At the school where I work we have realised a high drop out rate. One that is increasing and alarming. The intake is usually 100 students and at the end of the first year at least 25 of these students would have dropped out of school. This gives a 25% attrition rate. Most of the students who drop out are from the Special class. These students experience a myriad of problems. They are most of the times over 13 years of age and are definitely classified as struggling readers. At this stage in their development they are unable to read and have very basic problems of letter recognition, phonics, fluency etc.
Research has shown that learning to read is a challenge for almost 40 percent of kids. With early help, most reading problems can be prevented. Unfortunately, the older a child is, the more difficult it is to teach him or her to read. If a child can't read well by age eight or nine, odds are that he or she will have difficulty catching up and the effects of falling behind and feeling like a failure can be devastating.
It is my opinion that this is one of the major reasons why students drop out of school. They are just unable to cope with the work and they become frustrated. Most of them opt to do a trade or something that is hands on rather than learn to read and write. They in time acquire skills that are needed for survival and most of them remain illiterate.
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/4528
Check this site for seven tips on how to help struggling readers.
There is so much that needs to be done in this particular area, First of all we as reading specialists need to instruct teachers to take an interest in the students who are struggling. This they can easily accomplish by allowing these students to chose their own reading materials, especially if tThere is so much that needs to be done in this particular area, First of all we as reading specialists need to instruct teachers to take an interest in the students who are struggling. This they can easily accomplish by allowing these students to chose their own reading materials, especially if they institute sustain silent reading session (SSR);thus allowing these pupils to feel comfortable with reading material, I would suggest that vocabulary be introduced via word walls, this would allow the students to gradually include these words in their sight vocabulary. Another approach would be the integration of technology, where it would be used to motivate the struggling reader to read, this would the ideal opportunity to present e-books and digital stories as part of the instructional strategies.
ReplyDeleteThese pupils are often "crying out for help" it is important that we seek the needs of all our charges, ensuring that we try all possible avenues to save them from selves.
hey institute sustain silent reading session (SSR);thus allowing these pupils feel comfortable with reading material, I would suggest that the teacher introduce vocabulary via word walls, this would allow the students to gradually include these words in their sight vocabulary. Another approach would be the integration of technology, where it would be used to motivate the struggling reader to read, this would the ideal opportunity to present e-books and digital stories as part of the instructional strategies.
These pupils are often "crying out for help" it is important that we seek the needs of all our charges, ensuring that we try all possible avenues to save them from selves.
ILLITERACY....Attacking the problem head-on
ReplyDeleteBy Abigale Singh
Hi Venessa! I feel as though you have captured all of my own experiences and feelings. Like you, we experience similar trends at my school –a former senior comprehensive school. Our drop-out rate for remedial classes has also been high over the years.
Illiteracy is a huge problem! Discussions with other peers reveal that nationally there similar challenges exist. The frightening thing is that every year the problem worsens. This is the reality we face in our system today. Illiteracy is a growing trend globally according to the literature. However, our challenge as a developing country may be an even greater one.
Teaching these kids to read is a daunting challenge for many teachers. Learning to read is just as frustrating for the students themselves. I think these students have been allowed to “fall through the cracks” of the education system, possibly because teachers are not provided with the support systems they need to deal with such issues.
Therefore, you’re definitely right! The key is to attack the problem at an early stage since it becomes much more difficult the older the child. In planning our lessons, a key focus for teachers should be Piaget’s (1969) theory of cognitive development which purports that children learn in stages:
• sensorimotor,
• preoperational
• concrete operational and
• formal operational.
Understanding students’ thinking patterns will aid teachers in designing lessons
which match the child’s stage of cognitive development.
(Tracey, D.H. & Morrow, L. M. (2006). Lenses on reading: An introduction to theories and models. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.)
This is why I am so happy that we have been afforded the valuable opportunity to participate in this programme. When I reflect on how much I have learnt over the past year, the benefits are unimaginable. I have been exposed to the theory and comprehensive activities which helped to demonstrate its application. This programme has started a new regime in education for me. Now, we can form an army to fight against illiteracy, armed with the weapons we need to put up a good battle. Wouldn’t you agree?
I agree with Abigale, the problem needs to be tackled at an early age. That is why I was surprised that this M.Ed. program was originally geared towards Sceondary school teachers and not Primary.
ReplyDeleteIn keeping with Venessa's observation about the dropout rate, there is a corresponding rate of illiteracy in the prisoners at jail. In a survey done in 1998 by the MOE, it was found that 70% of prisoners were illiterate, and that as illiteracy levels rise, so does crime.
Frightening, isn't it? It has been said that a country is judged by its education and health conditions. Wonder how we fare?
Venessa,
ReplyDeleteI can definitely identify with the problem/s that you have identified in your school. The situation is the same in the school where I work. In fact, In the SEA examinations, the majority of the students who come to our school score less than 30% in this exam.In addition, the myriad of problems which some of these students are faced with force them to "drop out" off school.In addition, students are unable to read and write competently.Our internal surveys reveal that the majority of them operate at the frustrational level in reading and,as such ,one can imagine the kinds of problems which teachers encounter on a daily basis.
It is hoped that the introduction of reading specialists will make a significant positive difference in the education system.