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Follow on Google News | Don’t panic if your child “doesn’t follow instructions”The solution is apparent when you look at transitions in expectations from school
By: Dr. Yvonne Fournier When my son brings his graded work home from school, I am seeing a pattern that he is not following instructions. In some of your past articles, you have written about the importance of looking for trends in our children’s schoolwork. What I am seeing is that he often does the wrong thing; does more work than he has to, or does it incorrectly just because he doesn’t read the instructions. He is in the fourth grade, and by now he should be able to pay attention. What does this trend mean? Debbie T. Charleston, SC Dear Debbie: Reading instructions for self-directed work is a skill that must be taught and not just assumed. ASSESSMENT: When your son started school, he was probably immediately confronted with ditto sheets with instructions. However, in the early grades, teachers cannot expect students to read these instructions independently, so they explain them orally to the students. But for many students, ditto sheets simply mean, “get it done so I can finish on time,” or “if I finish quickly, I can play.” These children might judge what must be done by fast recall of what they were asked to do in past instructions. This is the transition that is sometimes overlooked: Children can get lost between the safety of the oral instructions, and what is expected of them by teachers who assume that learning to read directions for self directed work is a skill that has already been mastered. Your son is not being lazy about his schoolwork; he merely needs help learning that just because sheets look like handouts he has completed before, it does not mean the instructions will be the same. Once this is taught, he should be in position to learn how to interpret instructions. WHAT TO DO: Explain to your son the “evolution” Explain to your son the three major categories that come into play as he interprets the instructions: 1. Fixed Instructions: 2. Variable Instructions: 3. Self-Made Instructions: Help your child learn to assess the type of instruction and how to deal with it. As you do so, the fringe benefits will be self-direction, decision-making and self-esteem. CONTACT DR. FOURNIER Have a question about education, education-related issues or your child’s schoolwork or homework? Ask Dr. Fournier and look for her answer in this column. E-mail your question or comment to Dr. Yvonne Fournier at drfournier@hfhw.net. # # # For 30 years, Dr. Yvonne Fournier has been helping children become more successful in school. Her column, "Hassle-Free Homework," was published by Scripps Howard News Service for 20 years. She holds her doctorate in education. End
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