Special Needs & Learning Differences
Workshop Questions
I have two five year old special needs boys. One, C ,was exposed to drugs in Utero and probably has developmental issues but has not been diagnosed yet. J, the other boy has Williams Syndrome. They are very different from one another. C is very…
More on Practice Pads
I have been teaching for over 4 years now, and it had never occurred to me to use the practice pads in the Private Lessons. After the presentation Samali gave at our conference here in Western Australia on the use of these, it absolutely brought…
Using Practice Pads
With regard to the recent discussions about Practice Pads, I wish to add a word of caution. Please be careful to make sure that only a small or modest percentage of your class time is spent with individual students processing content on their individual Practice…
Incentives and Prizes
Wondering what your philosophy is regarding the use of incentives/prizes and if any of you use incentive systems for your students. If so, what they are? For example, weekly rewards/points/stickers for certain things (what do they need to show/accomplish?) and/or a bigger reward down the…
Working with Various Levels in Class
Has anyone had students in the same class, in the same foundation level, but doing different variations, arrangements, etc? I am just thinking that no matter how equally you relate the information, some students (in the same class) will want something extra. Does anyone do…
Every Other Week Lessons?
Does anyone offer every other week lessons? I am a new SM teacher and in the process of switching my traditional students over to SM but one of my students parents is asking if they could do every other week because of the expense. I…
Talking to moms about behavior issues
I am trying to figure out how to better handle this issue in the future. I do shared lessons with 2 kids at a time. One kid has been with me for 1.5 years. He was with his brother, and his behavior was so poor…
Setting Rates-Private and Group
I’m newly licensed and I will be holding my first FIS tomorrow. The father of a five-year-old autistic boy contacted me yesterday. Someone at his school recommended SM to him. I’ve been debating, in general, what to charge (and will obviously have to finalize this…
Four Year Old with Hearing Impairment
I would like some advice regarding a potential student. A mother rang me recently, – she had seen my advertisement locally and had been advised by her four year-old son’s occupational therapist to try piano lessons for him. He has had hearing impairment from a…
Central Auditory Processing Disorder
I have a new student beginning private lessons who has been diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). I have only had two students in the past who had CAPD and their disorders were so mild that I never noticed anything other than they were…