Case Study #2: Kayla
Introduction to the problem and theories
The case study that is presented illustrates some of the characteristics of a student who displays Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and has severe learning disabilities. Kayla is a seven-year-old student who has low self-concept, low-self esteem, and low academic achievement.
Background information
Kayla is a seven-year-old student at P.S. 107x elementary school in Soundview, the Bronx. Kayla identifies herself with the Hispanic community both parents are from Puerto Rican decent. She speaks both Spanish and English but seems to be more comfortable speaking English with her peers and parents. Her mother told me that English is the language that is mainly spoken at home since …show more content…
107x since pre-kindergarten Kayla has struggled academically and emotionally. I had the opportunity to look at her binder from past years and it is evident that Kayla has a difficult time writing numbers and letters and putting words together. It seems like Kayla has not fully developed fine motor skills such as holding a pencil the proper way. It is stated that, “By the age of 7, children begin to form letters of uniform height and space and to use lowercase letters.” (Meece and Daniels) An aspect of writing that Kayla struggles with each day. If she writes a sentence she puts random letters together sometimes the letters are just lines going in different directions. In her drawings from kindergarten she drew people with sad faces and dark places. It was appalling to see this. Compare to her classmates she seems to draw on the dark side. I asked her if she could explain to me what her drawings meant to her. She said that sometimes she does not want to live because her classmates and her family do not love her. A part of me felt frustrated and angry. By observing the class I saw that her Classmates treated her differently. When I asked one of the girls in the class Arleen why she treats her differently she responded, “No one likes her because she bothers, does not know how to behave and she is crazy.” Kayla is aware of how her peers feel and asked her mother to give her more medication to control herself. She told me that it was hard for her to …show more content…
-During individual or group instruction she is constantly interrupting and disrupting the class.
-During math test she does not read the questions and makes random guess.
-Demonstrates enthusiasm when interacting with Ms. J teacher assistant.
-Does not complete homework assignments or classwork most of her work from a scale 1 to 4 is either a 1 or 2.
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development:
During my observation I reflected on Piaget’s theory of development. Kayla is now at the Concrete Operational Stage 5 to 7 through 11 to 12 years. During this stage “Children develop logical operations for seriation, classification, and conversation. Thinking tied to real events and objects.” (Meece and Daniels) Does Kayla posses the qualities a child her age should have? Kayla for the most part is aware of her surroundings and can make connections. Cognitively she is at the level of a younger child. She has not developed a full capacity to understand the concept of number and letters.
Goals and Support Plan/Intervention
-Improve literacy skills
-Improve focus
-Build on sight vocabulary
-Pair with positive role model
-Focus on