INTRODUCTION

The exceptional children or children with special needs are

those children who deviate significantly from the normal ones.
This deviation may fall on either end. The children who are exceptional
are either superior or inferior to the normal child. So they need special
care and education for making them better adjusted. The different
types of exceptional children are
a. Gifted children
b. Creative child
c. Backward/slow learners
d. Under achievers
e. Mentally retarded
f. Physically handicapped
g. Socially and culturally disadvantaged
h. Delinquent children
Here we are discussing about nature and characteristics, education and
ways to develop interest in learning mathematics for gifted children,
slow learners and culturally disadvantaged children.








GIFTED STUDENTS
A student of mathematics is considered as gifted if he
exhibits consistent remarkable interest and thereby maximizes his
achievement in the subject. Such a student will have an IQ above
130. The number of mathematically gifted students in a school is
normally limited to a few.
NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS
The following are the nature and characteristics of gifted
students. A gifted student
Has excellent memory, good vocabulary, broad attention span
and high reading ability.
Has a relatively mature sense of values.
Quick in grasping relationships, making generalization and
drawing conclusions.
Able to solve challenging problems.
Possesses a high degree of imagination, thinking, reasoning and
creativity.
Has a liking to work at abstract levels and does not prefer simple
practical works.
Always alert and actively participates in the teaching and learning
process.
REMEDIAL TEACHING
The gifted students have tremendous energy with a lot of
determination to realize the goals. If they are neglected they could
become maladjusted and will start creating problems. Therefore the
gifted students should be given certain enrichment programs in the
same class. The enrichment programs will include:
An enrichment syllabus to provide for extensive and intensive
study.
Assigning challenging and thought provoking problems.
Adopting teaching methods such as project method, Analytic
method, Heuristic method, Discovery method and Problem
solving method, which involves participation and independent
thinking.
Training to take up mathematically challenging tasks such as
organizing exhibition, preparing models, writing articles,
presenting papers and solving puzzles.
Responsibility for organizing the school mathematics club and its
activities.
WAYS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN INTEREST IN MATHEMATICS
Choose textbooks that provide more enriched opportunities.
Use multiple resources.
Provide opportunities to participate in contests.
Provide useful concrete experiences.
Expect high level products.
Differentiate assignments.
SLOW LEARNERS
Children who have IQ above 70, but learn at a reduced rate compared
to their peers are referred to as slow learners. They are also known as
backward students or border line children.
The upper limit of IQ for slow learners is usually fixed.
NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS
There are certain distinguishing characteristics which should be helpful
in recognizing the slow learners in mathematics. A slow learner
Has short span of attention.
Has weak association memory.
Has difficulty with abstractions.
Is not logical in thinking.
Lacks imagination.
Is not creative in his thinking.
Once the slow learners are identified the next task is to find out the
causes for the mathematical backwardness and planning for
appropriate remedial programs.
REMEDIAL TEACHING
Individualized instruction
Develop lessons that incorporate students interest, needs and
experiences.
Remedial teaching could be given.
WAYS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN INTEREST IN MATHEMATICS
Incorporate audio- visual materials in teaching.
Frequently vary your instructional technique.
Engage students with new and fun homework activities.
Real world examples can help slow learning students to
understand the basics of mathematics in a better way.
Involve them in activities discreet from routine home chorus like
sports, excursion etc.
CULTURALLY DEPRIVED
People of the lower strata of society are the culturally deprived.
Educators categorize them somewhat arbitrarily into one or more of
the following areas of deprivation: economic, racial, geographic, social,
cultural, cognitive and/or emotional.
NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS
The following are the nature and characteristics of a culturally deprived
student.
They lack motivation or capacity to cope with their problems.
They lack opportunities or motivation to become responsible
citizens
They exhibit most severe scholastic retardation.
They lack academic readiness.
They suffer from linguistic deficiency.
REMEDIAL TEACHING
They must be given compensatory pre-education.
Emphasis should not be given for verbal ability.
Individualized instruction must be provided.
Trained teachers must handle such students.
WAYS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN INTEREST IN MATHEMATICS
Individualized instruction must be provided for such children.
Stimulating toys can be used as models.
Simple concepts must be added to their curriculum.
Examples from the surroundings should be given.




REFERENCES
Dr. Anice James, Teaching of Mathematics, Neelkamal
Publications, New Delhi, 2013.
Dr. K. Sivarajan, Psychological Foundations of Education,
Calicut University, 2009
Prof. K.C. Panda, Education of Exceptional Children, Vikas
Publishing House Pvt Ltd., New Delhi, 2003.
www.gifted.uconn.edu
edupln.ning.com