Strategies to identify slow learners

1. S. VIDHYA, Ph. D. Research Scholar,
Dr. G. Subramonian, Associate Professor
Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidhyalaya College of Education, Coimbatore

2.  In a democratic nation it is necessary to provide
Education for those children who have exceptional
abilities and potentialities.
 Depending on the intellectual abilities the children are
classified into; Slow Learner, Gifted Children and
Mentally Retarded children.

3.  Slow learner is one who is unable to learn what the
average child learns in the normal classroom.
 Their IQ ranges from 70 to 90.
 Their academic achievement is low when compared with
that of normal children.
 Slow learners are also called as "Backward Children".

5.  Intelligence of family members
 Economic condition
 Emotional factors
 personal factors
 Environmental causes and
 Condition of school

6.  School teacher,
 Parents,
 Social workers,
 Counselors and
 Psychologists
should contribute to identify the slow learners.

7.  Observation method
 Case study method
 Assessment
 Attainment tests
 Intelligence test
 Personality inventory
 Medical examination
 Scholastic tests

8.  In this method the observation of child‘s behavior can be made by the
teacher, which help in identifying slow learners.
 It is of two types.
1. Control and
2. Uncontrolled method.

9.  By this technique the total history of the child, his family,
his early life and home environment are revealed.
 By finding the causes psychologists will suggest the best
remedial measures.

10.  As a general rule, it is advisable that more than one
assessment of mental ability should be made using
different tests and at least one of these should be of the
individual type.

11.  Through the administration of standardized tests of
achievement in the various subject areas

12.  Both verbal and nonverbal intelligence tests are used for
this purpose.
 Mostly individual verbal tests are used so that an expert can
get an idea about the mental capacities of the particular
child.

13.  A method of personality assessment based on a
Questionnaire asking a person to report feelings or
reactions in certain situations.

14.  Before labeling the child as slow learner a thorough
medical examination is essential to know the physical and
physiological conditions made by a qualified medical
expert.

15.  These tests can throw light on areas like arithmetic, reading,
spelling, writing, languages and comprehension, so that area of
problem can be known and causes of anomalies can be evaluated
properly.

16.  We cannot ignore the care and education of the slow
learners who are found in varying degrees in every
school.
 With proper guidance, slow learners can become useful
members of the society.