Equal attention to Learning Supports is essential so that:
- Every student will demonstrate academic achievement and be prepared for success after high school;
- Every student will be supported by highly prepared and effective teachers and school leaders; and
- Every school will offer a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.
Children of Military Families
A number of Illinois’ children have parents in the military that have experienced at least one deployment. Deployments have a significant impact on children and have resulted in more outpatient visits for behavioral health issues and an increase in the number of children of military families being diagnosed with behavioral or stress disorders.
Schools need to provide a safe haven for these students and ensure that they have access to any additional supports they may need. This can be done through a Comprehensive System of Learning Supports that promotes the necessary conditions for learning and addresses any barriers to learning.
Some classroom interventions for students who have parents that are deployed:- Focus on the student and classroom learning
- Provide structure
- Maintain objectivity (i.e., respond to events in a calm and caring way and refrain from expressing negative opinions)
- Reinforce safety and security
- Be patient
- Be sensitive to language and cultural needs
- Acknowledge and validate feelings
- Reinforce anger management
Source- Educator’s Guide for Military Children
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