I have a question for y’all! I think it’s a tough one, but I’ll let you be the judge of that. There are no wrong answers. In fact, there’s a good chance each one of you will have more than one answer!
Here’s the question: Which skill or skills do your students have the most difficulty learning? For example, my third graders struggled with cause and effect big time. Solid figures (faces, edges, corners, vertices) were a challenge too. And I can’t forget adverbs. Wait, maybe I was the one who struggled with adverbs! 🙂
And what’s the giveaway? How about a free book from The Mailbox for your personal library? I’ll even let you pick which book you want! To be entered in the drawing, comment on this post by the end of Friday, February 11.
You’re the best!
Diane
Update: Our winner is Terry—congratulations!
My kindergarteners struggle with writing more complex sentences. After we master sounding out basic words and simple sentences. They can not move on. The can write five sentences but they make no sense together. Or I get the I Like…over and over. They have such a hard time with picking a topic and sticking with it for more than one sentence.
First graders have a hard time counting coins. I think it’s a developmental thing. Either they have it with no problem or they don’t. It is just so abstract!
That far as i work with preK children and it very per child . Some have hard time learning to write and hold writing tools . Other keeping thumb up when cuttng . The hardest i would say are these fine motor but for most part all get it around 4 here but there is a few that struggle even after leaving me . As we work on fine motor every day and it a huge part of out curr
My fourth graders unfortunately struggle with many things, but if I had to pick just one, I would have to say multi-step Problem Solving. Their biggest difficulty is understanding what the problem is asking them to do. Recently I’ve tried to give my students problems that don’t require them to give the solution rather they have to provide an explanation as to why or why not the given solution is correct or incorrect. These types of problems have been real brain busters!!
First graders seem to often have trouble with elaborating in their writing.
I teach PreK and I have to agree with Jessica definitely its the fine motor skills. Writing and cutting are HUGE. But when you make sure its included daily they can master it before leaving us for Elementary school.
The wide range of developmental ages makes it hard as well as what the children have or have not been exposed to at home. Sadly I see many children who have never finger painted or used play dough at home because its too messy.
I work in a Transition class (a step in between K and 1st), and the skill that they seem to have the most difficulty grasping are time to the half hour, and using money. The can tell the coins apart, but transferring that knowledge to real life can be challenging for them.
I am with alot of you – it depends on the kid and the class. Half my kids are stuggling with fine motor skills, cutting and writing. They are prek. Some I have cutting but cannot hold a pencil correctly no matter what I do. But the number one problem with this years class is the ability to follow the directions no matter what they are – they really want to do their own thing and they think they are helping me out by doing that!!! It seems as if they exempt from the rules. But they seems to be grasphing the alphabet, doing patterns, and even making the sound/letter connection!!! I guess you get one or the other!!
My class has problems with fine motor skills, too.
However, I have to agree with ANGIE. The number one problem with my class this year is not being able to follow directions and rules! I have to remind them constantly that they can’t do their own thing. It doesn’t seem to bother them, because they still try to take over!
Which skill or skills do your students have the most difficulty learning?
well i was born in jordan so i am jordian and i know the arabic alphbets, my parents tought me it when i was little and now i know how to write them in arabic.
i am a preschool teacher and my students have a difficulty learning the arabic alphabet and they have a difficulty writing the arabic alphabet and saying the arabic alphabet. its a new thing i am teaching my preschool kids and started this week teaching it to them. some of my students got some of the arabic alphabets written correctly and some are still having a difficulty writing the arabic alphabet. still a good gross motor skills for my students.
My 2nd graders have struggled with problem-solving as well!
My second graders are a very visual bunch this year. They have had trouble sorting the measurement units between US Customary and Metric for length, weight, and liquid volume. Pictures would really help.
Our preschoolers are having a hard time learning to clean up a play station before moving on to a new one.
I teach Kindergarten and usually my class always has a hard time remembering the teen numbers. This year my class is struggling with cutting, writing and other fine motor skills. They are also struggling with their listening and following directions skills.
My sixth grade students have always had difficulty with elapsed time. No matter how I try to teach it, they just don’t get it. It also doesn’t help that now a days all the clocks are digital.. this makes it even harder for the students to get it 🙁
I would say preschoolers have the most difficulty with transitions. When it is time to clean up and move on to another activity is difficult for the, as is any change in routine.
I teach Early Childhood Special Education (Special Ed Preschool) I would say the most challenging for them is fine motor skills. Most of them struggle with holding scissors, let alone cutting a line across.
Holding crayons is another tough one for them. Some are still at the fist and scribble stage when they are
almost ready for Kindergarten.
My fifth graders have trouble with inferences and fractions.
Writing! My students struggle with most of the components of sentence building – capital letters, punctuation,spaces between letters and words…
I teach pre-k, and I have several students who are having difficulty with rhyming. If I ask them to give me a word that rhymes with ________, they can do it, no problem. However, if I say 2 words and ask them if the words rhyme (cat/hat or boy/dog, for example), they can’t do it. They just give me confused looks and have a 50/50 chance at guessing the correct answer. Does anyone have any suggestions to help???
First graders have difficulty with sentence writing mechanics..even when exemplars are displayed in front of them.
My 2nd grade students really have trouble counting coins. They can count by ones, fives, tens, 25s, and 50s, but when they have to switch what they are counting by, they tend to get mixed up. They can count five dimes and tell you it is 50 cents, but if you show them a half-dollar, a quarter, a dime, a nickel, and a penny, then they have to switch from counting by 50s to counting by 25s, then switch to counting by tens, fives, and ones. That is quite a complicated task for a 2nd grader to think through.
-Coins
-Time
-Long Vowel Sounds
My second graders seem to struggle the most with writing a summary of a book. We have spent weeks on main idea, and they are starting to understand that, but when it comes to writing a summary that includes the main points and not a lot of minor details, we struggle!
My First Graders have problems writing sentences that tell a short story .
First grade math: counting money, telling time in 5 minute increments
My third graders struggle with elasped time–no matter how much I review lets just say that sopme will be late as they get older.
My second graders also struggle with problem solving in math and main idea in reading.
Most of my kindergartners learn to tell time to the hour, half hour, and quarter hour, but it’s hard for them – and older students to grasp how to read the minutes! This year, many of my students have caught on already; I’ve been referring to the “minute bumps” on the outer edge of the Judy clock.
I have Preschool aged children, and while they have a VERY difficult time cleaning up after any activity, they also have a difficult time pronouncing letters at the beginning of their words (especially S) so, I guess the Phonics of words?
My 3rd and 4th grade students have a difficult time with elapsed time. Figuring out how much time it has taken to do something is difficult for my students because it is not as simple as giving a one word answer. Figuring out elapsed time involves multiple steps and patience, another area that my students struggle with, due to their disability. (Emotional disturbance).
My kindergarten class has trouble with memorizing their sight words. I sent home a list at the beginning of the year to give everyone a head start…we practice them in class…we have sight word “bees”…flash cards…introduced them in stories…everything I can think of…but only about 30% of the class is reading them fluently.
Oh, and I agree…not being able to follow directions is kind of hard, too. I thought that it was normal until I read an article the other day that said BEFORE entering Kindergarten they should be able to follow 2-3 step directions. It seems like I repeat myself ALL DAY LONG. LOL.
My preschoolers have a hard time staying in one area-blocks, house center etc. And also a hard time cleaning up before moving on to a new area! Any ideas?
My third graders this year need quite a bit of help in elaborating in their writing. They create lists rather than cohesive paragraphs. Trying to get them to add more interesting details can be like pulling teeth!
My kindergarteners have difficulty blending sounds together to make words and segmenting words into sounds.
My first graders are a smart bunch; however they tend to struggle with number patterns. When given the first four or five numbers, they struggle to fill in the next several blanks. I find the SMARTBOARD a useful tool that allows students to come up and complete the pattern by either moving numbers I have placed on the board or by filling in the blanks manually.
My first graders struggle with understanding tens and ones-until it just clicks. We practice it alot! They struggle with comprehension when they read a passage and have to answer questions about it. Many things they just have to learn to practice!
My Pre-K (4/5’s) students have a hard time with rhyming words. They often mix them up with words that begin the same way. Some of them “get it” but most still struggle. Hopefully they will “get it” by the end of the year as we practice some sort of rhymes every day.
The biggest struggle my kindergarten class has overall is LISTENING! They talk, talk, talk, I have 24 years experience and MANY tricks of the trade. i also am not a quiet teacher BUT…WOW! Children are not good listeners and feel they can talk whenever they desire. Sure, there are academic concerns but curbing frequent talking and learning to listen have been y biggest challenge this school year.
My 4th graders this year, are having a tough time with long division. The 4 step pattern isn’t staying with some of them. Measuring is also a challenge despite the fact we use rules often!
In reading we working on writing directions/instructions…pretty funny to see their face when what seems so easy, may not come out so clear!
I teach Pre-K 4 our “skills” are listening, following directions and responsibility. It seems that parents (and I am one of them) are too busy. They don’t have to carry thier bags or know where their things are b/c it is faster for the parent to do it for them. Starting small with these things would make all the other “skills” came easier.
My pre-k students with special needs have a hard time with the social skills. We specifically teach them to share, take turns, trade, wait or play together. My students do a terrific job at circle time. We sing songs they are all learning the letter names and their sounds, they love to listen to stories and do finger-plays.
My 4th graders have trouble with proving their answers with details from the story/passage. It is probably because they hate to go back and reread.Inferences are also a problem.
My PreK have difficulties staying focused for any period of time. Many of the 3’s and 4’s are already playing video games for hours on end. Lessons have to be quick, attention grabbing and often I have to use a “physical movement” form of learning to keep any of the children focused. Being required to follow directions and do it without arguing with the Teacher is another difficulty. Seems parents are no longer parenting at home.
My three year olds have trouble with listening skills
Teaching letter sounds can be difficult for the Pre-k class. Ex: Who’s name starts with a “s”. They may all raise their hand because they have an “s” in their name. They are only hearing the “s” sound and not realizing that the teacher is looking for the first letter of their name.
Pre-k’s are great explores but have difficult time staying in one area with their toys.