Dear Teachers,
All of my middle-school friends seem to be multitasking all the time. In class they text during discussions. When they do homework, they also tweet or spend time on Facebook. Most of them get good grades. My parents have made homework a technology-free time. It doesn’t seem fair. It isn’t like I’m addicted and staying in contact with my friends every minute of the day.
Dear Student,
If only our brains had a limitless capacity to process information, think of all the things we could do at the same time. At your age, a majority of students now seem to be trying to do their schoolwork while staying in frequent contact with their friends electronically. Unfortunately, if you multitask while studying, you are not really doing two things simultaneously, but switching back and forth rapidly from task to task.
According to David Pisoni, Chancellor’s Professor of Psychology at Indiana University, “Memory and attention are limited. Students don’t realize that when they study and engage in other activities, that multitasking comes at a price.”
The price is not learning as much as they would without multitasking.
Students in middle school need to learn how to balance academics and using social media. Your parents, by their rules, have forced you to manage your study time with limited distractions. You have quality study time, which is far more important than the quantity of studying that you do. In the future, it should become your responsibility to focus on academic tasks without distractions.
What is RTI?
Dear Teachers,
What does RTI stand for, and is this just another program for children who are already receiving special education services?
Dear Parents,
RTI is the abbreviation for Response to Intervention, referring to how teachers and other staff intervene in order to increase students’ academic learning. However, some school districts are changing the wording to “Response to Instruction,” in order to emphasize how teachers continually change and adapt their instruction to help each student achieve his or her academic potential.
RTI is a three-tier instructional model. It is the framework for building a comprehensive, high-quality instructional program for all students from kindergarten through high school. The tiers are overlapping. Each tier provides different levels of support to students. The duration and intensiveness of the support will vary to meet the needs of each individual student. Schools implementing RTI are making sure that their teachers, by using differentiating instructional teaching methods, are giving every student the opportunity to meet proficiency standards.
Does my child have an attention problem?
Dear Parents,
When children have trouble focusing in school and are also disorganized, many teachers and parents jump to the conclusion that a child has an attention-deficit disorder. When a student is also overly active and disruptive, the child’s disorder will be called attention-deficit hyperactive disorder.
Diagnosing these disorders is not an exact science. There are no biological tests. Instead, the traits that make up the disorders are personality characteristics. When eight or more of the following statements accurately describe a child younger than 7, there may be a reason to suspect either, and you should talk to your child’s doctor.
• Fidgets or seems restless.
• Has difficulty remaining seated.
• Is easily distracted.
• Has difficulty awaiting his turn.
• Blurts out answers.
• Has difficulty following instructions.
• Has difficulty sustaining attention.
• Shifts from one uncompleted task to another.
• Has difficulty playing quietly.
• Talks excessively.
• Interrupts or intrudes on others.
• Does not seem to listen.
• Loses things necessary for tasks.
• Frequently engages in dangerous actions.
Keep in mind that attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit hyperactive disorder are often hereditary. So when looking at the 14 traits, you might consider if you or another family member might have eight or more of these traits.
To find out more information about attention disorders, visit our website and enter the keyword ADD or ADHD. You will also find helpful information online on the websites for the National Attention Deficit Organization, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and ADDITUDE Magazine. If your child is diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, his school should be able to provide the support and accommodations that will help improve the child’s life at school.
Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or ask them on the columnists’ website at www.dearteacher.com.
© 2013 Compass Syndicate CorporationDistributed by King Features Syndicate
