As educators who serve military families, we must make a concerted effort to support an educational system that progressively builds the college and career readiness of these students. As educators serving these resilient students, we must aim to challenge them in ways that maximize their potential while helping them to excel academically, but also socially, emotionally and physically. [pullquote position=\”right\”]It is our job as teachers to look for ways to help these students thrive.[/pullquote]
At any grade level, a priority should be placed on cultivating meaningful relationships between these students and school staff including classroom teachers and support members, in addition to guidance counselors and building administrators. We also need to have reasonable expectations and an understanding of their behaviors and attitudes towards education.
These students may arrive at any point in the year and will need clear expectations and guidelines for school and class procedures, as each school they have attended was likely run and organized differently. Military students truly may not know what to expect even as high school students if they attended most of their education in another state or even country.
Educators must also actively look for learning gaps and areas where a student excels as their previous duty location school most likely used a different curriculum or pacing and planning guide. Peer tutoring with either situation can give these students an opportunity to connect with their peers and begin to form important new friendships and relationships.
April should be used as an opportunity for schools to plan special events to honor military children. I challenge teachers and administrators to incorporate the themes of this month into their everyday school routines, duties and responsibilities.