How anyoone had a student with mild mental retardation?

Question

How did they act?
How did they behave?
How much behind are they from other kids their age?
How did you respond to them acting up?
Did they get time out?
Did they have to put their head done?
Did they have to stand in the corner?
Did they get a spanking or paddled?
Do they have temper tantrums?

Answer 1

Children with mild mental retardation are usually somewhat behind in academics and in social skills. Delays may extend to other areas such as self-help skills, speech and language, etc. It varies with every child. As they get older, the gap between where their peers are performing and where they are performing will probably widen. In other words, in preschoolers, it may not be as noticeable, but as they progress to higher grade levels, and thinking and learning processes progress from concrete to more abstract thinking, they may not be able to keep up.
As for behavior, you treat a child with mental retardation like you would any other child. You redirect inappropriate behavior first, then use time out as a last resort. Spanking a child is not a appropriate- definitely a no no if you are the teacher. It won't teach the child the correct behavior. Try role playing and modeling the appropriate behavior. Yes, they may have tantrums, like any other child. You don't say what age you're dealing with. That may make a difference in how you deal with behaviors, but one thing you need to consider is the DEVELOPMENTAL age of the child. For example, if the child is 10 years old, but developmentally functioning at the age of a 3 year old, it would not be appropriate to expect him to understand what a typically developing 10 year old understands. You would have to speak to him like he's 3; at a level he can understand.
I hope this helps.

Answer 2

I am a special education teacher, so I have some experience in this area.
Kids with mild mental retardation will be functioning at a level between about half and 3/4 of a typically developing child of the same age. For example, a 10-year-old with mild mental retardation will be at a level more like a child of 5 to 8 years old. As far as the way they act and behave, there will be the same range of behaviors that you would find in any children. Some will be shy, some outgoing; some cooperative, some noncompliant; some passive, some active, etc. Some kids may have temper tantrums, but so do some kids who are not mentally retarded. The best way to deal with negative behaviors is to reinforce positive behaviors. This means rewarding the things that you want them to do again, and - as much as possible - ignoring the things you want them to stop. For example, if you need everyone to sit down at their desk, you say, "It's time for everyone to sit down at their desks." When Susy sits down, you say, "Great job sitting at your desk, Susy! Here's a sticker (or M&M or token or whatever small reward) for sitting down at your desk." Then Michael will see that Susy got your praise, positive attention, and a small reward, so he sits down, and then you do the same with him, and so on. In the long run, rewarding positive behavior is far more effective than punishing, because it teaches the students what behavior is desired and it directs the teacher's attention to the students who are behaving appropriately. Punishing kids (but never by spanking or paddling) can be effective in the short term, but making a kid stand in the corner doesn't teach him how to sit in his seat. So do your best to teach the skills (and appropriate behaviors are definitely skills) that you want the kids to have. Good luck!

Answer 3

I have had several students with mental retardation. The way they acted was that it took longer for them to understand an idea or do their homework. Often I would have to explain the work or read it for them, But that is ok, because it was the effort that counts. I don not spank students, I would get into a lot of trouble if I did. If they were misbehaving, I would talk to them and remind them to be quiet. I have good students who try their best. That is all I expect out of anyone.

Try your best!

Answer 4

no