Academic Challenges & Behavioral Issues
Mila is a 9-year-old girl in the Third grade. She comes from a middle-class family with supportive parents who are both employed full-time. Emily has an older brother who excels academically and participates in extracurricular activities. Mila’s parents describe her as creative, imaginative, and social, but they have noticed a decline in her academic performance and behavior at school over the past year.
Primary Concerns :
- Academic Challenges: Mila’s teachers observe a notable lag in her reading and math skills compared to her classmates. She frequently struggles to finish assignments and grasp classroom instructions
- Behavioral Concerns: Mila exhibits disruptive behavior during class, including frequent talking out of turn, fidgeting, and difficulty staying focused. Additionally, she has encountered conflicts with peers, resulting in disciplinary measures by the school.
Mila’s parents are concerned about her academic and behavioral hurdles but feel uncertain about the best approach to support her. Despite offering assistance with homework and fostering a study-friendly environment, they grapple with their demanding work schedules, making it challenging to uphold consistent disciplinary measure
Evaluation:
- Individualized Education Plan (IEP): Following the assessment findings, Mila becomes eligible for a Individualized Education Plan (IEP) tailored to her needs. The IEP incorporates accommodations such as preferential seating, extended assignment deadlines, and supplementary guidance from a resource teacher.
- Mila undergoes an extensive evaluation conducted by a school psychologist to gauge her academic proficiency, cognitive capabilities, and socio-emotional well-being. The assessment uncovers challenges in attention, working memory, and executive function skills for Mila.
- Behavioral Support: Mila engages in behavioral support programs at school, encompassing social skills coaching, self-regulation exercises, and positive reinforcement methods. Collaborating with the school counselor, Emily learns strategies to navigate frustration and impulsivity, enhancing her coping skills.
- Parental Involvement:Mila’s parents actively participate in parent education workshops and counseling sessions, gaining valuable insights into methods for bolstering her academic and behavioral development at home. They establish steadfast routines, introduce incentives for commendable behavior, and maintain open communication with Mila’s educators to track her advancement.
Outcome:
- Mila’s parents feel increasingly empowered and equipped to facilitate her learning and growth, noting positive shifts in her confidence and self-esteem. As a result, Mila becomes more actively engaged in her schoolwork and cultivates healthier relationships with her peers.
This case study exemplifies how a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, comprising assessment, intervention, and collaborative support from both family and school, can facilitate the successful navigation of academic and behavioral challenges, fostering a nurturing environment in which children like Mila can flourish.
** Disclaimer :The names used in the above case studies are fictional and have been chosen randomly to protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals. Any similarity to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.