Overcoming the stigma of "the low group"

by Bonny

Apr 3, 2012

I teach in a high socio-economic area with many talented/gifted/academically advanced kids.

Of course all the kids know who is in the top group and who is in the low group and who leaves class for gifted classes and who leaves class to work with the reading teacher.

My question is how to diminish the stigma of the low group (whether math, reading, whatever). No matter what I try, every year I see many of these kids decide that doing well in school is impossible, I see them stop trying, I see them give up on themselves. By middle school I thinkwe have lost them entirely.

And what really breaks my heart is that just four years ago every one of these kids started kindergarten excited and eager to please the teacher and sure that he or she were going to be the best reader in class.

Do any of you have strategies or tricks to help the "low group" kids feel empowered and confident in their learning, especially when they compare themselves to classmates?

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Vet Teacher br> > Do any of you have strategies or tricks to help the "low > group" kids feel empowered and confident in their learning, > especially when they compare themselves to classmates?

Once I saw a masterful teacher turn his 'low group' class into a kind of Gabe Kaplan and the Sweathogs kind of classroom - you'd have to watch thos...See Morebr> > Do any of you have strategies or tricks to help the "low > group" kids feel empowered and confident in their learning, > especially when they compare themselves to classmates?

Once I saw a masterful teacher turn his 'low group' class into a kind of Gabe Kaplan and the Sweathogs kind of classroom - you'd have to watch those old shows to understand that but it worked. He had mostly boys and they LOVED being in his 'low group' classroom. He gave off the air of "hey, who gets to say we're the low group? We are who we are and we're cool." That teacher acutually requested to have his classroom in the basement - he felt it helped him to create this special feeling of "we can take it, we're special, and who are you to tell us we're low? The basement is Our World!"

The kids Loved it.

I tell my 'low group' that it's not their fault. I tell them that in the better world and the perfect school we'd know how to make each kid the best reader. I tell them that Nature programmed me to be not good in math, it's true, I just don't get math no matter how hard I try. I tell them that Nature may have given them each gifts and that it's not fair to compare them to kids who came to the table with a particular gift for reading. I also tell them my husband went to college and medical school not being able to read very well - that's true too. It gives hope - they really believe the teachers who've sadly said, "Unless you can read, you're nothing." Edison read poorly, Einstein was no great shakes as a reader either...

But I also say to them, we can still enjoy reading and literature is full of great things and fun things. We do a lot of listening to books on tape in my low group and I talk a lot about things I enjoy reading and I read specially selected short stories aloud. I tell them that reading leads to being a better reader and that some of the instructional methods that have been applied to them are the wrong ones (they are, let's be honest, if they don't work then by definition they weren't the right instructional methods)

What schools like to say even if unspoken to these kids is "We've done our best, we've given you the best and you're lacking." No wonder the kids are crushed.

I'm brave enough to say otherwise though I don't want to impugn my school or education in general but yet - it's true. I especially apologize to them for all the teachers who when these kids say to them "I don't like to read" the teacher acts like they've stomped on a kitten. I've seen teachers literally recoil from, as if repulsed or disgusted by the child who dared to say aloud, "I don't like to read."

I like and treat with regard all my students including those who don't like to read. Not everyone likes to read. Reading is hard and not a fun thing 'to curl up with' for those students who struggle to decode. If you can let the kids off the hook, let them know that Nature isn't fair and that schools really don't know it all, it can help the low group to feel not as low as they usually do.

Apr 4, 2012

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maureen My only comment is that until they take the competition out of education, this will always be the case. Of course, there are children (and in the case of the higher economic areas, parents) who are naturally competitive, but the way school is set up, it only causes the problems for all children. Well, at least the ones who care.

I have per...See More

Apr 5, 2012

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Leah Vet teacher, that is excellent advice! There are two articles that might be helpful: 1."Multiple Intelligences" that maybe found by clicking below:

2."My Strengths" activity for children. Having the students complete the complimentary activity will help you discover their individual strengths other than academic ones. To see, click on Act...See More

Apr 16, 2012

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