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Young Kids Are Struggling With Skills Like Listening, Sharing, and Using Scissors

Young Kids Are Struggling With Skills Like Listening, Sharing, and Using Scissors  Education Week

Youngstudentsarestrugglingwithfinemotorskills,likeusingscissorsandpencils,andsocial-emotionalcapabilities,suchasfollowinginstructionsandsharing,teachersreport. StrongmajoritiesofpreK-3teacherssaidthesetasksandskillsweremore,ormuchmore,challengingforchildrenthisschoolyearthantheywereforkidsofthesameagefiveyearsago,accordingtotheEducationWeekStateofTeachingsurvey.Expertssaythisislikelyinpartafunctionoftheupheavalcausedbythepandemic—andthatevenstudentswhoweren’tingradeschoolduringtheheightofschoolclosuresarestillexperiencingthelingeringeffects. “Thesefundamentalskillsthatseemsobasicareactuallyreallyimportantto[children’s]overalldevelopmentandgrowth,”saidAmandaFellner,alecturerintheearlychildhoodeducationprogramatTeachersCollege,ColumbiaUniversity,andafacultyco-directoroftheRitaGoldEarlyChildhoodCenterthere.“Howarewesupportingteachersonthis?Howareweensuringthattheyareabletofocusontheth