Working Memory and History class
I have a 5th grader that has dyslexia and dysgraphia. He somehow manages to gets As and Bs in most subjects, except for History. He just shuts down and won’t even try.
This behavior is common in students who struggle with remembering information: dates, locations, facts. They feel embarrassed about not knowing and build up a mental block because of past failures. They stop trying.
The key is to draw him back to the topic by creating an interest. Build a bridge between the new information and what he is familiar with in his own life. If you are learning about Ukraine, start with something he can relate to. How is their food similar to his food? How is it different? How about their clothes? When you get to more complex topics, like politics, frame it in a way he can relate to. Ask him to think about what sort of hobbies kids his age would like there. Do they have the same freedom to pursue these hobbies? For example, how about things like Internet access, is this controlled by the state? What about books, would some graphic novels be banned? At every point, connect the new information (Ukraine) with what he knows.
