Teaching Children!
By minerc
@minerc (1373)
United States
November 18, 2008 10:30pm CST
Right now we have an 11 year old neighbor girl living with us, she is a very sweet girl but she has had some problems, she is currently in the 4th grade, but all her testing is on a 2nd and 3rd grade level. I have been taking care of her for over a month now and have worked with her and the school to see the issues she is having. Her major issue is reading. I have her read for 30min every night and even sit with her and let her read to me. The first time she read I could tell she didnt understand alot of the meanings of words and she wouldnt take the time to sound out some words to pronnounce. I have gotten her to sound and now she can remeber what she is reading because I have taught her to use the dictionary to look up words. The school wanted to do testing so I signed the paper and explained what was going to happen. She did a hearing test and flunked it. She has spelling test every Friday and flunks them. She has vocab test every Friday and flunks them. I know that she knows the words, I know that she can hear me when Im close and even when she is in the very back of the house. I dont understand why she continues to flunk everything. She is a smart girl and she picks up on things really easy, it's like she has this need for attention and this is the way she gets it. Can someone please help me help her. I really am lost and I am trying everything I know to get her where she needs to be. The teacher said its due to laziness. I just dont know what is going on with her. Do kids purposely flunk things for attention or laziness. What am I missing.
2 people like this
8 responses
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I was watching a show on tv about children like this..Something happened maybe when they were young and i do not think she would be doing it on purpose,she would be looking for approval ,and would like to see you pleased with her..Do you know her back ground? there may be some things that has happened that maybe you are not aware of.I think it is wonderful of you to take your time to help this child..Maybe she just needs a lot of love and approval..Hopefully as you continue to work with her,she will do better...I really think the childs problems is from something that has happened in the past...Brain cells that have not been used will die,and maybe after a while working with her they will develope...thats what this show was saying,if neglected too long sometimes they can be strengthened and sometimes not,it really depends on how long they were neglected..Good luck & God Bless..
1 person likes this
@Amberina (1541)
• United States
19 Nov 08
I think she is just going through some problems she is probably going through some puberty issues. I don't know why she is living with you but I'm assuming she has some issues with her family as well. Maybe some counseling would help, she is very lucky to have you to be there when her parents can't it takes a lot to take in another person's child and raise her as your own. Bless you for being a good friend to her.
1 person likes this
@minerc (1373)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Thank you! She is here because her dad is working out of town to help there family get better on there feet. I wanted to do counseling but wasnt sure if I was over stepping some bounds there. I appreciate the comment and will talk to her dad to see if it is ok.
@Jerry132 (44)
• China
20 Nov 08
Hi, minerc. i guess you need to leave her alone and let the kid play with other kids for a while. Children are children. i have a two-year-old daughter. She used not to share toys with other children. My wife and i were upset with her and when possible we would take her out to play with other kids, sometimes its obliged to do so. The other day when i was home i found her sharing snacks with a girl a few months older than she is. So try leave her alone, maybe things will get better.
1 person likes this
@katrhina23 (1282)
• United States
19 Nov 08
Have the child tested. She could have a learning disability. You can ask also the school to have her refer to a team that would evaluate her academically, emotionally and physically.
Sometimes learning disabilities are not seen. I mean she ll look smart but she cant comprehend.
1 person likes this
@442984826 (79)
• China
20 Nov 08
hi minerc. Do not worry too much. This requiress parience and time, I believe her.
1 person likes this
@sivanj (1263)
• India
19 Nov 08
this is a peculiar case that i hear about. i am sorry for this. i pray that your problem gets sorted out sooner by God's grace. i am no expert. so don't know what to say. but i know children who study so well at home. they recite the poems and write whatever they are asked to write at their level so well but all these at home. when they go to school or when they are in front of others (parent's friends or neighbors) they don't have the daringness (i believe) to face them and be able to recall and tell those things which they were very confident doing some time back. might be this is something like that. more like stage fear that many have. have close observation and think about this over and over again. our brain has the capability to solve complex problems. wish u the best.
1 person likes this
@worldbestwriter2008 (1633)
• Philippines
20 Nov 08
When teaching all you have to do is gain big patience in yourself. You have to be patience. Children are playful. They are prone to instruction. They are not like adult, that once to be told is enough to be understood. But teaching children brings so fun and enjoy. I already experienced teaching children and I'm very happy when it end up successful. Children learned many things about my teaching and they missed me so much..It's like tutorial teaching.
