Teach English in Nandulehe Zhen - Beijing

Learning Difficulties Teaching is a rewarding experience when the right approaches are used in the classroom. Both teacher and students receive satisfaction, the former because of the information communicated and learned by the learners and the latter because they have learned something new and can apply it when communicating. Teachers may come across a wide variety of students ranging from young to adults. Within these groups there are further categories such as slow learners, fast learners and motivated learners. A very important group that requires special attention are the students with learning disabilities and especially children. Learning disabilities are extremely prevalent and have increased over time as scientists become more and more involved with the human experience and mind. Learning disabilities go beyond borders and affect children all over the world. And we are talking here specifically about children as it is at a young age where such disorders are identified and dealt with. Many children suffer from various learning disabilities including ADHD and dyslexia but can also carry a disability due to a genetic disorder such as Downs Syndrome. The most important thing to realize is that these children are just like any other children but with a few exceptional characteristics. And as children spend a huge amount of their childhood learning, this means that care has to be given to them in their learning environment in order to achieve best results. A learning disability can be defined as any of various cognitive, neurological or psychological disorders that hinder the ability to learn, especially one that interferes with the ability to learn mathematics or develop language skills. Such disorders include ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia. Whichever the case, it is vital for the teacher to make sure that the learning environment is such that it deals with such exceptional learners and makes the experience beneficial for children with or without learning disabilities. In many cases it may be difficult for a teacher to determine which children have a learning disability or which children are just slow learners. Children typically have a number of shortfalls but sometimes do exceptionally well in other areas. Teachers should be able to recognise some early warnings signs which relate to spoken language, written language, organization and processing of information and instructions. In addition, a learning disability may include cognitive, academic and physical symptoms. It is not the teacher?s job to deal with the general symptoms of the disability but to deal with it within the classroom. It would be beneficial for teachers to attend learning disabilities seminars and courses to be able to identify any signs of disability and call for help from appropriate professionals. What is more important is to combat the stereotypes that students with learning disabilities face which sometimes lead to them being pulled out of classrooms. This is wrong! It will only intensify the difficulties these children face. Teachers must focus on inclusive learning and building children?s self esteem and confidence. Having such a child in the classroom will not only lead to academic benefits and also social ones. Any stigmas attached to actually having a disorder or being in a special education classroom can be eliminated. The classroom has to be a place where all students learn and achieve and are not judged according to their exceptional characteristics. This success will depend largely on providing the right support to the children who do have a learning disability in a way that does not ostracise them from the rest of the class. Children with a learning disability are quite a challenge for any classroom teacher but this can be combated with the right teacher preparedness and the right support from within and outside school.