Outside the Box

I was in a meeting today about a student that missed a few years of school due to family issues.  He is now in the 7th grade and some of his skills are still at a 4th grade level.

In 18 months, this student will be a high school student.  How can he make up this ground?  What can be done for this student?  If he stays the current course, he will never be able to pass classes in high school.  The obvious result will be- he will drop out.

Unless...

We do something for him now.  Creatively.  Out of the box.  Specific to his needs.  Something to help him and his self-confidence.  Something other than throw a label on him to "slow" his learning down. Something that makes him feel a series of successes and momentum to keep him persevering through the "make-up" stages of his life during the next 18-months.

Do we have such a program?

No.

Will the High School do something creative if we just keep plugging away at the same pace that we have been?

No.

Am I willing to allow these things to happen to this student?

No way!

This student has no control over his past and can only partner in his destiny if there is a worth-while proposition for him.

These situations are heartbreaking to me.  But at the same time, this is the type of challenge that I was created for.  Challenge accepted.  I will not fail this student.  Some way, some how...we will think far enough out of the box to guide this student to success.

Be Mindful.

Peace.

Mark Levine

#Mindfulliteracy
@LevineWrites