EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS

The project that started two years ago with the publication of Ei4ESL has happily arrived at its destination and training sessions specifically for EOI teachers of «exceptional students» will see the light next academic year 2023 – 2024.

 

Promoting acts for this non-profit compilation of speaking activities for the English classroom as a fund raising platform were numerous and varied, such as

 

 

• book signing events,
• exhibitions,
• meetings,
• book fairs or
• online presentations.

 

There have been also other actions like

 

• interviews to experts at teaching students with special needs,
• research work into diverse worlds of exceptional students,
• learning specific strategies,
• making classroom accommodations,
• or undergoing specific preparations for exams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So we can finally say that it was worth making all this effort because it is all now set to organise EOI teacher training sessions to learn how to best approach exceptional students in our classrooms.

 

During the current school year 2023 – 2023 a group of teachers from different EOIs have been doing extra research work on inclusive teaching practices in an attempt to best address their students with learning difficulties or special needs, whom we all agreed to call «exceptional students». The result being a compilation of didactic units designed for their specific purposes, namely

• sensory impairment
• dyslexia
• anxiety
• ADHD

As well as redesigning examination papers or listening comprehension activities with specific requirement like a more visual approach or appropriate typing.

It is sometimes upsetting to observe frustrated teachers demanding bigger and better resources, which are generally scarce or non-existant, from official institutions. However, we also forget the inner resources that we all have, which can be for instance, strength and determination to find out by ourselves how we can make that exceptional student in our classroom feel part of the group by paying the attention that they need, letting them know we are concerned about their difficulties, or reassuring them with our commitment to keep trying until we find that best strategy for them to learn today’s lesson.

 

 

 

Thank you all who have made this possible

 

Co-ordinator of research team

«Inclusive practices» at CEP Marbella-Coín