Tips For Teachers: How To Cope With Students Learning Challenges

By Cindy Carey


For the most part of their careers, teachers as well as tutors handle students whose abilities and skills vary. There are several factors that determine how students cope with the lessons, how they deal with their classmates and how they participate during class discussions. Modification of teaching methods in terms of the learning and adaptive abilities of every student is thus necessary.

A teacher can proactively cope with these challenges in two ways. First, by determining students learning difficulties; and second, by assessing their skills. The following are some of the common learning and teaching-related problems:

Dead time nurtures boredom - Some students are fast in accomplishing a particular task while others spend a great deal of time finishing a seatwork. It depends on how easy or difficult the task is for them. There is a tendency for fast learners to feel bored and sometimes unease with the class pace. Those in the slower group, on the other hand, tend to be more pressured and later on exhausted doing the given task.

Lack of motivation results in disruption - Often, students who are frequently unoccupied and bothered by boredom tend to lose their interest in the lessons. While the slow learners are susceptible to losing their determination to finish a given task. A teacher can overcome this teaching problem by utilizing the reward system not only for the top achievers but also for slow learners' small accomplishments. Words of encouragement like giving praises can make a difference.

Teachers' adaptability - Teachers dealing with bright pupils and slow learners ought to apply methods that are suitable to the learning spectrum of their students. Preparing special works or activities are time consuming, however. They are also expected to teach to the middle, meaning their language of text or instructions must be clear for both parties.

Knowing these problems enables every teacher to set clear and appropriate learning objectives. Moreover, it helps every educator improve, modify and develop teaching and learning instructions.




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