Our current system of education in this country is in dire straits right now. I’ve spent almost 25 years in the public school arena and I’ve seen things go from bad to worse. But the pendulum always swings back and I’m beginning to see the shift but it’s going to take some time and effort on our part…
There’s a subtle, underlying current of fear running through the system and it’s causing teachers to do things in their classrooms that they would never have dreamed of doing when they were planing to start their teaching careers. In fact, if teachers knew “then” what they know now, most would have chosen another path. Sad but true…
So, your child may be under the effects of this stress… this running current of fear. But it doesn’t have to be detrimental it just means that in a class of 18-20+ kids they may not be getting the individualized attention they need in order to close the learning gap. Most of the time kids just need a few strategies to pull from when they get “stuck” and there’s no one around to help them. Awareness and practice are the key to building strength and confidence in their reading ability.
Bless all the teachers out there who are really getting a bad rap these days… they’re underpaid and overworked and almost forced to teach in a way that goes against what they believe. The pressure is ungodly, especially in Title One schools where most kids come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in which there is little to no literacy; no books in the home, not much awareness in regards to vocabulary and what words mean because parents aren’t speaking to their kids, and little to no life experiences… going places like the beach, the zoo, even the grocery store! Believe it or not but all of these factors have a negative effect on reading ability and comprehension.
Another issue is that kids are expected to sit at their desks for most of the school day. Reading and Math blocks of time have been mandated and put into place and Special classes have been whittled away, so outside of lunch, recess and P.E. a few times per week, kids are expected to sit at their desks for most of the day and work. But developing brains make learning connections when they are able to use their hands as well as their minds. We all have our own individual learning styles whether it’s auditory, visual, or kinesthetic and the best teachers are aware of this and do what they are able to meet these learning modalities for each child in their classrooms.
Regardless of the present struggles in the system these days, I have faith that the pendulum will swing back to a more balanced position one day. I’m just not sure when that will be. In the meantime I’m here… doing what I love… helping kids to be confident, strategic and independent in their learning. How does it get any better than that?
And remember, there’s nothing “wrong” with your child… we just need to identify where the gaps are and close them.
Reach out to me, I’m available to help!
Kelly xo