School educators and mothers working together is a good recipe ..........

Mickey was a lovely easy going likeable lad who entered grade one a year later than his age group. His sensible well meaning mother held him back a year, she knew that Mickey was too young. Despite his mother's precaution, Mickey started school made almost negligible progress. Teachers emerged Mickey into an enrichment program for the year and after lengthy discussions by the school and Mickey's mum he had another go at year one. This meant that Mickey was 2 years older than his age now. Something that weighed on us all.

For two years teachers worked very hard with Mickey but unfortunately to very little avail. Investigations to find out why he was so slow to learn were carried when Mickey was in year 3. This is an apt time to test because children have been emerged in so much learning for 2 full years, they have had time to make good. For Mickey the results of the intelligence test, teacher tests, and observations came up with a learning disability. In the medical world a learning disability isknown as dyslexia. No wonder he had such difficulty in the classroom.

During the final years of primary school all went well for Mickey, he was supported as much as possible and had a strong friendship group. Mickey was a happy and popular kid all through the years. In high school Mickey was directed to the hands-on wood and metal trades subjects and he did well. He left school in year 10 to work in the plumbing tradewith his dad. A happy outcome for Mickey.

Mickey's ability to secure a job in a trade was fantastic and it reinforced to the educators that no matter how difficult learning is for some kids there is always a job after school if they are willing, presentable and wanting one. It is also a case that encapsulate the values of school and home working together.

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to accommodating children's learning styles, each child must be considered individually. The secret recipe is to do the best we can for each child. Mickey's learning disability could not be fixed, there was no magic wand but of course this did not stop the school from supporting him. The great positive was that Mickey had a happy and fulfilled school life despite his lack of academic success. We all did good.

We can all engage in serious reflection but working in this area is a continuing dilemma. Kids with learning problems are always in the school system.



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Cheers

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