Post submitted by Whole Child Blogger Adriane Tasco.
Students may find it difficult to learn if they don’t feel safe, are hungry, in pain, or aren’t supported. But learning may also be difficult if students can’t see and have not had access to a vision screening. If you can’t read the chalkboard or the textbook, it’s pretty likely that your ability to learn may be somewhat compromised. What if a student has had a vision screening, but because of her parents’ economic situation, a new pair of glasses is not the household budget?
Orange County, Fla., has made significant improvements in both the lives of its students and the status of a school. Watch the report below about a new, simple method of eye testing that can help student achievement.
Find this and other stories, resources, ideas, and practices that encourage a coordinated approach to school health programming and policies within school communities by joining the Healthy School Communities group on ASCD EDge™.
Todd Verdi
April 2, 2010
5:18 am
Since I began working with inner city students I have found that no matter the student background that you can connect with any student. Students from the inner city often build walls to protect themselves from being emotionally hurt or letdown. The keys to breaking down these walls in in the development of relationships. Building relationship with students is key to personal, social and the educational development of the whole child. These students must develop a sense of trust prior to letting us see their true self. In doing so we able to develop a more effective connection that allows us to present expectations of the student. Failure to connect and develop relationships with students promotes a nonproductive assmbly line of individual not prepared to meet the demands of the twenty first century.
Todd Verdi
April 2, 2010
5:25 am
The importance of teachers having the ability to make connections with their students allows them to provide stronger rigor and expectations withtin the coursework. Teachers must implement multiple strategies in the the development of the whole child. Understanding that the formation of relationships is essential in connecting with students can be facilitated by an administrator who is willing to provide Professional development to staff in areas such as Rigor and Relavance, DDDM, and Poverty Training.