Best Practices For At-Risk Children: A Research Critique
Best Practices for At-risk Children: A Research Critique
Best practices for at-risk children is a literature review to provide informational background on defining the reasons why children become at-risk for academic failure and to provide statistical information on this subject. The writer Ana McDonald first explains the reasoning as to why it is essential to review literature about this topic. She states that it is important to study practices for at-risk children because some published reports are found to be flawed by poor design and she adds that the consensus seems to be emerging regarding best practices for at-risk children. McDonald argues that poor academic performance is a clear indication of “at-riskness”.
This research critique will discuss some background history of at-risk children and some overall practices that could ultimately lead to the success for these students.
The treatment in this process lends information about behavioral expectations. It speaks about children being disengaged from the school culture and community. “If part of the at-risk students’ problems stems from an inability to maintain appropriate social connections, then programs which improve social skills, such as service-learning. This article is comprehensive in that it states the problem, methods for strategies, and uses updated references to back up critical issues and points presented. One important feature that was given within the article talked about alternative education involving the choice of staff. McDonald (2002) argues that although high risk youth are among the most difficult students to teach, site based management; teacher autonomy and control, particularly in regard to curriculum; and continuing professional development in areas specifically related to this special population and settings are also key to successful programs.