Human Development Notebook [Part One] Laura Douthat EDF 3214 Sept. 27, 2010 Brain and memory Principles and theories When a human child is born, their brain is not yet fully developed. This development takes place over time and involves neurological processes as well as environmental stimulation. Babies have all the neurons that they will ever have at the time of their birth. Neurons are the structures that enable brains to store and transmit information (Woolfolk, 2010, p.29). The connectors which allow the information from the neurons to travel across the brain are not developed at this time, however. These fibers, called axons and dendrites, continue to mature throughout the early stages of the child’s life. How …show more content…
144). Some other techniques for improving the learning experience of students with autism are structured teaching, speech and language therapy, social skills therapy, and occupational therapy. Keeping a structured and predictable schedule is imperative when instructing a child with autism. The child will also, most likely, need some specialized classes in speech as well as instruction in appropriate social interaction, as one symptom of autism is a lack of comprehension of social norms. Educators need to keep in close contact with the team responsible for the student’s educational plan and diagnostic write-up to ensure that there are no large gaps in the educational programs suggested and the ones being applied. Physical development Principles and theories Physical development is defined as changes in body structure and function over time (Woolfolk, 2010, p.559). There are two main principles involved in the physical development of humans. Normal human development progresses from the head down. When born, babies’ heads are disproportionately large in comparison to the rest of their bodies. In fact, a baby’s head is approximately one-fourth of the size of their entire body. Over time, the body size increases
Physical development is the explanation of the development of the body and its functions; below is an explanation of physical development from 0-19 years of age.
The latest research into development and learning of babies and young children shows that early stimulation are vital to the healthy development of brain. Babies are born with 100 billion neuron cells and they need to connect together in order to function. Many of these connections are made as result of what a baby senses and experiences. Stimulation, sufficient sleep and healthy diet makes a difference in allowing connections to be made. Development of brain begins well before birth. Neurons (cells in the brain which transmit electrical impulses to other cells) are formed between the 10th and 20th week of pregnancy. These cells are critical as they will later join together to allow the brain to function properly. Electrical pulses pass between cells via dendrites and axons which causes the connection between the neuron cells. The dendrites and axons of the neurons develop and begin the process of joining up in the final two months of pregnancy. Those that have not made enough strong connections are killed off and this is one reason why some children are
To be an effective special educator, one must possess knowledge of several, various disabilities and also knows how they can affect children so differently. For instance, there is an increasing rate of children being diagnosed with Autism; as a result educators need to be familiar with the characteristics associated with the disease. Symptoms and how severe they may be can vary from child to child, but all autism disorders affect a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. According to Gina Kemp, Jeanne Segal, and Deborah Cutter, specialists in learning disorders and disabilites, most children with Autism will not be able to communicate with the world around them. They have poor social skills, avoid eye contact, and tend to choose self play over group interaction (Cutter, Kemp, & Segal). A special educator needs to know how to interact with these children to have any hope of abiding by the standards of the NCLB. There is no known cause for Autism, therefore, it is important for any special educator to continue in their research in order to successfully educate these children.
Plethora of instructional formats can be used by teachers when teaching children with autism. Some of the instructional formats commonly used with children with ASD include small group instruction, one-on-one instruction, peer-mediated instruction, discrete trial and direct instruction. Use of reinforcement can be highly effective when delivering instruction to children with autism. Several forms of reinforcement can be utilized to increase desired behavior, such as use of computers, edibles, toys, stickers, and verbal praises depending on what’s motivating for the child. Barton, Lawrence, & Deurloo (2012) suggested that “Identifying and using individualized reinforcers are useful for maintaining motivation and can be essential to the
This paper has been composed to discuss the formulation of a plan for a student, who has been identified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder, and is currently receiving support services for speech and occupational therapy. An effective plan for collaboration with the occupational therapist and speech therapist as well as how the general education teacher will be supported will be described in the document. This paper will also discuss how behavioral observations have been used in the general education classroom to develop an intervention program that will meet the student’ s IEP goals and the services that are being provided meet those goals. The following will furthermore describe how the environment will support the student within the general
Extensive studies have been done on the autistic spectrum disorder. These children will be introverted and usually live their lives in an isolated world. They struggle with many different aspects of everyday life which causes them to retreat into their comfort zone of seclusion. Educators and teachers should strive to understand this comfort zone in order to be able to relate and communicate effectively with these children. Autistic children struggle to relate with one another, communications are extremely difficult. Different strategies should be implemented to encourage and help autistic learners to communicate more effectively with one another and with their teachers to facilitate teaching and learning in the classroom.
“Your child has autism spectrum disorder” are words no parent wants to hear. They are words that will instill fear, worry, and sadness. When parents hear this for the first time, they will have many questions. “Is there anything I can do to help my child? If so, what can be done?” Early intervention services; such as applied behavior analysis therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, and speech therapy before the age of three; can help improve the development of children with autism spectrum disorder. As an educator, early intervention is a subject teachers should be well educated in. It would be beneficial to the educator and the student, for a teacher to know and understand early intervention strategies.
Many children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) across the nation. In fact, numerous of educators will not be able to control their behavior and it would be a struggle just to teach those children with autism. On the other hand, if a child that is diagnosed with autism take his or her medicines prescribe by a doctor educators would have less fight.
Therefore, because students with autism have difficulty processing the most obvious information environments, it is essential to incorporate visual instruction, visual organization, and visual clarity. Visual supports allow students with autism to engage in life. In addition, providing visual cues provide opportunities of structure, routine, and sequence that many children with autism required to participate in daily activities. Furthermore, providing visual supports combined with systematic instruction provides the opportunity to ensure learned skills, while promoting high levels of engagement. Communication is essential and has a significant purpose for a child with autism spectrum disorder. It is necessary to build on these communication skills, once a student understands how to interact with others and communicate wants and needs the student will improve their quality of life. Understanding your student’s strengths and weaknesses, talents and interests, and other areas of difficulties will allow opportunities to create design effective approaches and strategies that can substantially affect your student in every phase of their
Autism spectrum disorder is caused by abnormalities in the brain. Many children that qualify under the autism spectrum disorder, often experience developmental delays in three areas of development. Socially/emotionally, as well as cognitively, children with ASD are unable to progress at a normal rate of development compared to their peers. The level of communication due to language delays can be severely affected as well for children with autism. Children can also exhibit repetitive, unusual behaviors. Those affected by the disorder thrive on consistency, and predictability in the classroom setting. Because of the impaired language skills, visual approaches to classroom instruction are very beneficial for the students (Ormrod, 2011).
Individuals with autism demonstrate delays or deficits in social interaction and behaviours. Autism is apparent from early childhood, but can emerge in early adulthood. It is associated with a wide range of possible causes, but genetic factors are the main causes. Children with autism have impairments in cognition, language delays, and lack of or poor social interactions. Lack of communication may force these children to adopt repetitive behaviours such as self-inflicted injuries and violence. The teaching process requires interventions that address the repetitive behaviours, skill development, and play
There is a multitude of different intervention techniques to help children Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and other language therapy strategies. ABA therapy is using Skinner’s behaviorism theories in order to improve human behavior (Axelrod, McElrath and Wine 2012). A language therapy that can be used was Developmental Individual Difference, Directed Relationship Based Model (DIR). DIR consisted of a speech language pathologist following the lead of the child who has ASD. Incidental Teaching is having a natural environment, activities that interest the client and have meaningful reinforcement when a client is making interactions with the clinician and materials. Natural Environment is teaching the
There are also necessary instructive systems, for example, picture walks, think-aloud, social stories, priming background, knowledge, understanding narrative text structure, goal structure mapping, visual maps, and reciprocal thinking and emotional thermometers, are necessary when helping learners with Autism. As indicated by Nash and Arciuli (2014), numerous kids challenged with autism if given trained through the necessary educational strategies and given support by educators they are able to learn and even read and communicate.
looks at many different interventions for children with ASD. Interventions that range in philosophies and adult support have been shown to be effective in increasing language and communication in children with autism. Didactic methods are based on behaviorist theory and use trials, operant conditioning, shaping, prompting and chaining. The adult controls all aspects of the intervention. Discrete Trial Intervention is an example of a didactic intervention. A skill may divide into small components and each part is learned using a highly structured method. A naturalistic approach incorporates behaviorist theories while using a more natural environment to encourage social interactions. The goal is for the child to initiate communication. An example
Physical development refers to the observable changes in an individual physique. It includes refinement of motor-skills and advancement in biological growth. Commonly, sought to be a universal process, as the human need and