TEACHERS should be more flexible and sensitive to their students’ needs so they could eventually meet the new U.S. standard that all American children must be able to read by the 3rd grade, according to Board of Education Chairman Herman T. Guerrero.
Guerrero said the curriculum policies adopted in all CNMI public schools are already at par with the U.S. standard. It is just a matter of implementing the curriculum, he added.
Teachers must be able to identify students who need more assistance in various subjects, particularly reading, Guerrero said. He is also encouraging them to constantly pursue continuing education and training.
“They need to identify those children who are not performing well and extend help. Perhaps they need additional tutoring,” he said.
“(They must ask themselves) why is the child not learning? Perhaps there are other learning styles that might work better. They need to be open and sensitive to each individual needs in the classroom,” he added.
Aside from being sensitive to the needs of students, Guerrero said teachers must also pursue their own professional growth to become more effective in the classroom.
“Teachers need to be more effective. They have to be more flexible,” Guerrero said.
