Special Needs & Learning Differences

I started to work with a student who has cerebral palsy. Tova is an amazing person and student but does have a lot of challenges, as well as in the class. Because of her many issues, the 30-minute lesson can easily extend longer than that…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• discounted fees, fees, special needs, tuition, tuition discounts

Karen discusses some very common fine motor challenges in students with special needs and ways in which teachers can address them in the Gateway curriculum, and addresses teacher questions about some of their students’ fine motor issues. Topics include: Typical Fine Motor Issues (00:05) Fine…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Cerebral Palsy, crossing midline, Down Syndrome, fine motor, finger exercises, finger independence, finger isolation, gateway, smg, special needs

In this webinar you will hear about actual situations that teachers have encountered with their special needs students and learn from Karen’s expertise how best to handle those situations. Topics include: Using a Schedule with Students on the Spectrum (00:05) Difficulty Finding Black Note Groups…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• acceptance, autism, behavior, black note groups, black notes, challenging behavior, distracted student, Down Syndrome, first student, gateway, smg, special needs, spectrum, student progress, students on the spectrum, using a schedule

The role of the parent or coach with Gateway students can differ quite a bit from the role they play in the Simply Music Piano program. Learn why this is often necessary, ways in which you can still keep parents involved, and hear some real-life…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• coaches, encouraging parents, gateway, involving the parent, Parent attendance, parent expectation, parent role, parental involvement, parents, reluctant students, special needs

Vocalizing and singing adds a rich dimension to your lessons with students who have special needs. Karen talks about why that is, how to do incorporate it into your lessons, and answers teachers’ questions about students with various ability levels with regard to verbal communication.…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• autism spectrum, nonverbal, older student, parent role, singing, special needs, student shutting down, vocal, vocalizing

I’m in a bit of a teacher valley. A brand new 11-year-old student (just one month of lessons) has quit, though we had lots of good Foundation talks and relationship talks. He was progressing slowly but surely with the Basics and RH/LH of Dreams. He…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• communication, Laurie Richards, learning differences, special needs, student anxiety, teacher valleys

In this webinar you will hear Gateway creator Karen Nisenson speak with teachers about their students, sharing strategies to develop fine motor issues and relate students’ interests to music. Topics include: Teacher Experience with Autistic Students (00:05) Recently Diagnosed Student on the Spectrum (09:31) Connecting…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• angry birds, autism, autistic student, games, spectrum, student interests, trains

In this webinar, Karen Nisenson discusses some common behavior challenges present in students with profound processing disorders, potential triggers that lead to those behaviors, and best practices for ensuring a successful experience in your studio. Topics include: Introduction & Overview of Behaviors (00:08) Setting Up…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• behavior, Karen Nisenson, Laurie Richards, special needs, triggers, violent student

I just had an 8-year-old boy here for an FIS. He had trouble with pointing to his own RH fingers (for the Ode to Joy patterns) with his left pointer finger. Instead of pointing, he kept grabbing the RH fingers with his LH thumb plus…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• autism spectrum, difficulty pointing, fine motor, Laurie Richards

In this webinar the Gateway Teacher Training Program is summarized, and teachers ask questions about teaching their students with autism, cerebral palsy, and other learning and processing difficulties. Topics include: Teacher Input on Gateway (00:00) Student with Cerebral Palsy: Non-verbal, Fine Motor Issues (01:46) Teacher…

• Last updated 8 years ago
• Cerebral Palsy, diagnosis, Gateway training, Karen Nisenson, Laurie Richards, memory problem, mindset, non-verbal, parent involvement, processing issues