Teachers’ Challenges and Strategies in Teaching Literacy Skills for Children with Special Needs

Abstract

This research is motivated by the existence of various literacy problems in kindergarten and elementary school. The purpose of this research is to find out the challenges faced by teachers in teaching literacy to children and the teacher's strategy in teaching literacy to children with special needs. This research is qualitative research in which the data is collected through open-ended questionnaires and interviews and analyzed descriptively. Result:1) Not all teachers accompanying children with special needs have adequate knowledge in teaching basic literacy skills; teachers find it difficult to find appropriate learning programs and media to assist children with different abilities,2) Strategies to teach basic literacy: implementing adaptive learning programs, providing supporting facilities; using differentiated learning; teaching pre-academic abilities; learning with nature and all the senses in the teachable moment. Early childhood education is the formation period for preparing children to study in elementary school. Therefore, a collaboration between kindergarten and elementary teachers in teaching literacy is required