Mild/Moderate

Curriculum and other content related resources per subject area below (teachers click on your subject area)

Supporting Students through distance learning

It can be challenging to meet the social and emotional needs of students with disabilities in a classroom setting. Teachers providing instruction to students with a variety of behavior challenges in online and blended environments might want to consider the following:

1. Begin instruction by asking about your students day, and if they are doing anything fun or interesting.

2. Make your expectations clear and be very flexible in application of consequences in order to provide a positive learning environment.

3. Provide the students with self-monitoring resources, such as visual schedules, checklists, rubrics, or planning guides.

4. Encourage students to engage in the identification and labeling of their own internal emotional states.

5. Allow the students to address personal issues before they become major problems with completing assignments.


Teachers should realize that best practices in traditional environments should not be discarded simply because the participants are interacting digitally from various locations.

Here are some suggestions to enhance your classroom management skills:

  1. Build an engaging online environment.

  2. Have organization and routines for students to be at ease...answer questions,

  3. Establish norms for office hours and e-classroom. Norms include a dress code (no pajamas), no food, how to ask questions without interrupting the current speaker, etc.,

  4. Establish expectations for parental support. If parents are present for on-line instruction with students, can they ask questions to clarify how the assignment could be completed? or should they send an email, or text?

  5. Use an on-line app like REMIND. to maintain contact with parents/students

  6. Maintain a fixed meeting schedule for specific subjects: Don’t group mix subjects randomly.

  7. Don’t shy away from difficult conversations. Stay on top of issues as they arise. Immediately.

  8. Teach about plagiarism: Remain open to students explaining the concepts they have "written" for answers, review assignments by having students share with the group their answers.