I currently have a student in my 7th grade class who has been home-schooled for the past 8 years. Upon coming to our school (a private Christian school), I am finding that she’s totally unable to keep up in any area. She isn’t able to tell time, she struggles with simple addition and subtraction, etc. I am making a lot of modifications for her, I have her one-on-one for math class, good communicatoin between school and home. However, she has led such a “sheltered” life the past 8 years, and really is just struggling with keeping up with the routines of the day, getting the correct books out, keeping up with everyone, etc. Any thoughts on the best way to integrate her, grade her, help her in any way? Anybody ever experience this sort of situation coming from a home-schooled environment? I don’t think that she’s got a learning problem, it’s just that she’s never learned before.
Thanks!
Lisa
Re: Ideas please
Thanks for your feedback. This student actually really enjoys coming to school. She is well-liked by everyone, and a couple of 8th grade girls have taken her “under their wings”, which has just thrilled her. Socially, she’s benefitting each and every day, but you can’t really grade the progress in that area. I have her sitting right up front,and I often point out the right page that she needs to be on, help her as much as I can with each subject. I have her one-on-one for math, and that is a huge benefit for her. She has some good days and some bad days as far as keeping up with everyone. She’s definitely improved as far as getting the right books out. She is struggling mostly now with finding the right page. I like your idea of not really grading her. I actually talked that idea over with another teacher…just allow this student to learn how to go to school this year and then next year start in on the grades and the “nitty-gritty” so to speak. Her parents are aware of how far behind she is, and we’re planning a meeting in the next week or so to sit down and discuss what the options are as far as being sure this student is successful this year. I’m thinking about just setting some very simple goals (telling time, learning addition and subtraction facts, learning how to use a text book, dictionary, etc.) and simple things along those lines that will help her to be better prepared for next year.
Thanks again for your input…I really appreciate it!
Lisa
The answer would not in grades. I would say to not grade this student at all at present and to explain to her parents why you cannot do so. It would hardly be fair.
I would also encourage the parents to have her tutored after school or perhaps even during school to help her catch up in areas where she’s behind (telling time, for example)
Have you seen any growth in these weeks? Is she any more able to get out her books and keep up with the routine of the day? If so, that’s good news. Children are usually quite resilient and can catch up quickly. If though she has made little progress in these first few weeks, that would concern me.
It would also concern me if she is not happy at all. Is she? Does she seem to enjoy being around the other children or not?
The best way to help this child or any other is with caring kindness. Will any of the other chilren ‘buddy’ with her to help her integrate? Could her desk be a little closer to yours so you might more easily help when she needs it?
And what has she been doing? School is not the only source of learning and I’d like to think she has learned before. She just hasn’t done school before. What has she learned? (if not how to tell time…) Perhaps she could share something she did learn with the class. Can she read? What has she read?
Perhaps your parents could help you to brainstorm something she might present to her classmates.