Five year old students feel prepared when they bring the necessary school supplies to school. Teachers spend countless hours introducing students to the process of learning curriculum, developing social skills, and sharing the experiences of working in a group.
We all want these young learners to grasp all that is introduced and to have the necessary skills to understand, retain, and apply this newly learned information. For some students, this is a struggle. The reasons are many and are often found outside of the school experience.Â
Educators are very skilled at supporting students who struggle more than we want. With support, many of these students are able to improve their abilities to keep up with the classroom expectations. Others do not.
At this point, looking to the individual student to determine what abilities are hindering learning becomes critical. Is it a cognitive deficit? Or is it a combination of visual, auditory, and sensory motor challenges that weaken the learning process?
If we can help these students early on in their school experience, we head off the reactions to struggling educationally, socially, and emotionally. The social implications in our communities when students drop out of school are a growing concern and a societal crisis.
SOI does not challenge or replace the educational process. SOI develops learning abilities, perceptual skills, and motivation. In tandem with educators and education, we reduce failure in school.Â
written by: Diane Hochstein
