Preventing Early Learning Failure

Book excerpt: Each year thousands of young children come to school without good early learning experiences and are unprepared for school learning activities. Others have experienced physical or emotional setbacks that make learning difficult and frustrating. In "Preventing Early Learning Failure," expert educators describe practices that can help children find success in school. Topics include a look at what's important in reading and math; the nature of true learning disabilities; and problem solving using the Instructional Support Team model, with a report on an elementary school that has adopted that model and changed the lives of many at-risk learners. Other chapters report on basic sensory skill development at the kindergarten level, and reflect on the concepts and practices that make a difference in the lives of young learners. The authors examine four programs, including the widely heralded Success for All program, that show promise in helping children get ready for early learning success. The authors also describe effective preschool programs and principles, and they look at how an awareness of multiple intelligences and individual learning needs can be useful. Three of the chapters include stories that illustrate some ways to prevent failure. One story describes a classroom teacher who learned to think differently about student behavior, another describes innovative ways a school dealt with three "problem" children, and the third tells about the productive relationship of a young boy, his mother, and his teacher. We cannot afford to let children in the early years of school fall into a pattern of failure that will affect them, their families, and their communities throughout a lifetime. "Preventing Early Learning Failure" offers practical approaches to help develop every child's capacity for learning and ensure that no child will be left behind. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.