While visiting the classroom, pay attention to the way the teacher gives instructions.
Are the instructions given one at a time?
Are several instructions given rapidly?
Not all of us understand instructions in the same way. Our brains may only process one item at a time. A little time may be needed between instructions.
Experiment at home. See what works best for your child.
Does the teacher talk to softly?
Does the teacher talk too rapidly?
Is there another child creating a disturbance and interfering with your child's learning?
Keep in mind that your child's problems may not always be his/her fault. Investigate and inform and train to improve the results.
Special Education tips & ideas
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Lack of Confidence
Hyperactive behavior and a stubborn behavior can also be caused by lack of confidence in classroom skills. A parent may need to see the teacher about classroom behavior.
As a teacher, I long ago learned to visit a classroom and observe the entire class for a short time. It does not take long to see which child will quickly get to work after an assignment. Concentrate heavily, work is completed steadily. Questions are asked if needed.
If this is not the actions of your child, you need to intervene. Move to sit beside your child. Ask if they need some help. Determine what the problem is and what is not understood. The problem may be simple, or it may be complicated, but you get a clue. Ask to take the lesson home with you and send it back the next day. By taking the lesson home, you can determine what the problem is without being hurried. You also have the added advantage of your child not worrying about what their classmates think of you helping them.
A few more school visits may be needed in the future. A teacher with a large number of students, do not always spot problems when needed. Another suggestion is to have the teacher appoint a partner to help your child, when needed. A properly trained partner will help, not do the work for your child which encourages the independence you wish to foster.
Special Education tips & ideas
As a teacher, I long ago learned to visit a classroom and observe the entire class for a short time. It does not take long to see which child will quickly get to work after an assignment. Concentrate heavily, work is completed steadily. Questions are asked if needed.
If this is not the actions of your child, you need to intervene. Move to sit beside your child. Ask if they need some help. Determine what the problem is and what is not understood. The problem may be simple, or it may be complicated, but you get a clue. Ask to take the lesson home with you and send it back the next day. By taking the lesson home, you can determine what the problem is without being hurried. You also have the added advantage of your child not worrying about what their classmates think of you helping them.
A few more school visits may be needed in the future. A teacher with a large number of students, do not always spot problems when needed. Another suggestion is to have the teacher appoint a partner to help your child, when needed. A properly trained partner will help, not do the work for your child which encourages the independence you wish to foster.
Special Education tips & ideas
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Do you have a hyperactive child?
Do you have a hyperactive child?
Have you mentioned the problem to your friendly medical professional? What was the result? Was it "to forget it as the child will grow out of the stage"? Or, was it "to prescribe a tranquilizer" which dulls the child's mind and reactions.
Investigate Medical personal trained in diagnosing educational disabilities. With out the proper tools and tests, no medical personal can accurately diagnose these difficulties. Because medications react differently for each person, more knowledge is needed then the average doctor has.
It is often difficult to find this information around many smaller communities and you will probably have to find a larger community for the service. They will sometimes work with the rural doctor, if requested.
Should your child be in Special Education classes, discuss the problem with the staff. Sometimes, they will help you carry some of the expenses as will insurance.
Have you mentioned the problem to your friendly medical professional? What was the result? Was it "to forget it as the child will grow out of the stage"? Or, was it "to prescribe a tranquilizer" which dulls the child's mind and reactions.
Investigate Medical personal trained in diagnosing educational disabilities. With out the proper tools and tests, no medical personal can accurately diagnose these difficulties. Because medications react differently for each person, more knowledge is needed then the average doctor has.
It is often difficult to find this information around many smaller communities and you will probably have to find a larger community for the service. They will sometimes work with the rural doctor, if requested.
Should your child be in Special Education classes, discuss the problem with the staff. Sometimes, they will help you carry some of the expenses as will insurance.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Education is a Jigsaw puzzle
Education is a jigsaw puzzle . As we grow, our brains are expected to absorb many unrelated facts and instructions. The process usually works well. But, some times, it does not work smoothly.
Then we have the child or adult with the label of educationally handicapped. Over nearly 30 years in the regular classrooms and Special Education classrooms, children have been my best teachers.
There are fond memories of 5 children from grade 1 to grade 3 for their part in my education. These children worked hard attempting to learn letters, numbers, phonics skills and reading skills for 6 months. They were not successful, just frustrated. The teacher bought some 24 piece puzzles to help the children fill some class time and improve skills. These puzzles proved to be an excellent teaching tool, unexpectedly. The same children that could not learn the education skills proved not to be able to put these easy puzzles together. Attempts would be made to put the edge pieces in the middle, etc.
For some of the students, it took some days for them to get the concept of looking for shapes and colors. We decided to leave a portion of the class time to solve these puzzles. Finally, by the end of the school year, every student learned to put a puzzle together with in a 25 minute time limit. By that time, we found they were also remembering their letters and numbers. Wow!
Words and problems solving was beginning to make sense to them. The following school year, most of these 5 students reached their grade level, or close to it, by the end of the next school year.
Then we have the child or adult with the label of educationally handicapped. Over nearly 30 years in the regular classrooms and Special Education classrooms, children have been my best teachers.
There are fond memories of 5 children from grade 1 to grade 3 for their part in my education. These children worked hard attempting to learn letters, numbers, phonics skills and reading skills for 6 months. They were not successful, just frustrated. The teacher bought some 24 piece puzzles to help the children fill some class time and improve skills. These puzzles proved to be an excellent teaching tool, unexpectedly. The same children that could not learn the education skills proved not to be able to put these easy puzzles together. Attempts would be made to put the edge pieces in the middle, etc.
For some of the students, it took some days for them to get the concept of looking for shapes and colors. We decided to leave a portion of the class time to solve these puzzles. Finally, by the end of the school year, every student learned to put a puzzle together with in a 25 minute time limit. By that time, we found they were also remembering their letters and numbers. Wow!
Words and problems solving was beginning to make sense to them. The following school year, most of these 5 students reached their grade level, or close to it, by the end of the next school year.
Nutrition and Education
Some years ago, I began to research nutrition in connection with a health problem. While reading the new book, I found a section on supplements and learning techniques.
Not long after, a young mother visited with me. She was frustrated with the recent behavior of a young daughter. She had been reliable and helpful, in the past. Now, mother and dad were receiving complaints from her classroom teacher for the same traits. Mother borrowed my book.
About two months later, she reported back, very pleased with her discovery. She researched the problem and invested in the suggested vitamins. In about three weeks, they began to notice a difference in her behavior. At four weeks, her teacher was commenting on the differences in school behavior. Life was returning to normal in their household.
Special Education Tips & Ideas
Not long after, a young mother visited with me. She was frustrated with the recent behavior of a young daughter. She had been reliable and helpful, in the past. Now, mother and dad were receiving complaints from her classroom teacher for the same traits. Mother borrowed my book.
About two months later, she reported back, very pleased with her discovery. She researched the problem and invested in the suggested vitamins. In about three weeks, they began to notice a difference in her behavior. At four weeks, her teacher was commenting on the differences in school behavior. Life was returning to normal in their household.
Special Education Tips & Ideas
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