Unmotivated At-Risk Readers in Elementary School - Research Paper Example

At-risk, readers are definitely in the classroom of every teacher. However, it is prudent to know who at-risk learners are instead of assuming that everyone is capable of identifying at-risk learners. The manifestation of poor academic grades and general disconnection is the most common feature of at-risk learners. These occurrences, therefore, require a combined intervention of educational stakeholders to avert this educational crisis. Teachers, parents, and students in these cases are the main stakeholders while the state and the community become the secondary stakeholders (Jennings, 2003).

The following aspects have been cited as major manifestations of at-risk readers;

• Academic failure: Registration of poor academic grades has been cited as a major indication of at-risk learners. A chain of poor grades has been cited as one of the major causes of dropping out of school. A string of poor grades demotivates the learner who cannot keep up with ridicules from his or her peers (Jimerson, 2002).
• Disengagement; the At-risk learners feel uncomfortable and unmotivated to pay attention to any school-related activity. This is characterized by low self-esteem and aspects of alienation from the normal school program (Brickford, 2002).
• Deviance; has been described as deviating from the stipulated social norms. This has been attributed to what can be called a mismatch between readers and the school environment. Deviance may then lead to isolation in a social setting which in turn results in low self-esteem and emotional problems. This can be prevalent among some adolescence in the elementary school setting.

The above-mentioned aspects need professional redress by the teacher as the first intervener. This is because it is the teacher who spends most of the time with the learners thus able to promptly identify the at-risk learners. Ordination between the teacher and the parents is essential in averting the setbacks faced by at-risk learners in an elementary school. To effectively handle this challenge, possible causes that may result in academic failure, disengagement and deviance must first of all be established.