Labels do not automatically improve education for students in schools. Labeling a child ELL or TAG is no magic wand. At-Risk encompasses the majority of students at some point in their educational experience. But, a new group deserving some attention is becoming apparent.
Activating the Desire to Learn
Bob Sullo, veteran educator, states in his book, Activating the Desire to Learn, the five components necessary for learning.
- Power
- Mastery
- Belonging
- Safety
- Fun [1]
For many students who live in chaotic homes, these may not be in place. They may have the capabilities of making wise decisions and learning but there are roadblocks that they are incapable of removing to succeed in school.
Diagnostic Tools for Kids From Chaos
Students in the Kids From Chaos category struggle in school. They are likely to have chaotic homes that could include:
- Low paying jobs
- Disabled parents
- Unemployment
- Substance abuse
- Absent parents
- Illness [1]
One thing these students can predict from day to day is unpredictability.
If a list were to be created to diagnose a child living in chaos, the following would be a good start:
- Struggle academically.
- Feel alienated from school.
- Feel unaffirmed by society.
- Lack time-management skills
- Have little vision of the future and live for the moment.
- Lack appropriate oral-language skills to connect and negotiate with others or to express themselves.
- Act out physically or withdraw into depression.
- Encounter trouble with the law.
- Relate most significantly with their peers.
- Rarely experience success in life or see legitimate success attained by their associates. [1]
Students in large urban schools are likely to meet the criteria above.
How to Help Students Living in Chaos
Students from chaos need more than affirmations, good teaching and a smile. They also need
- Multimodality instruction. These students have to be able to see, hear, touch, and speak as they learn. They lack academic vocabulary to understand the information being delivered to them through speaking.
- Short-term goals with explicitly defined time frames. Divide projects into sections and grade each part instead of one grade at the end.
- Specific, concrete and immediate feedback.
- Time and space for their voices to be heard.
- Research-based, explicit vocabulary instruction, especially in academic vocabulary.
- Homework support. Incorporate class time for doing homework.
- Movement during learning experiences.
- Displays of exemplary student work. They need to see and understand what the school values.
- Role-playing opportunities. Students need to practice resolving conflicts and problem solving.
- Affirmation. [1]
These strategies should be in place in classrooms with students that come from chaos. All students would benefit from these educational enhancements but they are necessary components for children living in chaos.
Reference:
[1] Sussman, Grace. "Kids From Chaos," Education Week, December 30, 2009.
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
