Struggling readers, low-income students and English language learners are all students that can be considered “at-risk.” However, as pointed out in an Education Week article today, “Every Student is at Risk.” Here are some excerpts from the article by teacher, Eric Fox:
“…I battle ignorance, apathy, lack of vision, lack of motivation, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, disorganization, and a bad memory on a daily basis. I don't have enough degrees and have never been elected to public office, so much of what I say may not seem important. My view is minuscule. I can't see the landscape with trends and data points. I just see the trenches.
…Every child, adolescent, or young adult who enters our school doorways is at risk of not developing his or her potential. I've never heard an elementary student say, "I want to make meth when I grow up," or "I can't wait until I'm old enough to go to prison," or "When I'm a teen mom, I can really play house."”
- Eric Fox, Teacher, Jenks, OK
Every student struggles with something. No student has a perfect life. Every student needs an education that challenges them and helps them learn more about their interests and their possibilities.
Of course, struggling readers and English language learners are among the entire student population that are "at-risk" and researchers have found strategies that can help them reach their potential:
- Explicit and systematic phonics-based curriculum
- Multisensory, Orton Gillingham-based instruction
- Positive reinforcement and a focus on strengths
In recent news it’s been revealed that more and more students are struggling with reading making the implementation of these strategies as important as ever. In fact, “at-risk” readers are in many instances becoming the norm.
By using these strategies with every student from the start of their education there will be less "at-risk" readers and teachers will have more time to focus on some of the other factors that make every student "at-risk of not developing his or her potential."
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