Why do some students achieve well at school while others do not? What makes some students struggle at school? This is not a new question to be answered but it seems the answers are always changing. Some factors named already are lack of motivation, low expectations, poor preparation, and poor teacher quality.
Beside these already mentioned, what if there are still outside forces that contributes to the achievement gap. Researches show that one crucial factor that contributes to under achievement in school is the family factor. What happens at home affects greatly the achievement gap a student experiences.
Some of the factors that are beyond the control of schools which creates a huge impact on school performance are: the percentage of children living with only one parent, the percentage of students absent from school at least three times a month, the percentage of children age 5 or younger whose parents read to them daily, and the percentage of students who watch five or more hours of television daily.
These factors alone enabled teachers to forecast student performance in school with surprising accuracy. From these factors, they were able to predict test scores, homework accomplishments, and class participation. This could only say that external factors such as these indeed may have more of an effect on long-term student achievement than classroom instruction, test preparation, class size, and other in-school factors.
However, you should also bear in mind that TV, living in a single parented household, story time at home, and absenteeism are all just part of a bigger issue that possibly affects the entire education system. There are still lots of factors to be considered such as socio economic status of students, upbringing, community involvement among others.
Bottom line, active support to a learner that both the teachers and the family can give can spell all the difference in academic achievement. So, spend more quality time with your students inside the room and try to collaborate games and plays that could enhance their intelligence, social, and emotional capacities.
References:
Bridging the Achievement Gap. John E. Chubb & Tom Loveless. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
Carnoy & Rothstein, International Tests Show Achievement Gaps in All Countries, Economic Policy Institute, Retrieved March 3, 2014.
Mead, Sara. (2006). The Evidence Suggests Otherwise: The Truth About Boys and Girls. Washington: Education Sector. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
By: MARIA MAY S. FORIO | MT-I | BEPZ Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
