Supporting Students with Special Needs
Supporting Students with Special Needs
Song 1: “Stand up, Sit Down” for autistic children
Stand Up, Sit Down
Everybody move your hands.
Everybody move your hands.
Stand up. Sit back down.
Stand up. Everybody sit back down.
Everybody move your legs.
Everybody move your legs.
Stand up. Sit back down.
Stand up. Everybody sit back down
Everybody move it smooth.
Everybody move it smooth.
Stand up. Sit back down.
Stand up. Everybody sit back down
Everybody move it choppy.
Everybody move it choppy.
Stand up. Sit back down.
Stand up. Everybody sit back down.
Everybody move it your way.
Everybody move it your way.
Stand up. Sit back down.
Stand up. Everybody sit back down.
The "Stand up, sit down” song can be adapted for Autistic children to help them engage in a natural action by leaving their seats. It also helps them learn various body parts and how to move them, as evident from the song lyrics. According to the song, children are supposed to move their body parts creatively within the confines suggested. For example, the song suggests moving the body smoothly, choppy, or in one's way. Children with autism present with trouble coordinating movement, and through this song, they can learn to move the various parts with ease, promoting ease of movement.
Song 2: “Body Check” for ADHD children
CHORUS
Before the firefighters get to work,
He does a fire engine check.
Before the pilot gets to work,
She does an airplane check.
Before I get to work, I do a body check.
Ready for my body check…
VERSES
Check 1: My voice is quiet
(Action- finger to lips “shh”)
Check 2: my body feels calm.
(Action- take a deep breath)
Check 3: I am looking at my teacher.
(Action- child looks at adult)
Check 4: I am ready to follow directions
(Action- sit up straight in a chair)
The "Body check" song is adapted for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as it teaches children to monitor their behavior and tune into learning. The specific goal areas of the song include regulation of arousal level, appropriate behavior, eye contact, and attention to a task. This helps children with body checks where children are expected to watch their eye contact, sit up straight, have a quiet voice, and have a calm body. Children with ADHD experience problems with sitting still, constantly fidgeting, inability to concentrate, excessive physical movement, and excessive talking. Therefore, this song promotes a habit that calls for displaying the same behavior in various settings.
Song 3: “Move your Hands” for physically challenged children
Move your hands
Move your hands to the beat of this song.
Grab something and play along. Move your hands!
C’mon everybody get in the groove.
Listen to the music and make your move. Move your hands!
“Move your hands” is a song that can be adapted for children with physical disabilities. This song promotes motion exercises focusing on increasing a child's hand use. Therefore, it is adapted to engage and encourage motor participation where children can play a musical instrument or other sound-making items. Children with physical disability experience limitations as one or both limbs inhibit physical function. Therefore, they cannot join in songs like jumping and dancing. However, through this song, they are taught how to participate through the motor movements produced by their hands actively.
