Strategies to Enhance Academic Performance

Students can benefit in multiple ways from using specific and consistent academic strategies on a daily basis.  By using certain strategies both in the classroom and at home it can strength the academic performance and the overall thought process of a student.  When thinking of my E.C. students in particular, I think it would most benefit them to use spatial activities.  The activities can be something very simple, but once it becomes repetitive the students will further develop their knowledge of how to follow a routine.

In my classroom, I would use a spatial strategy of how the students are to get out of their chairs and line up each day.  It is incredibly beneficial for students who receive resource room services and accommodations to become familiar with routines.  As read in, Teaching with Poverty in Mind by Eric Jenson “The brain can change…”  I believe that by allowing these students the opportunity each day to follow the same pattern and directions it will allow them to adapt to this form of learning. 

It is a great accomplishment for many students to be able to walk in a classroom and sit down at their assigned seat or even for a student to line up properly.  Keeping my E.C. students in mind, I would choose to use a patterned strategy that will teach student’s attention skills as well as spatial awareness of the classroom and fellow students.  I will give each individual student step by step directions of how to line up each day.  The student will be asked to first, put his or her pencil in the basket, stand up, push in his or her chair, and then line up by the classroom door.  The task may sound simple and to many it is, but being able to complete this task is something that does not always come easy to many children with special needs.

Allowing a student with special needs to focus on attention skills is key.  If a student cannot pay attention or follow directions within a classroom setting, then unfortunately, there may not be much learning happening.  By giving students step by step directions you are allowing them to use many skills and focus on the task at hand.  The student will then be able to practice everyday routines which will in time become natural to them.  Teaching students to follow directions with a task such as lining up, can better prepare them to tackle other tasks.  The other tasks may be similar, in that, they will have "steps."  For example, often times teachers ask students to raise their hand in class, place their name card in the basket with their lunch selection, or even something as small as getting their "Friday Folder" from the correct spot in the classroom.  Teaching a child attention and directional skills is a basis for all other learning and can certainly enhance the child's academic performance. 

Teaching a student a specific routine can show that individual student that he or she can be independent.  Every student wants to know they are capable of completely a task by themselves, having that sense of accomplishment is a great feeling for a child. As Dr. Laura Markham says in the article, "Structure; Why Kids Need Routine", "Structure and routines teach kids how to constructively control themselves and their environments."  Dr. Laura Markham certainly said it right, we need our students to feel comfortable and confident enough in their environments to try, take risks, and learn! 

Links to Resources:  By clicking these links you will find charts, ideas, etc of how to create ideal routines for students in the classroom setting.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/classroom_management_pictures/
http://www.kidpointz.com/behavior-reward-charts


Resources:

Jenson, Eric. Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids

Brains and What Schools Can Do About It. 2009. 

Markham, Laura. "Structure; Why Kids Need Routine." 2013.http://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines