Shadow Teaching in All Its Aspects…

Tohum Autism Foundation Scientific Advisory Board Member Prof. Dr. Bülbin Sucuoğlu and Founding President of Down Syndrome Association Fulya Ekmen answered what a the shadow teacher who is applied for children with special needs stands for, how to become a shadow teacher and how to determine the need for a shadow teacher.

In Turkey, children with special needs can receive inclusive education according to the legislation. However, when they start education, there must be auxiliary instructors in the class, who are called shadow teachers. Parents who do not have the opportunity to be with their children in the classroom receive support from the auxiliary instructors so that their children’s education is not interrupted.

Shadow teachers who help children with special needs mingle with their classmates and develop their social skills support them based on the characteristics of children with different learning disabilities.

Children with special needs who learn with different speeds and methods may need shadow teachers in pre-school or primary school periods. People who have completed their education in child development, psychology or special education departments of universities or high schools can work as shadow teachers.

 

According to data from the Ministry of Education, the number of children who receive inclusive education at primary school level in Turkey is 115 thousand 556, while this number is 30 thousand and 624 at secondary school level. However, there is no reliable data on the number of shadow teachers. Shadow teachers whose wages are paid by the families of the children with special needs, leave them when the children gain their self-skills and adapt to social life.

Tohum Autism Foundation which has been operating since 2003 for autistic children’s development and education, provides Solutions on steps to be taken to integration applications in Turkey with its reports titled “Teacher Training and Education Towards Autism Spectrum Disorder in Turkey” and “Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Turkey and Integration”.

 

How is the Need for Shadow Teacher Determined?

Tohum Autism Foundation Scientific Advisory Board Member Prof. Dr. Bülbin Sucuoğlu who prepared the reports, generally defines the shadow teacher as “the person who helps the children communicate, interact with their peers and complete the tasks given in the classroom”. Sucuoğlu says that a child with special needs having a shadow teacher is decided by a team of classroom teachers, counselors, special education teachers and parents, and that the teacher or parent can apply to this team and request the child to have a shadow teacher.

 

Stating that it is a critical step for a shadow teacher to go through a qualified education process to help children with special needs, Sucuoğlu says: “The system cannot achieve its purpose by people who have not undergone a proper training process working as a shadow teacher.”

 

Saying that the primary responsibility of the shadow teacher is to provide clues to the child with special needs, Sucuoğlu continues as follows:

“For example, instead of presenting the “Go play” or “Let’s write” instructions by standing next to the child, one should ensure that the expected task is fulfilled with the tips by preparing the visual clues or activity charts beforehand so that the child can perform these tasks. Instead of waiting for the child to do something wrong at an activity and correcting the behavior, one should make sure that the child shows the skill on his/her own by using the tips given before the activity.”

Shadow Teacher’s Effect on Students with Down Syndrome

Founding President of Down Syndrome Association Fulya Ekmen defines shadow teacher as one of the important elements of both reintegrative inclusive education.

By evaluating the effect of shadow teacher on individuals with Down syndrome Ekmen says: “Mentally handicapped groups can learn more easily with frequent repeats and simplified content supported by visuals. Shadow teacher provides them. In addition, individuals with Down syndrome may have delays and some limitations in the development of motor skills. In this case, children need support on things such as self-care, using school spaces and acting without being excluded by their school peers. The shadow teacher is definitely an element that allows children with Down syndrome to integrate and learn in school and to receive a quality education.”

Stating that the task of shadow teacher is to support students with special needs as well as giving them the necessary support to follow in-class topics and to act as a bridge between teacher and student, Ekmen lists the advantages of shadow teacher as follows:

“Ensures that students with special needs participate in the class, ensures that they receive the same quality of education as other students, prevents discrimination and mobbing of students with special needs, helps maintaining the classroom order and supports the classroom teacher on subjects such as exam preparation, topic simplification, and subject repetition.”