Learning difficulties and disorders in a 2nd grade class of a city school in Santa Maria/RS

Abstract

he present research aimed to investigate the occurrence of learning difficulties and disorders in a class of 2nd grade elementary school students, as well as to investigate whether the referrals made by the school to see specialized professionals were fulfilled by the families of students with learning difficulties and disorders. The study carried out is qualitative and the research methodology used was action research. The research was carried out in a class of the 2nd year of an elementary city school in Santa Maria/RS. Parents or guardians of the students also participated in the study. They were invited to answer a questionnaire on issues related to the child's development. The result of the study showed that more than half of the class had learning difficulties and disorders, and that most of the families did not take their children to see the psychopedagogist to whom their children had been referred by the school. This occurred either because they were unaware of the importance of the help of a specialized professional, or because of family factors that, at the time, prevented them from paying more attention to the child. Therefore, it is important for teachers to be sensitive to the difficulties presented by students and to create an exchange relationship with families, enabling actions to be put into practice to offer students opportunities to overcome their learning difficulties.