Students Who Fly Under the Radar
How to ensure that every child in your class has the chance to succeed.
By Bethany Stagliano
Every teacher has had a child in his class who is well-mannered, follows instructions, and completes her schoolwork—yet she is a mediocre student. This type of student doesn't demand a teacher's attention. She is not struggling, nor is she a high achiever. She isn't a behavioral problem, nor is she overzealous. While it seems like this type of learner is great to have in a classroom, in reality, she can be one of a teacher's biggest challenges. Keeping this student from slipping through the cracks takes some focused, purposeful action. Consider the following ideas to ensure that this type of learner gets appropriate attention throughout the school year.
Give Everyone Equal Time
It can be difficult to keep your individual teacher-pupil time balanced. Look past your eager student the front row and the troublemaker in the back row. When giving lessons and lectures, practice looking and speaking to each child. As your class works on assignments, rotate around the room and ensure that you spend time with each and every child. It might help you to go in alphabetical order (or reverse alphabetical order) to make certain that you have seen and had a “mini” session with every learner. If you find a child needs extra help, schedule a time for them to come in to receive the needed assistance, but beware of giving him too much classroom attention, thus reducing your one-on-one time with the rest of your pupils. At the end of the day, take a minute to look through your class list, mentally noting whether or not you have spent individual time with each child. If you missed one, be sure to interact with him/her the next day. Offer consistent feedback to each learner as far as what is going well and areas where you think he could improve. Also, be sure to ask your students where they see personal success and where they would like to improve. Their answers will be enlightening as well as helpful for you, the teacher.
Refuse to Accept “Good Enough”
We have all seen the looks on our pupils' faces when they are happy that they barely squeaked by with a passing grade, but as educators, we know that barely getting by is not good enough. Evey child can and should succeed. Don't allow anyone to think that if the pass, it's good enough. And, do not let yourself settle when someone is only earning mediocre grades. Determine what they need in order to improve their performance, or how you can motivate them to care more about academic performance. It is also crucial to take note of where these learners are currently excelling. This will aid you in understanding how to foster success in places and subjects where performance could be better. Think about different ways to design your lessons so they appeal to all types of learners. Generally, if you are consistent in setting high standards, your learners will begin to try to meet them.
Offer Individualized Education
There is a push in many regions of the United States to provide individualized education for all students, not just for those in special education. And it makes sense, doesn't it? Although the children in your class will (hopefully) generally be around the same skill level, there will always be areas in which one learner may need improvement, while another person needs more of a challenge. Have set times in the classroom schedule to accommodate this type of work. Tailor assignments so that they focus on the specific areas that need improvement for each child, while offering independent activities for those who have a thorough understanding of the concepts being addressed. This way, in one classroom, everyone is working to his/her potential.
Get Parents on Board
Most parents want to know how their son or daughter is doing in school. Regardless of the age or subject you teach, make a point to reach out to parents. These days, with e-mail, it's easier than ever to stay in touch. Be sure to offer not only give negative reports, but positive as well. Give parents information regarding their child's classroom experience. Offer ideas and even websites or iPad apps suggestions so they can work with their children at home. If you have a parent that does not respond or seems not to care, although it's frustrating, I suggest that you continue regular communication the best that you can.
Make it Your Mission
All children deserve a quality education. Just because a child is well-behaved and does not seek your attention or help, does not mean he should not receive it. We know our pupils have varied personalities, so make certain you learn about, and pay attention to each one. Take some time to find out about each of your students. What do they do after school? What do they like/dislike? What books or TV shows interest them? The more you know about them, the better you can ensure they succeed. And, the more a pupil sees that you have taken an interest in him, the more likely he is to want to stay engaged and successful in your class.
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