Would anyone help please?

[azuhlLt.]

Ok, I have a student, he should really be in special needs, but his parents refuse. He's a good kid and never causes a disturbance, just sits there getting bored. He's not dumb, just slow and has a skewed sense of right and wrong. Anyway I'm looking through the resources, slowly, but I don't want to patronize the poor chap. So I'm looking for simplistic worksheets that aren't clearly elementary level. If all else fails, then I'll make my own, but I'm not very artistic...or bright.

So, if anyone can help, please weigh-in with opinions and information where possible, Az.

[Paul]

Sorry I missed this, question for you here, do you teach this student on your own or is he a part of a typical class?

If he is in a regular class then yeah you may feel you are patronizing him and you might want to check with the JTE before carrying out any plans to prepare something separate for him.

You have to remember too that the other kids in class are going to notice as well, even though they more than likely know what's up. Some teachers I have worked with have kids like this do other work, even as simple as writing the alphabet in their notebooks, or giving them vocabulary words with a dictionary. To keep them somewhat focused during classes.

I would first suggest that you talk over with your JTE what if any plans you may have and get their input into the situation. Also find out if he is the same in other classes too. Sometimes kids like this only have problems with English, and other times it's everything. But if he is not disruptive to other students during class maybe he just needs some extra attention to get the information being taught.

[azuhlLt.]

Sorry I missed this, question for you here, do you teach this student on your own or is he a part of a typical class?

If he is in a regular class then yeah you may feel you are patronizing him and you might want to check with the JTE before carrying out any plans to prepare something separate for him.

You have to remember too that the other kids in class are going to notice as well, even though they more than likely know what's up. Some teachers I have worked with have kids like this do other work, even as simple as writing the alphabet in their notebooks, or giving them vocabulary words with a dictionary. To keep them somewhat focused during classes.

I would first suggest that you talk over with your JTE what if any plans you may have and get their input into the situation. Also find out if he is the same in other classes too. Sometimes kids like this only have problems with English, and other times it's everything. But if he is not disruptive to other students during class maybe he just needs some extra attention to get the information being taught.

He's part of a regular class (better than average ability). I have spoken with the JTE and he suggests I put some stuff together and show him before implimenting a course. I think he's entirely correct. Everybody is well aware of his 'issues' and they are tolerant, the all see him sat in class doing nothing...it's a bit shaming in itself. I think he does struggle with the alphabet, reading and writing, so I might create a map game, and he can match the letter to a country, so he's looking at how the letters are written and what they look like in a word.

He's pretty switched on about certain things, firearms for example, he can recall all sorts of information in English, hence why I suspect Autism (but I'm not a medical professional, and nor are there any in Japan, so it would appear). Being ex-military, I remember some information about non-issue firearms, ballistics and muzzle velocity for example, but he can remember all the information from .22 to 50Cal.

I was thinking about developing English through something related to this, but he would have a remarkably specific lexicon. Thanks for the advice.

[sum1wholikesengliped]

I think weapons of any sort is going down the wrong path for teaching English, however, maybe you could focus on involving those types of words into grammar points in a non-lethal way. If you look at it in the way of a sport, rather than for fighting/war etc... you may be able to do something useful with his 'interests'.

I was also in the military, can still remember most of the details of some weapons, especially the 50Cal. Barrel turn clicks, head-space-and-timing etc...My private students get scared when I tell them all of my past military experiences, although I reassure them I would never use my knowledge against them or anyone else.