Who is a Shadow Teacher?

Who is a Shadow Teacher?

The shadow teacher can be described as a facilitator in official sources, an assistant teacher who has worked individually with a child with special needs in early childhood, primary school, and later periods.

The shadow teacher is a person who has received intensive and qualified training to identify learning opportunities for the child, adapt the teaching environment to meet the difficulties, and recognize situations where the child needs help.

What are their responsibilities?

The primary responsibility of the shadow teacher is to provide guidance to the special needs child in the preschool or elementary school setting. The guidance should be presented in the most moderate manner; for example, instead of directly presenting the child with the instructions “let’s go play” or “let’s write,” it should be provided in advance through the preparation of guidance (visual cues or activity charts) to enable the child to fulfill these tasks, ensuring that the expected task is accomplished through the guidance provided.

1. It ensures that the student with special needs exhibits appropriate behavior in the classroom environment.
2. If necessary, they guide the child to complete their in-class assignments and tasks.
3. It ensures that the child achieves the educational goals in the individualized educational plan.
4. It collects data regarding the child's development and learning.
5. It regularly shares the student's progress with the family and teachers.

Qualifications Required to Become a Shadow Teacher

The shadow teacher must have completed an educational program containing specific courses to fulfill their responsibilities. Courses related to autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental disabilities, and special learning difficulties should be included in this program.

The shadow teacher must have been trained in the fields of child development, early childhood education, and/or special education teaching. However, what is important is that shadow teacher candidates must have hands-on classroom experience. Those who have received qualified training will be able to set realistic educational goals for the child by focusing not only on the child’s deficiencies but also on his or her strengths, work in collaboration with the classroom teacher, and use different teaching methods to ensure the child’s learning.

Why is it important?

A qualified shadow teacher contributes to the child’s independent development by supporting both their academic and social development. Furthermore, the teacher ensures effective collaboration between the family and the school. Thanks to this support, the student becomes more successful in integrated educational environments.

Source Suggestion

For detailed information about the subject, please refer to the report prepared by Prof. Dr. Bülbin Sucuoğlu. “Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Integration in Turkey” You can access the report.