Common Teaching Mistakes to Avoid for Children with Autism

Dr. Mary Barbera discusses some common teaching mistakes with Theresa McKeon, creator of the TAGTeach teaching methodology.
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As parents and professionals trying to help children with autism progress in life and reach their fullest potential, we’re bound to make mistakes from time to time. And in today’s video, I’m talking with Theresa McKeon about some teaching mistakes to avoid. This is an excerpt from one of my podcast episodes, where we discuss TAGTeach, a teaching methodology. While we don’t necessarily cover the “dos and donts of teaching”, I thought I’d share this snippet as it covers some autism teaching mistakes that I’ve seen happen frequently throughout my career.
Sometimes when trying to teach too eagerly it’s best to think about what needs to truly be addressed. Does the skill need to be broken down more? Does the environment need to be quieter? Do we need to react in a different way towards the learner? The key factor in making progress is trying new things that work. How not to teach children with autism is trying the same thing repeatedly and getting frustrated. Avoid these teaching mistakes and give your children or clients a better chance of learning more progressively.
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Dr. Mary Barbera. I fell into the autism world as an autism mom in 1999 when her first-born son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism. Since then, she became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and best-selling author of The Verbal Behavior Approach. Since 2015, she’s created 3 autism online courses based on applied behavior analysis for professionals and "gung-ho" parents. Whether you’re looking for autism parenting strategies, working with development delays in children, or in search of autism help for professionals, I can encourage you to subscribe to the channel and join me on my journey. I’ll be providing weekly autism resources that you don’t want to miss.

[@marybarbera]

What mistakes have you learned from in the past? Share them here so we can all learn from them as well!

[@emmieisaiah]

hi ,i love this blog and the workshop,on what mistakes we make.The first time i made a mistake in child was i force the child to do the drill which he didn't want do,i spend hours struggleing with child.

[@marybarbera]

This is a common mistake. Happy you realized it was a mistake!

[@maddisonb4258]

I am high functioning and I believe how I am and where I am is a lot to do with people not treating me like I couldn’t learn and change. I work in child care as a teacher now and my coworkers don’t even know. I work with a few kids in my class who are autistic and I believe in trying to correct certain behaviors such as anything aggressive, screaming inside, and only using walking feet inside. Lots of others think that these kids screaming, running around, and hurting their friends and teachers is just how they are and that they can’t help it. I have learned to cope with sensory issues and as a kid I learned there was a time and place for things and I believe these kids can learn that also. It’ll take work, time, and understanding since they are young and they are going to need extra help and different methods to help them really get it but I know it can be done. They might not be able to do it fully on their own in pre K but with teacher support I believe we can set the foundation for them to start building coping skills to deal with the real world. Some people think that autistic people shouldn’t have to cope and just be accepted as they are but I feel like us being unable to cope just takes away opportunities and options that we could have if we had coping skills. If I couldn’t calm myself and cope with over sensory as well as I can then I couldn’t work with kids and I love kids. If I couldn’t communicate the way I’ve learned to I’d probably be treated differently but because of how hard I worked on my communication skills I just come off as a little awkward. I get really upset when people act like I should just accept and ignore when these kids are acting dangerously and out of control. I guess it offends me when people act like we can’t learn or change.

[@djpatt81]

I have autism my mum used criticism to teach me which caused mental health crisis and another mistake my mum did used aggression saying I never change I always be the same and belittling which caused confidence issues

[@marybarbera]

that is upsetting. I am sorry you experienced that.

[@terrestaharper]

I'm sorry you went through that

[@TaRonThomasTv]

I never in my life needed a video this much in my life. I was just called about a job working with children (ages 2-8 years of age) suffering from autism. I know the basic steps in the learning process but not everything. It's been over 2 years since I graduated from New Jersey City University so watching this video made me eager to learn more about the profession.

[@marybarbera]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@TaRonThomasTv]

@@marybarbera no problem 😉

[@sybdragon]

I believe my grandchild is autistic. His parents don't think he is because they say he hasn't been diagnosed. But I see the signs and he is vocal. Not as vocal as other children but he will talk although not all the time. His meltdowns are bad... Over stimulation is bad and he melts down over it, usually the next day. It's a delayed thing. I want to understand so I can communicate with him. I also am going to try to teach addition and subtraction to my cousin's autistic son. So I am researching autism to understand it better. Thank you so much for talking about this and sharing your experiences and helping me with this. I do appreciate it. I am going to try the ADA. I was so lost about all this and very happy I found your channel. Thank you. :)

[@marybarbera]

Love to hear that you're working on helping your grandson! If you want to learn how to teach him at home, reduce those tantrums (and other problem behaviors), and advocate for him, my online courses can really help! If you're interested, join me for a free workshop at www.marybarbera.com/workshops.

[@mattaskepins8344]

This is cool because I have seen a lot of teachers make this mistake and then realizing what needs to be changed.

[@marybarbera]

yes!

[@Dont_FeedTheDead]

Thank you very much for this. Working respite & this kind of info helps get into the mindset for sharing knowledge.

[@marybarbera]

Your welcome !

[@brothermyke6523]

WELCOME TO THE kingdom OF AUTISM... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIWsdYKma6qNq7c

[@rajaroy2545]

Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge. Much appreciated. Would you please give some suggestions on how to get a non-verbal autistic child to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ more consistently? I have a student who is 14 years old and he does not respond very well to the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions. He has pictures of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ on his work table. But only sometimes he points at the picture if he wants to.I know he understands but he is either reluctant or doesn’t want to answer. Please advise.

[@marybarbera]

you can google mary barbera yes no for a video on the topic. With a lower language level, you may also benefit from my online courses to help you program for him and other kids like him. Check out a free workshop here www.marybarbera.com/workshops

[@nicolletasimon5928]

My daughter is 7 and she's nonverbal. She says certain words like eat food, oh no, pee, certain colors and numbers. It's frustrating sometimes so thank you for this.

[@marybarbera]

My online courses may be able to help you. Check out a free workshop here www.marybarbera.com/workshops

[@brothermyke6523]

WELCOME TO THE kingdom OF AUTISM... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIWsdYKma6qNq7c

[@wickjezek5093]

I hope your daughter is making progress! Have you gotten her an AAC device? Many limited to nonspeaking autistic people have rich, vivid inner worlds but lack the expressive speech to translate.

[@jyotirai6928]

My 3 year old autistic son prefer bringing things to me what he wants.He does not like pointing to pictures .He is non verbal. Initially i use to get angry with me.But now I have slower the process of pointing. He does pointing only when asked. I am worried about his speech.

[@marybarbera]

That is good that you have found a way to teach pointing. I can help you teach more speech. Get started here www.marybarbera.com/quiz

[@brothermyke6523]

WELCOME TO THE kingdom OF AUTISM... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIWsdYKma6qNq7c

[@avyapandhi3680]

Thankyou this is very helpful !

[@marybarbera]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brothermyke6523]

WELCOME TO THE kingdom OF AUTISM... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIWsdYKma6qNq7c

[@deanaburnham9571]

Thank you Dr Barbera! I know I'll revisit this informative video on pedagogy best practices for kiddos living with autism. I have a teaching license in California and now live in Ohio. Our priest asked me if I'd like to tutor his son who lives with the challenges presenting with that. I'm reviewing with you and learning more about this very important practice and treatment of a child such as you were discussing. I soaked up everything. I can incorporate into my approach methods and insights you and your guest presented so that I can bring my very best skillfully and compassionately to my student. Thank you so much. I hope you have videos made post pandemic. I'd love to hear your insights there. May God bless you!

[@marybarbera]

So happy you're finding my content helpful! If you're looking for more help with teaching your priest's son, my online courses can really help you increase his skills step by step. For more info, join me for a free online workshop here: www.marybarbera.com/workshops.

[@deanaburnham9571]

@@marybarbera Thank you so much, Dr Barbera. I'll pass your info on to those who want it or might benefit. I took a look and I'm excited to study your videos. Thank you!

[@chandrikapuree2756]

My baby is 23 month old. He hold others hand to get his desired object or wanna go out. But never point by index finger. What does this mean. Is it ok

[@marybarbera]

I commented on another one of your questions but it does mean he is delayed on that milestone.

[@ismailgul3972]

Hi, I have 5,5 years old son, diagnosed with autism 2 weeks ago, for us it is very difficult to make our son sit and do some works like learning sounds or numbers. He hates, and he can’t read any word or he can’t read two sounds together even he knows each sound separately when we say him “read together” he can’t so it. We do not know how to approach him, I feel pessimistic and I feel like he will never learn how to read. The main problem is that he doesn’t want to do anything except playing game or watching cartoon...

[@marybarbera]

This is very common. My online courses can help and are centered around helping a child want to learn. Check out a free workshop here www.marybarbera.com/workshops

[@ismailgul3972]

Thank you so much. I think I had already done that but the name of the workshop is big mistakes ... autism.

[@stellaisu-egwu7949]

Is really difficult initially but you have to be consistent and patient. Start by reading him books in bed before sleep. Start with little books with pictures and ask him to point to characters in the pictures. Never stop , he will get to read. Buy him pencils, erasers, blank books to enable him write or scribble what ever he wants to write. You can also get a standing white board of his height with markers and duster. Let him learn how to hold the markers. It helps a lot. Read a lot of resources around that. All the best.

[@azubliss]

Your son sounds similar to a daughter of a friend I know. She's in second grade and cannot read. She knows a few bits of the alphabet here and there and once taught something new, it as if it goes over her head. After doing some research on what could be the problem, she probably is somewhat autistic. She has a memory at least because she can remember the names of cartoon characters, but cannot memorize what certain words (even if she's shown visuals but I guess the parent would have to be consistent in repetition...).

[@bingo.the.beagle]

Mam my daughter 3.5 month have autism... May I know wat all sujects these autism child likes... So that i can work on dat...

[@melking5162]

Hi there my son is two years old he doesn’t say even single word he has older sister 3 and she screams at him then he screams too. He can’t say what he wants then he bangs his head on floor. I try talk to him all the time tell him what I’m doing even videos for babies I play I’m trying but I feel it’s not enough

[@marybarbera]

That sounds really challenging. You may want to connect with your doctor to get some supports in place. I also have online courses that can help you learn how to help him. Here is a link to a free workshop www.marybarbera.com/workshops

[@Jointknight]

You nailed it here, this has been the learning experience for both my child with autism, and myself as an adult autistic.

[@j.macmillan2293]

Interesting.. avoiding eye contact to reduce stress.

[@marybarbera]

Free workshop: bit.ly/3GZjn7m

[@cybernetic_2168]

How do you make the teachers realize there making mistakes

[@MeAndmyshadows]

My daughter won’t be going into 4th grade. She has a below learning level on each of her 3 state tests. She is struggling so bad in Math and Reading Comp. I just don’t know how to get through to her and the class keeps moving on. She is a smart girl. How do I help her?

[@marybarbera]

Attend a free workshop and find out where you can start: marybarbera.com/workshops/

[@ataveras5123]

Here's a perfect example of a woman who literally took the lemons in life and made a fabulous lemonade instead!

[@marybarbera]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@felixfamilgan1580]

What will i do to make me follow by my students my instruction?thanks.

[@marybarbera]

i have a new book that will help! check it out at turnautismaround.com

[@romaliadoubell8809]

I am a grandma of an autistic little boy . The best thing, eveeer. The sad thing is that I am a Gr R teacher at a mainstream school in South Africa who now has a little autistic boy at our school in Gr one. The problem is his teacher expects him to sit down in a class with 38 "normal" functioning children and learn as they do just because he is fluent in reading and phonics better than Gr 7 learner's. However, he loves to sit on a swing and stim or even come in my class and lay under a blanket in my play area. She feels his too advanced to be in my class. She does not understand that's just his time out from the "normal class." Help me please.

[@marybarbera]

Join a course today! marybarbera.com/courses/

[@shindellgreene1910]

My youngest son autism is having a very hard time in kindergarten he from being in classroom with 6 kids until classroom with 12 kids 🥺🥺🥺

[@shindellgreene1910]

How can I get him comfortable in being his kindergarten classroom sit in do his work

[@marybarbera]

Without you being there, it is tricky. He may need more support, one to one support and his teacher will likely need to pair with him and provide reinforcement for sitting.

[@shariariqbal9288]

@@marybarbera but unfortunately teachers don't like them to work with reinforcement. My child really does well at home when I use reinforcement but when I discussed the technique with his pre k teacher she completely got mad at me and said school doesn't work that way even though it's a special need school for cpse! What should I do now.?

[@Iamthebest1111]

Hi do you sell book on Amazon?

[@marybarbera]

Yes! www.amazon.com/Turn-Autism-Around-Parents-Children/dp/1401961479/

[@lizi.2503]

Great points. Environment or skill is too complex.

[@cybernetic_2168]

My “Friends” and teachers say I fake it even though I don’t fake my autism

[@anavenegas7826]

🙏 👍

[@tuvoca825]

Math teachers often skip steps. Rember those days?

[@merlinlevi3902]

MY DAUGHTER HAS AUTISM AND IS IT STRESSING MY WIFE AND I TO DEATH..WE CONSTANTLY ARGUE ABOUT TEACHING METHOD AND I AM JUST SULLEN. I WISH IT WERE ME ND NOT MY DAUGHTER

[@valentinipinto]

Hi Merlin, I came across your comment and I just want to let you know I’m going through the same phase. We are learning and it’s okay to feel stressed sometimes but we’ll find the way and they will too. I pray that your wife and you get the right wisdom and needed patience for this special calling that is being parents to a special kid❤️

[@merlinlevi3902]

@@valentinipinto thank you very much ..your kind worlds resonate like beautiful music. take care and thanks again

[@leilasg707]

@@valentinipinto i’m l