BLOG #15 Motor Function and Auditory Learning

Smart kids may have motor function and auditory learning difficulties which adversely affect school achievement. Mild motor weaknesses can grow into major disabilities, if they are not dealt with appropriately. Students may be faulted with bad attitudes when written work is not completed. Muscles, coordination, and memory all play important roles in small and large motor function. Automaticity in forming letters and in handwriting is vital in school, yet some students do not naturally have strong motor memory for such tasks. Good teaching practice does involve helping students with handwriting skills. That includes forming letters and numbers, holding the pencil correctly, and placing the letters with correct directionality and size. Progressing in accuracy and speed aids in note taking, as well as written composition. While there are advocates for teaching manuscript and cursive, students need to be fluent in whatever form they are taught. Mechanical aids, such as typewriters, word processors, and tape recorders can also assist students with written work.

Students need to understand how to listen before they can learn. Children who have suffered from ear infections and allergies may have disrupted perceptions, causing misinterpretations of words and conversations. Auditory learning develops through individual conversation. Daycares, non-English speaking care givers, and overly tired parents may inadvertantly cause difficulites as well. While some children can organize two languages, many cannot. Language acquisition may be disrupted or prolonged if the child's primary language has not become fluent before being exposed to other languages. Another factor can involve the overuse or stimulation of television and video games. The average sentence on T.V. is between four and six words in length. Imagery is provided, as well. Children are not being trained to listen and understand more mature levels of language while sitting in front of computers and televisions.

Smart kids can have school problems. It is important for teachers and parents to be on the lookout for potential problems. When a child is preparing to enter kindergarten, that child's health history and early language development needs to be reviewed. Being proactive can make a difference for a child and his or her success.