Slow learners are those children who are unable to cope with the workload and meet the requirements of the regular curriculum. They can learn just like the students in the regular classroom, but they need teaching strategies that can develop their capacity to learn. Parents and teachers should understand their own learning styles and prepare suitable activities to enhance learning. Identify and recognize their areas of interest, then develop an educational plan and integrate their favorite activities in the lesson plan.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

The following are the remedial measures which constitute the educational programs for slow learners. These are listed in the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Vol.1 Issue 8, published on December 2011.

•MOTIVATION - Slow learners usually show an attitude of avoidance resulting from previous experience of failure or dislike of a subject. When the teacher succeeds in motivating the students, his instructions will be effective and the educational objectives can be achieved.

•INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION - The teacher should take positive effort to ascertain the specific disability of the slow learners and should devise remedial instructional strategy according to the needs of each slow learner.

•RESTORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF

SELF-CONFIDENCE - Constant lack of academic success, rejection by other children, faulty instruction and mismanagement by parents lead to emotional disturbance, feelings of inadequacy and personality and conduct disorders. The teacher should take all possible effort and make use of all opportunities to restore and develop self-confidence in slow learners which will ultimately guide them into manifesting better attainment.

•ELASTIC CURRICULUM - Slow learners are able to understand in a better way and it enhances their learning capacity and learning rate to a considerable extent when the curriculum is modified.

REMEDIAL INSTRUCTION - The remedial teaching classes or special classes should be conducted systematically based on laid down guidelines.

•HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT - The school environment should be healthy and reasonably free for slow learners.

•SPECIAL METHODS OF TEACHING - Special methods such as audio and visual instructions, mastery learning strategy with extra corrective instruction, modular instruction, and computer-assisted instruction, will be very effective for slow learners.

•LEARNING CONTRACTS AND PEER TUTORING - A learning contact is an agreement between the teacher and the student to study and share information about a specific topic. It helps the classroom teacher organize the instructional program for some exceptional students.

•PEER TUTORING - There are two types of peer tutoring: cross-age tutoring where the tutor is several years older than the student being taught, and same-age peer tutoring where one student tutors a classmate. When implementing peer tutoring, it is important that the rules for tutors be quite explicit in telling or showing their students what to do, then watching as the students perform. They repeat the demonstration or instruction if the student makes an error, and then praise the student when the response is correct.

Among the private schools in Taguig that cater to slow leaders are Army’s Angels Integrated School, Bicutan Parochial School, Colegio de Sta. Ana, Integrated Montessori Center, Saint Francis of Assisi College System, St. Ignatius of Loyola School, St. Lawrence School Foundation, Inc., and Sto. Niño Catholic School, Inc.  

In Pasig, the schools for slow learners are Golden Values School, Holy Light School, La Consolacion College, Pasig, La Immaculada Concepcion School, Nino Jesus House of Studies Inc., Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Pasig Catholic College, Reedly International School, Inc., Sacred Heart Academy of Pasig, St. Gabriel International School, Inc., St. Paul College, Pasig.

Some of the schools for slow learners in Makati are Divine Mercy Asian Academy, St. Paul College Makati, Don Bosco Technical Institute, Guadalupe Catholic School, International Montessori School, M.A. Montessori School, Maria Montessori Holy Christian School, Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, St. Mary of the Woods School, and St. Paul College of Makati Foundation, Inc. I highly recommend Montessori Schools for your child and St. Mary of the WoodsSchool in MakatiCity. May you find the best school for your child.