GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING - EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE FOR SLOW LEARNERS

GUIDANCE FOR SLOW LEARNERS

Introduction:

Slow learners are those pupils who have limited ability due to different reason in the education process. Slow learner is advance word for “backward” or “mentally retarded” and “Educationally subnormal” (E.S.N.)

There are different reasons for slow learning, some time it is due to their mental ability, some time it due to their background, illiterate parents, culture problems, avoiding by the parents in early child hood, between ages 2 to 6 years. Some time it due to mental illness. These are different causes of the slow learner.

The purpose of this assignment is to determine the problems of the slow learners and the methods of education, How to teach them, so they can be better person of the society.

Definition:

            T.N. Birkett States, “ A slow-learning child is one whose capacity for learning the kind of material which is taught in the ordinary school is limited by some deficit in intellectual capacity. Limited intelligence, however, this may be defined, is the chief characteristic of the ‘Slow learner’ ”.

According to experts, children who for various reason, fall behind in their school work and require special teaching are called (educationally subnormal) E.S.N.

“Slow learners are children who are doing poorly in school, yet are not eligible for special education; their intelligence test scores are too high for consideration as a child with mental retardation” (Mercer, 1996) (MacMillan, Gresham, Bocian, & Lambros, 1998).

• Although slow learners may have special educational needs, they do not fit neatly into the special education system (MacMillan, Gresham, Bocian, & Lambros, 1998).

Who are the slow-learners?

Slow-learners are those who fail in school because of their low intellectual abilities. Their IQ ranges from 55 / 60 to 85 / 90. They have a wide range of abilities and a variety of characteristics depending on their background.

In the present system of education, students are identified as slow learners purely on the basis of their poor performance in the examination, which, in most cases deviates from what is taught. Consequently even talented students are sometimes misconstrued as dullards. So, a slow learner is one whose performance is very dismal in the examination. He is neither mentally retarded nor is on the lower rungs of intelligence scale.

The reasons for some students learning slowly are innumerable. One of the main reasons is the `no detention system' at the primary and upper primary level. Students are promoted to higher classes on the basis of attendance, even if they score low marks. The heterogeneous composition (mental age & physical age) of over crowded classes in all government run schools and private schools also produces slow learners. So the incapacity of the teacher to pay individual attention to a student over a long period makes a student a slow learner. A slow learner is thus a product of negligence of school at different stages of learning, inspite of his innate capacity to learn.

There are some problems very specific to the individual. Ill health, lack of concentration, less exposure to the subject taught and parental background are some causative factors for slow learning. Talents differ. A childs capacity to learn different subjects varies from student to student. For instance, learning mathematics is a knack. All students do not do well in mathematics just as they do in other subjects. While other subjects can be learnt at any stage, it is very difficult for students to learn mathematics without the basics. Students show interest in the subjects they like and neglect other subjects if not taken care of. An urban child learns languages like English well while a rural child cannot, however well the teacher tries to explain. 

Classification:

1.                  Children, whose capacity for education or training is limited by low intelligence, cover a fairly wide I.Q. range from approximately 40 to 80 or 90. However, students whose I.Q. ranges between 50/55 and 85/90 are capable of benefiting from the kind of education which is offered within the normal school system. These may be subdivided into two groups.

(i)                 The Educable Mentally Retarded (I.Q. range 50 to 70)

(ii)               The Dull Normal (I.Q. range 70 to 85)

2. Trainable Mentally Retarded:

Students whose I.Q. range is between 35/40 and 50 and are usually termed as the Trainable Mentally Retarded. Provision for education of such children may be made outside the normal school system.

Characteristics:

1. In physical appearance they are no different from normal children and therefore likely to get admission into schools for normal children where the curriculum is drawn up to meet the needs of average children. So they find it extremely difficult to cope with the education imparted in these schools, unless special provision is made for them and the curriculum is oriented towards practical and real life activities.
2. They are capable of being educated in ordinary schools and even achieving a moderate degree of success, if they are allowed to proceed at a slower pace and the syllabus is adapted to suit their abilities.
3. But, they will not be able to keep pace with the average children and never be able to learn all the things we expect normal children to master by the time they leave school.
4. They will not be able to go for higher studies despite all the guidance and educational facilities made available to them.
5. They have poor memories. Their attention span is short and they cannot concentrate on one topic for long.

Sullivan has summarized the characteristics of slow learners as follows:

1. Short attention and concentration span.
2. slow reaction time.
3. Limited powers of self-direction.
4. Limited ability to work with abstractions and to generalize.
5. Slowness to form association between words and phrases.
6. Failure to recognize familiar elements in new information.
7. Habits of learning very slowly and forgetting very quickly.
8. Very local point of view.
9. Inability to set up and realize standard or workmanship.
10. Lack of originality and creativeness.
11. Inability to analyze, to do problem solving, or think critically.
12. Lack of power to use the higher mental processes.

To identify the causes of slow learning

Showing the sign of slow learner doesn’t mean that the child is slow learner, there are other factors that could cause the process of slow learning;

Emotional growth

      Feelings about one self and the developing of these feeling positive or negative is called emotional growth, Emotional and social development are often link together because they are relevant. In the initial stages child learn the Feelings of trust, fear, and love later on as he grow he develop the feeling of friendship, pride, and relationship which also guide toward social-emotional development of the child.. if the child is ignore in this stage and proper care is not provided to them, they build negative emotion and they ovoid trust initially parents and later on other people, they isolated them self from the outer world. Furthermore, a neglected child, feel him self rejected, and unsecured, it affect the developing skills of the child to socializewith others children. 

      In this stage the changes are very rapid in child and every change bring new change in the behaviour of the child and each change brings about new skills. Child develop multi skills in this stage, the most important one is positive feelings about self and trust building with others.

Environment

Children react to their environment in early stages and he learns from the environment in which they grow. Create a safe environment for them and reduce the stress on your child and remove the things which are physical threats to the children e.g.: abusive behaviour and unsafe toys etc

With whom the child is spending his time, what is their intellectual level. And how they treat the child, when children have a secure Environment, it flourishes their abilities in positive direction. Studies show those children who have better environment show better confidence in life and in education.

Growth and opportunities of Learning

Opportunities of learning is very necessary for the development of children cognitive abilities, Parents should provide rich learning environment to their children and open new windows of learning opportunities for them. They need simple playable activities and games to develop their brains, Show them new things and arrange new activities for them to enhance their thinking skill.

Absenteeism

Absenteeism from the school is another factor which can effect the ability of learning of a child, when a child is often absent from the class, he could catch with other student in school, he need extra home work with the help of parents to cover his short coming other wise he lose his self confidence in class, due to which he isolate himself from his class fellows and he became a slow learner.

Defective Vision

Defective vision is another possible cause of slow learning, it affect child’s growth and development and the ability to function in society. It also lead to effect self-esteem and confidence of the child which could lead to depression if not treated in early stages and child left behind in the class.

Resource Problem

Without proper Resources parent could not afford to provide better opportunities of learning to their children due to which the child lose his self-esteem. Availabilities of good books and other learning material which is necessary for the learning process of the child.

Illiterate Parents

Another problem in some cases are illiterate parent, those parents who are mentally backward and also have no education, effect the education of the child. Initial six years are very important and crucial period of child life, in this stage development of brain take place. Careful treatment is required to develop his skills, which help him in the later age in school and college.

Untrained Teacher

Untrained teacher is another reason, without proper training a teacher could not understand the psychology of the child and his problems, what the possibilities are and why the child is not learning. A train teacher could understand the problem and eradicate it.

Class Size

Over crowded class is another problem which affects the learning process and lead to the product of slow learner. Slandered class size should from twenty to thirty students per class, but student exceed in the class teacher could not give attention to every student and nor he could evaluate every student due to that reason some student left behind.

Busy parent or no time for children

When parents have no time for their children and they are busy in their job it also leads a child to loneliness and isolated. He could not share his problems with his parents. The problem is much severed in case children age three to six years, because in this age they need full attention of the parents. It is the age of their development. They learn many things from parents.

Violence in School

Violence in schools is another factor which causes slow learning in students. Violence affect the learning abilities of the students, Exposure to violence is psychologically toxic. This exposure may lead to emotional problems and aggression, it also effect cognitive, psychological and learning process.

Family Size

Family size also play a major role in the development of the child, in a small family a child will get attention of the parents and enough resources will be available to him. In case of large family size, children face many problems which effect there abilities e.g. emotional problem, resource problem etc.

Health Problem

Poor Health is also a hurdle in the growth and development of a child, which lead to the process of slow learning.

Deprived Culture

Evidence show that deprived cultured and Background may also cause the process of slow learning.

Inadequate Teaching Staff

Lack of teachers in school is also a cause of slow learning, due to shortage of teacher in schools, the student left behind from other students in competition.

Poor Leadership

Poor Leadership on behalf of teacher and head teacher as well as on the part of parents.

Teaching Method

Teaching method is the most important factor in slow learning; a train teacher can understand the problem of the student and remove that problem by a better teaching style, which suite to the student need and mind. A good teacher will always use different methods in class so every student understand and learn. On the other hand those teachers who use one method of teaching create slow learner in the class because every student learn in different style and method.

Course

Students are subjected to inappropriate textbooks, and teaching material. Course should be design with easy to difficult approach so students understand what teachers are teaching them. Inappropriate course material would increase the number of slow learner in the class.

Transfer of Teachers

Frequent transfer of teachers leaves no room for the development of mutual understanding and respect for each other. The moment they start to understand each other, the teacher is transferred. Once this process is repeated a few times with a student, the student closes himself to teachers in future.

Fear Complex

To camouflage their inability teachers grow a fence of fear around them selves. They resort to indiscriminate punishments resultantly some of the students run away from schools and the rest become docile with no interest in education but to spend time aimlessly.

Psychological Problems

Students due to high expectations of their families and absence of guidance for both the parents and students experience a lot of psychological stress, which has a retarding effect on their educational development.

Medium of Instruction

Medium of instruction is also a big problem for some students. Therefore it is necessary to use mother tongue for the education so student understand it and they do not lose their precious time on language learning.

Communication Problem

Communication gaps between students, teachers and parents. Due to this gap neither the teachers nor the parents come to understand the students, resultantly they enforce upon them their wishes. This enforcement develops a rebellious or a docile nature in the students, which retard the positive abilities.

Deprived cultured

Evidence show that deprived cultured background may also cause the problem.

Identification of slow leaner in the class

Early diagnosis of slow learner child is very necessary between the ages of 2 to 6 years. How teacher or parents could identify, that the child is slow learner, with a careful observation they could easily identified signs of slow learner, 

1.Speech defect

2.  Language development problem (broken sentences)

3. Assessments the level of vocabulary ( vocabulary limited)

4. verbal abilities

5. Short sentences, grammatically incorrect

6. Child Behaviour

7. Spelling Mistake

8. Interaction with other children

9. Class room Discussion

10. Reading problem

11. Interest

12. Slow response / decision making

If it is identified that a child is slow learner, proper evaluation should be done to identify the weakness of the child, the following method can utilized for the evaluation purpose.

Evaluation

* Intelligence test

* Individuals intelligence test

* The Stanford-binet scale of intelligence test

(The Stanford-Binet intelligence scale is a standardized test that assesses intelligence and cognitive abilities in children and adults aged two to twenty three years, determining the presence of a learning disability or a developmental delay)

* Group test

* Attainment test

* Vocabulary test

* Test of Visual perception

* Spelling test

* Personality test

* Children Behaviour questionnaire

* Diagnostic test in reading and arithmetic

* Assessments of level of vocabulary, verbal abilities

* Attitude and interest

After evaluation and identification of slow learner the questions arise. How to handle these types of children in school environment?

How to teach them? What type of class they need?

Expert suggest that student should be not increase from 20 in class and different style of teaching has been suggested for different subject.

Reading Problem

• There are different method of teaching for reading problem, how to teach to a group or class of students. Expert suggest multiple teaching style because each student learn through different method, some student could learn better with one method, other will learn with other method. Teacher should be aware of the individual differences, For teaching reading to slow learner the following method should be used:
• Teacher should use Charts to teach Words to E.S.N students.
• Teacher can also used Memory flash cards,
• Reading with meaning, is good method with which child easily understand and remember it.
• Reading stories, collecting magazines, news papers and discus them in the class room
• Pictures on wall with the stories can also help slow learner to remember and understand a word
• Reading readiness workbook
• Through activities, reading activates can also help in reading process
• Visual activities, include TV and computer can help
• finding missing parts
• Memory games
• Reading for information
• Computer games, the best method for teaching reading process. These interactive games not only help slow learner in their reading process but it also help to increase their quick decision making ability.

Reading Material:

Reading material should be selected keeping in view the interest of the student in mind. Chose difficulty level from easy to difficult approach (age wise).

Teaching Spelling,

Spelling are very necessary for slow learner, because it help to form a word, a good speller well always be a good reader and writer , therefore teacher should give attention to teaching spelling to the students.

• Teacher should write a word on board and ask to the student to write it in air, teach them the spelling in parts, so they know the sound of the word.
• Competition of spelling between the students,
• Check recheck method
• Weakly test for spelling,
• spelling games on computer, typing tutor game on computer

Teaching writing

Teaching writing require reading, understanding and spelling capabilities, if a student is good in these, he can learn writing easily, following are the few method which could be used for teaching of writing;

• Encourage their writing, ignore their mistake in early stages
• In early stages students write short sentences and grammatically incorrect sentences
• Involve student in writing small stories
• engage student in form filling, latter writing and Telegram according to their age
• Involve students in form filling, diaries writing
• Computer base writing games, where short answer are required for playing games.
• Writing in school magazine, newspaper etc
• At later time attention to the grammar, punctuation and full stop.

Social education

Social education is also very necessary for the slow learner; teacher and parent should give full attention to the social education of E.S.N. how to cross the road, how to reach home and other small thing that could help him in day to day life. It is not only the responsibility of a teacher to teach these things to slow learner but it is also the responsibility of parents too.

Teacher and parents should also involve other people to help these students e.g.

• Psychologist of the school
• Friends
• School doctor/nurse
• Other social agencies

Remedial teaching for slow learners

REMEDIAL TEACHING is identifying slow learners and giving them the necessary guidance to help them overcome their problems, after identifying their areas of difficulty. Contrary to what is said, remedial teaching is done perfunctorily without identifying their areas of difficulty and underlying cause for lagging behind. Some students are unsympathetically branded as `block heads' without an earnest attempt to know the real cause of their slow learning.

Role of the teacher in helping Slow Learners with special needs:

1.      Data Collection:

Maximum information about such children should be secured and their interests should be discovered.

2.      Special Classes:

Special classes for slow-learning children. 

3.      Partial Segregation:

It has been stated, “The children should be included in the total school set-up, regularly participating in assembly programmes, organized play, and other activities enjoyed by all children. “ The problems should be clearly explained.

4.      Short Assignments:

Assignments given to the students should be broken up into short and simple units.

5.      Drill Work:

Sufficient drill work should be done.

6.      Summarises:

Frequent summaries of the important points of discussion should be used.

7.      Praise:

Pupils should be praised occasionally when they have done their assignments well.

8.      Proper Evaluation:

Good set of tools should be provided for proper evaluation.

9.      Close Supervision:

Supervision should be very close.

10.  Audio-Visual Aids:

Auditory and visual aids facilitate learning among slow learners. 

11.  Opportunities for Creative Expression:

Opportunities should be provided to slow-learning children for expression of creativeness with their hands.

12.  Diagnostic Tests:

Diagnostic tests should be used in working with slow-learning children.

13.  Curricula According to Interests:

Courses and curricula should be selected by the students on the basis of aptitude, interest and need with the help of their counselors.

14.  Vocational Programmes:

Vocational programmes should not be forced upon slow-learners as such children do not always have the necessary  aptitude to acquire vocational skill.

15. Equality of Opportunity in Recreational Programmes:

            Recreational programme athletics, music, art, dramatics, etc., should be opened to all on an equal basis.

16. Remedial Teaching:

Remedial teachers may be appointed who meet such students twice a week.

17. Cooperation of All Agencies:

            All agencies engaged in the children’s welfare work should co-operate to help and guide slow learners.

Educational programmes for Slow Learners:

1. Remedial Instruction
2. Healthy Environment
3. Periodical Medical Check-up
4. Non-Promotion
5. Motivation
6. Individual Attention
7. Special Methods of teaching
8. Home Visits by the teachers
9. Maintenance of Progress Record

Conclusion:

            Attempts have been made here to chalk out the remedial measures and some guidelines for the teachers. But problems are not easy to surmount. A Teacher may be the first diagnostician rather than an instructor. But educational psychologists, social workers and state authorities should take interest in discovering and rectifying the causes of slow learning.

Reference:

1. Chintamani Kar , Exceptional Children their psychology and Education.

2. R.A. Sharma , Guidance & Counselling.

3. Bell, P. (1970). Basic teaching for slow learners. London: Muller.

4. Hughes, J. (1973). The Slow Learner in Your Class (Nelson's Teacher Texts). london: Cengage Learning Australia.

   5. Passow, H. (1972). Opening Opportunities for Disadvantaged Learners. New York: Teacher's College Press.