challenges for students

Teaching skills in a classroom environment:

I taught at a local college for a few years before becoming a full-time mom. I was lucky enough to get my teaching degree after having children, but even then I had to take some time off to raise them before returning to school. As a single mother, I was struggling to balance work and family life. When I returned to school, I was often overwhelmed by the sheer number of classes; I had to enroll in many different courses just to graduate. At the same time, I noticed that not all students were equally successful. Some students did well while others struggled. While it was hard for me to learn about all these new concepts, I learned how important good teaching practices are.

Most colleges have courses devoted to educating teachers (and parents) about teaching methods. Here are a few tips for making sure your child does well in class:

• Know what they’re learning. Make sure your kids understand the material they are being taught. Be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the topics you discuss! If you don't know what something means, ask your teacher or go online for help.

• Give positive reinforcement. Praise your child's efforts and encourage him or her to keep working toward their goals.

• Keep an open mind. Don't let yourself become stuck in old ways of thinking. Always be willing to change your ways if necessary to fit changing situations.

• Find out where their interests lie. If your kid likes sports, find opportunities to expose them to the sport -- whether it's playing on a team or watching games. If he or she loves music, make sure they attend concerts or playlists.

• Help your child discover his or her strengths and weaknesses. Encourage them to try new things and to develop their talents. Try reading books together, writing down vocabulary words, or taking cooking lessons together.

• Remember it’s okay to fail. Most kids find it humiliating to receive poor grades or miss tests. But failure shouldn't stop you from trying again later. In fact, it should motivate you to try harder next time.

• Have fun! Students who enjoy school do better academically. So make sure you're enjoying yourself in the classroom -- and that you feel comfortable doing the same thing outside of school.

• Ask for help. If you need help figuring out homework or completing assignments, ask a friend, parent, or tutor for assistance.

Working with special needs children:

When we first started homeschooling, we didn’t realize that our son would have any challenges. He spent his early years crawling around on the floor and eating food off of the ceiling fan. We thought he was just a little quirky. However, once he turned 2 years old and began speaking, he became much more aware of his surroundings than ever before. To say that we weren’t prepared for this type of awareness would be a gross understatement. We knew nothing about autism until the day we brought home our son.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects people differently, but no two individuals exhibit symptoms exactly the same way. Because there are so many different types of ASD, doctors rarely agree on a diagnosis. Even though there isn't a “cure” for autism, there are treatments and therapies that can help improve the quality of life for those diagnosed.

Too much homework:

- Students who do not have enough free time to study may resort to cramming before exams

- Cramming can cause serious mental fatigue and even lead to anxiety attacks.

Lack of motivation:

- Student's lack of motivation may result in a lack of interest in studies and even drop out of school

- Motivation can be enhanced by making learning interesting.

Poor teaching methods:

- Students may find their teachers unhelpful if they fail to show genuine interest in the subject matter.

- A good teacher should understand his/her student's interests and help them learn accordingly.

Lack of facilities:

- Facilities such as a library, labs, internet connection, computers, etc., play a significant role in facilitating effective learning.

- Lack of these facilities may make a student feel isolated and alienated from others and in turn, make him/her miss out on socializing.

Absence of guidance:

- Guidance and mentoring are two critical factors to successful learning.

Lack of funds:

It's hard to imagine how we would do our work if no one was willing to fund us. However, for many people out there who need help with their education, money is always a problem. Sometimes even those with money have trouble finding funds to pay for school fees, books, notebooks, uniforms, and transportation costs. In some instances where schools are able to provide these basic necessities, students don't have the time to go through the rigorous academic curriculum set by teachers.

Lack of qualified teachers:

Teachers are a vital piece of any educational system; they not only inspire students' interest in learning but help them understand what they learn. Unfortunately, there are many vacancies for qualified educators in schools. Many potential candidates simply cannot find jobs due to lack of experience or training, while others quit once they get a position.

Teachers who are not committed:

Sometimes teachers leave their positions early, forcing students to take over their responsibilities. If teachers do stay at their job beyond the normal retirement age, they often do not show much commitment to teaching. Students may feel they are being taught by someone less-than-qualified, causing further loss of confidence and motivation.

No time for children:

Parents and/or guardians of children often don't realize just how much time goes into raising a child. Children need constant supervision and care, especially when they start going to school. Parents might have already lost sleep over preparing children for school, but now they have to deal with waking up before sunrise to prepare breakfast and lunch for their kids. After a long day of working or studying, parents also have to cook dinner and supervise homework, among other things.

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