Identification of Learning Needs and Aspects That Need Improvement - Essay Example

Learning needs Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Learning needs A profile of the student and background A child’s background is noteworthy because it will either affect his or her learning negatively or positively. A child with exceptional needs is called John Smith age seven (7). John Smith’s is a male student brought up in the family of four, and his problem is how to write and spell words. The child cannot spell and write the words provided to him, and this has been a serious problem in his academic performance (Gail, 2009, 453). The child needs special attention for him to perfect his academic goals like other children. From his family background, the older siblings had no problem in learning how to write and spell words. However, the parents had been playing a crucial role in trying to teach the child when he was three years old (Anita, 2009, 432). A child can learn many things depending on the environment he is in at the time he starts learning. The parents of John Smith have been trying to look for someone who can assist their child improves on his performance in spelling and writing (Weil & Joyce, 1986, 34). The parents through the school administration conducted me so that I could assist John Smith over the holiday or spring season. They have been looking for a teacher with qualifications on special education. They explained to me their child’s situation, and I was able to understand what the child needed (Lieberman, et. al. 2004, 37). The child can learn remarkably easily because he can talk fluently. This is because the parents taught him when he was young. The child needed at least four sessions of learning based on my analysis and experience with children with specific academic needs. The child (John Smith) has the ability and capability to learn how to write and spell the words. The child needs to be continuously explained to what he is supposed to know within the session (Gail, 2009, 454). According the National Assessment Programme (NAPLAN), it explains on literacy and numeric requirements. This is an Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and reporting Authority (ACARA) that contains a series of tests and assessment (Suomi, et. al. 2003, 146). This assessment is for all students across the country where they are tested with a series of continuous assessment tests of reading and writing. This entails writing, spelling, punctuations, grammar, and language conversation (Weil & Joyce, 1986, 34). This programme is pertinent in assessing the children with various needs. It will help students and tutors in Australia to learn and improve on their areas of weakness. The tests are designed to suit the needs of each child or student with certain problems. Some students are ten years old, but they cannot read and write. In addition, others cannot calculate basic mathematics or arithmetic. The tests can be carried out any time in Australia depending on the needs of the child. The NAPLAN programme is of help to many children with exceptional needs (Lieberman, et. al. 2004, 40). How learning needs were identified and aspects that needed improvement The learning needs of the child (John Smith) who is at the age of seven (7) and cannot spell and write the words took some time to be identified. The parents thought the child was not serious in his studies though they tried to assist him (Institute of Leadership & Management, 2004, 78). There have been contentious issues surrounding the educational community on how to identify the learning needs of a child. The tests or assessment was administered to the child on writing, spelling, arithmetic, reading, numbers, and geometry. The tests were administered after two weeks for a period of five months, and the child continuously failed the spelling and writing in all tests (Anita, 2009, 433). The parents are able to notice the consistency of the child from his or her early ages in school. This will enable them identify the specific needs that require improvement. The student’s literacy level develops with time as he communicates and learns with time. However, if the child fails to respond like other students in different aspects, the child can be assessed further for the distinctive needs he may require. Literacy is an essential aspect in writing and spelling (Lieberman, et. al. 2004, 43). Children need to comprehend how to write and spell at all times in order to communicate with others without many challenges. The parents of John Smith assisted him in identifying his needs by conducting me (Suomi, et. al. 2003, 148). They could assist him when doing homework always, but they realized how the child was weak when doing the spelling and writing. The child could not differentiate k, g, and c when writing. Because this was a spring season, the parents conducted me to explain the needs of their child. After I had known John Smith’s home, I made frequent visits as I tried to understand the needs of the child. After a few days, I realized that, it was spelling and writing that needed to be improved with the child (Gail, 2009, 456). The plan on how I intended to achieve the improvement After assessing the student’s needs over a period of one month and a report from the parents for two years; the problem with the child was spelling and writing of words. The student got poor orientation when he was in kindergarten. The teacher did not pay much attention to writing and spelling needs of the student as by my assessment. The student's needs can be met if the parents and the child cooperate; because I have interacted with the child and have known what the problem is, and how it will be solved. I intend to give the student questions on how to spell and write. This will help me to test his speed and capability (Lieberman, et. al. 2004, 47). The marks he will score will determine the number of sessions I will spend with the student. In the previous assessment, I found out that, the child requires only four sessions and he will comprehend everything. The student’s problem is not that, he is rude, but the way he was taught in his kindergarten. With my twenty threes years of experience, John Smith case is not extremely serious or complicated because he can do well in spelling and writing if I will give him much attention (Suomi, et. al. 2003, 149). The four sessions Session one (1) I identified the most pressing child’s needs in spelling and writing as I introduced myself to the parents and the child. This took me two days (each day five hours). Session two (2) I taught the child on how to write and spell the words he had problems in writing and spelling. I explained to him for four hours with breaks after every one hour. This was for a period of four days. The child could ask me questions on the areas he had not understood. Session three (3) I set the test for the child and administered to him. After the exam, I marked and graded the child. We then discuss the marked exam together as I corrected on the areas he had difficulty in answering. Session four (4) I further explained to the child the areas he still had some weaknesses as I assess and evaluated his general performance. This took us twenty seven hours distributed throughout the week. He should be supported and encouraged at home by the parents, by buying the required materials, such as textbooks and writing materials. The parents should release the child to attend all the sessions as per the timetable. These sessions are significant because it will help the child to know his potentiality or ability in the area of writing and spelling. The student will improve and he is expected to perfect it within a period of six months. After each session, I will assess what the child has understood and what needs to be improved (Anita, 2009, 435). The NAPLAN Programme is comprehensive because it is for the benefit of students with exceptional needs. The programme is tailor made to suit the needs of the child and I am confident that, the schedule I have made for John Smith will work. This is because I have used it for ten years and the students have perfected in their areas of weakness. Most students who had challenges in spelling and writing are not complicated as those who needed to be assisted to understand arithmetic or calculations (Gail, 2009, 457). The tests and assessment will be continuous; because this is the only way of ensuring the student master the area, he has been having challenges for a long time. After all the sessions, the student will have understood his areas of weakness and will continue to improve. This can only be achieved if the child is committed and dedicated with full support from the parents (Suomi, et. al. 2003, 150). What happened during my sessions with the child? During my session with the child, I assisted him to improve on his writing and spelling weakness. The student asked some questions he had not understood, and I clarified to him in all the sessions. The major problem with the child was the writing of words with almost same pronunciation. Such words included k, g, and c, j and ch, p and b, d and t, f, and v, and s and z where John Smith had a problem. The student is inquisitive and ready to learn. I assisted the student in explaining to him how to spell and write various words (Lieberman, et. al. 2004, 50). The words which were difficult for him, we both discussed in depth in order to ensure the student masters and understood everything. I explained to the child how he was supposed to write and spell various words based on his need. For all the sessions, I tried to understand and get feedback from the child on how he understood what I taught him. Some few minutes before the session ended, I ask the child to explain briefly, what we had learnt and especially to write and spell some few words and sentences we had learnt. In the last session, I asked the child to explain briefly to me a few things we had learnt, and he was able to remember 60% of all the work (Gail, 2009, 458). Reflection and evaluation of the sessions According to my evaluation and reflection about the needs of the child, John Smith is a bright student only that his writing and spelling needs in the kindergarten were never addressed (Weil & Joyce, 1986, 38). The child is willing to learn, and he was attentive whenever we had a session with him at their home. The child though it was too late for him to learn spelling and writing; he will still catch up with others and will never fail in the future. The Australian programme on children with certain needs is open, and the NAPLAN is willing to support students with such needs. All the sessions were interactive, and even his parents were around so that they could understand the needs of the child further. This was important because the parents will still be with the child and they will support him incase he will have some problems in future (Weil & Joyce, 1986, 40). The child is still learning, and the parents had to be around so that I could explain to them what they are supposed to do. The parents need to understand what their child wanted in order to improve his writing and spellings (Anita, 2009, 436). This was important to the parents because they will be the ones to interact with the child most of the time and can help him incase he needs their assistance. John is a fast learning student if he is systematically advised on what he is supposes to do. This was evidenced during all the sessions we interacted with him. The parents of John Smith are able to support their son (John Smith). They can call me incase of any problem in the future. Though it may take some time for John Smith to master everything, he is willing to learn, and in a few months time, he will have no problems in spelling and writing (Lieberman, et. al. 2004, 55). Recommendation for the child’s future learning For the child’s future academic needs, the parents should enroll the student in a school that will ensure the needs of the students are met within the right time (Suomi, et. al. 2003, 152). The child should continue for the next six months practicing on how to write and spell some words for him to master the concept. When the child will be in school, the teachers should pay attention to the child's needs. The parents should report to the school management when schools reopen for him to be provided with extra tuition on the mastery of writing and spelling some words (Gail, 2009, 459). The Australian government should establish special schools to cater for children with some needs such as John Smith. Children with exceptional needs are increasing due to congestion in classrooms; and the teacher may not pay close attention to all students in class (Institute of Leadership & Management, 2004, 84). Some students are slow while others are fast learners. Therefore, all children needs must be respected and addressed in a reasonable time. A child like John Smith should be a relief of too many family chores so that he can get extra time to read and understand what he was taught under special needs (Suomi, et. al. 2003, 153). Before a child is promoted to the next level, he should be tested or assessed to find out whether he has met all the requirements or not (Anita, 2009, 437). This will give all the students time to have an equal chance of competing favorably with other students. References: Anita, E. W. (2009). Educational Psychology. New York: Prentice Hall. 432-437. Gail, E. T. (2009). Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach. New York: Prentice Hall. Pp. 453- 459 Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM). (2004). Coaching and Training Your Work Team. New York: Wiley & Sons. Pp. 78-84 Lieberman, L., James, A., & Ludwa, N. (2004). The impact of inclusion in general physical education for all students. Journal of Physical Education. New York: McMillan Publishers. Pp. 37-55. Suomi, J., Collier D., & Brown L. (2003). Factors affecting the social experiences of students in elementary physical education classes. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Pp. 146-153. Weil, M. & Joyce, B. (1986). Models of teaching. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. PP. 34-40 Read More