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Turn Things Around at School | Imagine a Fresh Start

Jul 19, 2018
 
 

“My teacher hates me!” James exclaimed as he threw his backpack onto the kitchen floor. “She always yells at me for talking or not paying attention, but I am paying attention!”

 

For parents, it can be disheartening to hear that your child feels disliked or disrespected by his teacher — even if you wonder if he’s exaggerating and maybe things in the classroom aren’t as contentious as he makes them seem.

 

By this point in the school year, most classrooms have established a rhythm and it could be that your child’s personality or learning style just doesn’t mesh well with his teacher’s.  But what can be done?

 

  • Ask your child for examples of what happens at school while acknowledging his feelings. “It sounds like you had a rough day at school. I’m sorry to hear that. Help me picture what happened. What did Mrs. Haggerty say? What was happening right before that?”
  • Use imagery language to help your child picture what he could do differently, based on what the issue may be. “I know you were so excited about going to the movies over the weekend. When do you picture is the best time to tell your friends? During homeroom announcements or during recess?” Offering choices can make it easier for students who have difficulty verbalising their thoughts or are hesitant to talk about how school is going.
  • Check in with the teacher. Because tone can often be misinterpreted, it may be best to meet in person. Sending a brief email to set up a time to chat may be helpful. Keeping a positive and respectful tone may help keep things productive: “James seems to be having a tough time meeting the classroom expectations lately. I would love to meet one day to discuss what I can do to help support him.”

James’s mother, Christine, took all of the aforementioned steps: she asked James what was happening and took notes while he was talking so he would know she took his concerns seriously. She met with Mrs. Haggerty and remained neutral despite feeling angry and hurt that James felt disliked and disrespected. Mrs. Haggerty reported that James was disruptive in class, didn’t follow her directions and wasted time instead of completing assignments. They decided that Mrs. Haggerty would send home a note each day reporting on James’s behaviour.

 

Christine sat James down and they talked about what he could do to be a good listener and a good friend in the classroom. They practised examples at home and Christine scoured Pinterest for ideas about motivators and sticker charts she could use to help make James have more fun at school.

 

Despite everyone’s efforts, James came home crying again a few weeks later. “Mrs. Haggerty gets mad at me for not turning to the right page but she says everything too fast. I can’t read the big words in the Social Studies textbook, so I ask to use the bathroom or make jokes about whoever is sitting next to me. Then Mrs. Haggerty yells at me, and I feel so sad because I was trying my best but I just can’t remember what she said to do!”

 

James’s stresses come pouring out between sobs.

 

For students like James, behaviours often begin in the classroom when the workload becomes too hard or when they realise they aren’t able to read as well or as quickly as their peers. They know they can’t always do the assignments presented to them, so it becomes easier to find new and clever ways to avoid tasks. James has a high IQ, so it’s often assumed that he should be able to read and comprehend as well as anyone — and if he can’t, it must be because he’s being lazy or doesn’t care. James’s self-esteem slowly started to plummet as he noticed more and more how much easier reading was for his peers.

 

But if the foundational sensory-cognitive skills for reading are not in place, students may struggle to reach their learning potential. A cause of difficulty in establishing sight words and contextual fluency is difficulty in visualising letters in words. This is called weak symbol imagery. A primary cause of language comprehension problems is difficulty creating an imagined gestalt. This is called weak concept imagery. This weakness causes individuals to get only “parts” of information they read or hear, but not the whole.

 

Signs of weak symbol imagery can be easier to spot (slow, labored reading, difficulty with spelling) than those of weak concept imagery (difficulty with following directions, answering open-ended questions, grasping humor, mental mapping).

 

Like James, Tallulah was struggling at school and wasn’t able to read despite being extremely bright. Watch the video below to hear her mum describe how Lindamood-Bell instruction changed their family’s life: “She took a final assessment at the end, and the results were just incredible. More than what I had hoped for.”

 

 

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Educators: Lindamood-Bell for Schools can help you mitigate learning loss and accelerate recovery in MATH. Our unique approach is proven effective with disadvantaged learners and students in special education. Visit our website to learn about workshops and professional development that can help you make a difference. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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Lindamood-Bell Academy is a great fit for many students—especially those struggling with reading. We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online.
Enroll now for 2023-24 and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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This summer, students of all ages can catch up or get ahead in learning—and go back to school with confidence. Our evidence-based instruction results in years of growth in a matter of weeks! Register for a free webinar about Lindamood-Bell Summer Learning. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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Lindamood-Bell Academy is an accredited K-12 school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online. Enroll now for the 2023-24 school year and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
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Imagine what your child could accomplish after a few weeks with Lindamood-Bell—
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Our learning centers are hiring! Learn more about the Clinician(Tutor) role and get started at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial .
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#job #jobvacancy #nowhiring #hiring #hiringnow
Imagine what your child could accomplish after a few weeks with Lindamood-Bell—
Enroll soon for special savings on Summer Instruction! 
Watch the entire new testimonial and get info at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
New Podcast Episode!
Many states have passed laws to standardize how schools identify and help students with dyslexia. Lindamood-Bell for Schools Director of Development, Dave Kiyvyra, is joined by Dr. Andrea Stolar, Director of Special Education for Chicopee Public Schools in Massachusetts. They discuss how schools align literacy instruction with dyslexia legislation and the Science of Reading. Listen & subscribe at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
Lindamood-Bell Academy is an accredited K-12 school where every student can thrive! We develop foundational skills and provide a personalized learning experience—in-person or live online. Enroll now for the 2023-24 school year and receive 50% off a month of tuition. Get details at the link in our bio, @lindamoobellofficial.
📣 Teachers and Parents, Celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month with a free lesson packet from Gander Publishing! Enjoy Visualizing and Verbalizing (V/V) stories and activities designed to develop imagery as a basis for comprehension and critical thinking. Use with V/V or any curriculum. Free download at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial
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If your child is currently struggling, we can help. Lindamood-Bell summer learning improves reading, comprehension, or math in a matter of weeks. Attend in-person or live online and return to school in the fall with better skills and new confidence. Learn more at our free online event—Sign up now at the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
Looking for a life-changing summer job? Our learning centers are hiring!
Visit our website for details and locations. Follow the link in our bio, @lindamoodbellofficial.
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