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Understanding Student Needs in the Classroom 

Imagine this: a fourth-grade teacher notices a student who has special needs, struggling in a small-group setting while the class is working on preparing poster presentations. This student often wanders the classroom doing unrelated tasks, distracts their peers with off-topic conversation, and generally appears to be unwilling to attend to the current work tasks. While these behaviors could be interpreted as a lack of interest, a lack of ability, or even defiance, they could also stem from the teacher not using strategies that align with the student’s needs. If students like this do not receive instructional practices that target and address specific learning and/or behavioral needs, these students may be unfairly labeled as having “behavioral problems” when what they need is support that is tailored to how they learn best. 

The Importance of Effective Instructional Practices 

Implementing instructional processes that use differentiated practices for different kinds of learners can be the foundation of an effective classroom. All students come into the classroom with different experiences, neurobiology, and intellectual abilities, and they will not all respond positively to the same instructional approaches. In fact, teachers may need to engage in more reflection and planning to meet a variety of student needs as research consistently shows that, when teachers use evidence-based strategies that are tailored to the needs of their students, they create environments that improve academic outcomes and reduce problem behaviors. When teachers participate in professional development, especially preemptively, this proactive action may yield positive results for all learners and save educators time and aggravation as they will not need to rely on constant reminders and redirection.  

Core Instructional Practices for Student Success  

Regardless of the group of students you’re teaching, implementing certain instructional practices can produce universal benefits: 

• Build Positive Relationships: Building trust and rapport with students can foster a classroom culture in which students are naturally motivated to behave respectfully. 

• Set Clear Expectations: Clearly explain what academic and behavioral successes will look like for each activity so students know how to behave.  

• Utilize Scaffolding: Break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and provide clear instructions at each stage. 

• Incorporate Visual Cues: Use visual rules, schedules, charts, or graphic organizers to help students understand expectations and stay organized. 

• Provide Frequent Feedback: Provide consistent, specific feedback to help students understand their progress and areas for improvement. 

• Maintain Structured Routines: Maintain predictable routines to reduce students’ anxiety and help them increase focus. 

Remember, specific instructional materials are available that can provide information on tailored strategies and best practices that can be used to address a variety of student concerns and disabilities, including autism, giftedness, and trauma. 

Applying Differentiated Instruction: A Real-World Example 

 Revisiting the earlier classroom scenario, the teacher recognizes that the struggling student has ADHD and requires structured support. Instead of assuming a lack of interest or defiance, the teacher implements the following strategies: 

• Redirection & Clear Instructions: The teacher calmly reminds the student of the task expectations and provides a tangible handout summarizing the project. 

• Task Breakdown: Recognizing that the assignment may feel overwhelming, the teacher scaffolds the activity by dividing it into smaller tasks and assigning the student a specific role, such as selecting images or researching sources. 

• Choice-Based Engagement: The teacher introduces options, allowing the student to choose materials or decide which part of the project to complete first, increasing motivation. 

• Frequent Positive Reinforcement: Throughout the task, the teacher offers encouragement and rewards the student for focus and participation, reinforcing positive behaviors. 

By employing these tailored strategies, the student is more likely to stay engaged, feel confident, and contribute effectively to the group project. 

Our Resources to Support Educators 

Adopting and refining tailored instructional practices can be challenging. That’s why the School Resources website provides materials that are specifically designed to help educators support students who have exceptional needs or abilities. The School Resources website offers educators valuable materials, including the following: 

• Research-based training modules on differentiated instruction. 

• Hands-on skill development exercises for teachers. 

• Take-home resources to apply best practices in the classroom. 

The next time you receive a student’s IEP, consider leveraging these resources to implement the best strategies for student success.  

Are you using appropriate, differentiated practices, and are you still experiencing problem behaviors? Learn more about classroom management strategies.