruction and individualized support.
These strategies foster academic success, social engagement and a sense of belonging for every student.
Examples of Strategies for Teaching Exceptional Children
The goal for teachers is to create a classroom where every student feels seen, supported and empowered. Success in teaching exceptional learners lies in using flexible, student-centered teaching methods. By understanding individual learning needs and applying proven strategies, teachers can foster academic growth and a strong sense of belonging for all. The following provides an overview of eight strategies to help educators create supportive learning environments.
Differentiated Instruction
At the heart of creating a supportive classroom is differentiated instruction, which adapts content, process, product and environment to meet diverse learner needs. Differentiation ensures learning aligns with each student's readiness, interests, and learning modes. This is vital for high-functioning learners and those requiring significant support.
Classroom strategies include:
- Flexible grouping based on readiness or interest, facilitating peer interaction and targeted teaching.
- Varied assignments: visual organizers, audiobooks, tactile tools and multimedia content catering to different learning strengths.
- Ongoing pre- and formative assessments to adjust instruction responsively.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The Universal Design for Learning promotes proactive curriculum design to serve all learners from the outset, reducing the need for later adaptation. By embedding flexibility and choice, UDL helps students build autonomy and reduces learning barriers. Its framework emphasizes three pillars:
Multiple means of representation (e.g., text, audio, visuals)
Multiple means of expression (e.g., writing, speech, art)
Multiple means of engagement (e.g., choices, interest-based tasks)
Individualized Support
Students with exceptional needs often have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and may require assistive technologies. Assistive tools range from low-tech (graphic organizers) to high-tech (text-to-speech software). Schools increasingly adopt multi-tiered systems of support to blend universal instruction with targeted and intensive interventions based on student data.
Research in higher education highlights AI-based supports, such as real-time language translation and adaptive learning, to personalize learning and support diverse learners.
Culturally Responsive Practices and Environment
Supportive classrooms embrace cultural diversity as a strength. This support involves representing varied perspectives in curricula, honoring students’ identities and using reciprocal teaching. This typically involves students and teachers co-leading discussions, which boosts engagement and cultural relevance.
These strategies for teaching exceptional learners help build a foundation of empathy, trust and high expectations in classrooms. Educators build strong relationships by learning a student’s strengths, interests and cultural contexts, which research shows boosts academic confidence and achievement.
Supporting exceptional children is an active, holistic process that takes a multi-layered approach. It enables exceptional children to grow academically and socially in a nurturing environment.
Fresno Pacific University’s Exceptional Children Certificate
Fresno Pacific University offers an Exceptional Children Certificate through a flexible, online program. This graduate-level credential is designed for educators passionate about supporting learners with diverse exceptionalities, such as learning, communication, emotional, behavioral and autism spectrum disorders.
The program offers two tiers: a Basic Certificate (15 units) and an Advanced Certificate (24 units), each blending core courses with electives. Core requirements include High Incidence Disabilities and Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Electives cover topics like special education law and ethics, autism spectrum disorder, assistive technology and cultural reciprocity.
Designed for working educators, the program’s online, self-paced format allows participants to begin any course at any time and complete each within a year. Graduates are prepared to better serve exceptional students.