RECENTLY, I tried to assist my nephews and nieces in their modules. I was shocked to learn that one of my nephews had not answered his modules for a month. With the weekly modules, the materials were left in a box unattended. With their parents always away at work, a single weekend was not enough to cover all the modules. I desperately asked my nephew to sit down and try to finish some modules.
Chris, my Grade 5 nephew is more an auditory and kinesthetic learner. For him, he sees writing unappealing and everything breaks down when you ask him to write. The only words he can write in the modules is his name. He prefers to answer when the options are in multiple choices. He is also hyper-active and does not settle in one place.
On the other hand, he likes to tinker with wires, equipment and toys. If some appliances suddenly do not work, it’s of his doing. Or if a tool is missing, it is him who used it. At some point, his parents bought him several bikes on several occasions to convince him to go to school. After a week, the bikes were dismantled and no longer working. At 11, he can already drive motorcycles and can start his father’s jeep.
Not only this, every week, he misplaces a piece of his flip flops. He said that the flip flops were donated and sometimes, he does not remember where he placed them. His father tried to buy the hardest slippers in town but with no avail.
Above this, Chris is independent and loves to be with people. He can easily memorize places and people he has met. One time, we were walking in the market to buy a pair of slippers when he greeted unknown people. When asked about those people, he said that they were drivers. He loves to sit with older people and listen to their conversation. He loves to drive around with this father and act like a conductor. He can correctly add, deduct and multiply passengers’ fares but not in his math modules. He can converse with people but cannot write answers in the modules.
He is also a sweet boy. When his cellphone was still intact, he daily called everybody and asked about their day. At some point, I needed to remind him to stop calling me especially when I was at work. I asked him to send texts instead but he got all the reasons not to.
Chris, my nephew, is one of the types of learners that without face-to-face mode of learning are misunderstood and through the process may lose interest in going to school. When I asked if he wants his teacher to come and assist him in his modules, Chris said that he prefers to go to school. He said that he can understand lessons when he listens to his teacher and with other children.
His case is one most affected in this Alternative Delivery Mode. His modules are mostly paper-based. This could be different in the classroom where physical activities and interactions are conducted to help learners. Still there is hope for my nephew.
Another weekend to help him in his modules. This time, I will be prepared. I will bring his favorite food and toys in exchange for his time in doing the modules. Yes, as a trained teacher, I also struggle to let him finish his modules. We need to extend our understanding and patience in assisting especially those with learning difficulties.
