Recognizing Learning Disabilities in Middle School Students

For over a decade, dedicated school administrator Caitlin Franco has served as the executive director of Equality Charter School, which she founded in 2009. As a result of Caitlin Franco’s vision, Equality Charter School has implemented proactive strategies to support the achievement of their diverse group of students. Nearly one out of every four Equality scholars has a diagnosed disability.

While a learning disability may hinder a child’s ability to keep up with their peers academically, the child can meet or exceed expectations if provided with appropriate and individualized support. However, students may struggle for years before they are properly diagnosed. To ensure learners receive support as early as possible, teachers must be familiar with the symptoms and characteristics of common learning disorders. 

Educators who notice that a child frequently has difficulty following instructions and seems delayed in producing and responding to speech may speak with the child’s parents and a specialist to determine if a learning disability could be an underlying cause. Other signs that can indicate a possible learning disorder include systematic errors when reading and writing (for example, often confusing the letters b and d) and poor impulse control.