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