The ENGAGE project (Project Number: 2024-1-IT02-KA220-SCH-000249540) has been co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
Mugur exhibits a lack of interaction with peers and teachers, coupled with minimal imagination and creativity in both play and classroom assignments. While he completes the required activities, his participation lacks enthusiasm or initiative. His demeanor is overly serious for his age, and he displays a limited capacity for self-expression and creative engagement.
Observations from the teaching staff indicate that Mugur struggles with communication and learning, with noticeable gaps in speech development, short-term memory, and imaginative thinking. He follows instructions but does not demonstrate active engagement or a desire to go beyond the minimum requirements.
Mugur lives in a low-income, single-parent household with four siblings. The family’s primary income comes from state assistance. His father is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence, leaving his mother to manage the household alone. Despite her efforts to provide for her children’s physical needs, she rarely engages in their education. Mugur also has speech impairment and physical limitations in two fingers due to an early childhood burn, contributing to his self-esteem issues and limited social and academic participation.
Behavioral Observations
Teacher document Mugur’s participation in classroom activities and interactions with peers.
Speech Assessments
Evaluations of his speech impairment and its impact on communication and learning.
Academic Records
Progress reports highlighting learning challenges, particularly in creativity and memory tasks.
Peers
Mugur is shy and struggles with self-expression.
Teachers
Teachers have noted his learning challenges, lack of creativity, and introverted nature. They recognize his potential but find his disengagement and serious demeanor concerning.
Declaration: “Mugur is a diligent student, but he lacks the joy and curiosity typical for his age. He completes tasks but rarely shows initiative or creativity.”
School leaders
School administrators acknowledge Mugur’s challenges but point to the need for tailored support, including speech therapy and creative development programs, to enhance his engagement.
Counselors
Counselors highlight the need to address Mugur’s self-esteem and social skills, emphasizing interventions that build confidence and encourage self-expression.
Parents
Mugur’s mother is attentive to his physical needs but minimally involved in his education, limiting her understanding of his academic and social challenges.
The educational team's assessment of Mugur's behavior clearly highlighted the student's disengagement: his communication and learning difficulties, particularly in terms of creativity and imagination, his lack of active engagement, his lack of interaction with peers and teachers. Educational advisors emphasize the need to strengthen his self-esteem and confidence, and teachers emphasize the need for personalized support, as the family environment is little involved in his education.
The study includes specific data on personal difficulties, his mother's lack of involvement due to family responsibilities, his lack of strong peer relationships, his lack of communication with teachers, his introversion, his short-term memory problems, and his lack of a sense of belonging to his environment. This behavior could mask deeper emotional problems.
The educational community has implemented support strategies, but the student does not understand the value of the support, is reluctant to communicate openly with teachers and educational counselors about his difficulties and the limited involvement of parents in his education hinders the implementation of collaborative support plans.
Mugur's speech disorders, shyness and introverted nature, short-term memory problems, and lack of creativity and imagination have an impact on his learning and cognitive performance.
It is now important to find support solutions to help Mugur gain self-confidence and overcome this disengagement from school, especially since the mother, a single mother with five children and living on social assistance, is unable to understand her child's academic difficulties.