The Longer Academic Difficulties Last, The Larger They Become
“Ashley loved to draw, dance and sing but that too is fading away.”
Ashley has a learning disability and dislikes school. She has trouble reading and hates to write. She still confuses letters: b and d, p and q ands reverses many letters when printing. She is having trouble with math as well. Despite repeating first grade, her difficulties with reading and math are preventing her from completing her work and are leading to school anxiety, low self-esteem and a sense of failure. When she repeated first grade she had trouble making new friends and felt “stupid”. Ashley was once very friendly and outgoing and has always done her best at school but now is frustrated, withdrawn and disappointed with herself. At home she loved to draw, dance and sing but that too is fading away. 5 Roads Training
What are some signs of early learning difficulties in elementary school?
Trouble learning letters, numbers or basic math concepts, confused when reading basic words, does not follow verbal instructions, poor grades, lack of motivation, challenges telling time, poor handwriting, does not finish things, takes longer than necessary to complete homework. Brighter Beginnings: Kindergarten and First Grade Readiness
Proficiency vs Mastery
Schools and tutoring centers are often based on proficiency. Proficiency is defined as being adequately competent and it has taken on the meaning of having just enough competence to be able to get by. Many children who achieve competence have deficits in their knowledge base which cause academic problems later on. These deficits may be from earlier in the semester and from earlier grades. Unless these deficits are addressed, school success is almost impossible.
We use the standard of mastery rather than proficiency to address learning issues, which is defined as the full command or understanding of a subject. The educational component of both 5 Safe Roads for your ADHD Child and Brighter Beginnings: Kindergarten and First Grade Readiness assesses these deficiencies and makes sure that your child has mastered the previous material, building a strong academic foundation. 5 Safe Roads for your ADHD Child Brighter Beginnings: Kindergarten and First Grade Readiness