Michelle* is in grade 6. She seems to be having difficulty with her studies that’s why she was brought to us. I found out during our session that it was even worse than ‘a difficulty.’ The girl doesn’t even know that the plural form of child is children, and she doesn’t know which word is a naming word and which is an action word.
At the end of the session, I talked with the one who brought her to the center, which happened to be her older sister. I told her my observation and recommended that Michelle take regular tutorial as reinforcement for her lessons in school. Her sister very truthfully admitted that Michelle has been taking tutorial lessons ever since preschool. Aside from home tutorial, her school requires her to attend Saturday classes to recap the lessons for the week. At the end of the school year, however, Michelle is still under probation. So, her parents would plead with the director of the school to let the girl stay. The director would then require Michelle to attend summer lessons.
At the mention of their parents, Big Sister became emotional. She told me how at first she was the one who was helping Michelle with her lessons, but it seems like the girl’s head is a sieve and the lessons are like clear water that simply passes through. Nothing is retained.
I nearly suggested having Michelle checked by a neurologist to find out if there’s something wrong with the part of her brain that affects her memory, but I was worried that she may get offended.
I felt sorry for them, but teachers have limitations, and I believe it’s not a simple matter of ‘not paying attention in class’ nor ‘limited English vocabulary.’ And though I strongly believe there’s something more to it than being ‘forgetful’ I sincerely wish I am wrong about it.
If you were Michelle’s sister, would you have been offended if I suggested having your sister checked by a neurologist?
*not real name
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