If you’re a teacher, then you know that students are one of the best parts of the job — and often, one of the toughest too. Every teacher knows how difficult it can be to run a class smoothly, but few know that vision problems can be a major contributor to many difficulties that students experience in the classroom.
Here, we’ve compiled a handy list of the telltale signs that a student needs glasses. Odds are you can “see” at least a few of these in your own students.
1. Poor concentration/disruptiveness in class.
Students who just can’t focus on tasks, or who seem to enjoy breaking classroom rules, often do so because they can’t see properly. Correcting the vision issue may go a long way toward reducing off-task or unwanted behavior.
2. Squinting or excessive blinking.
This is the sign that students will most likely display when they are experiencing vision problems. Many students have no issues using a laptop or personal electronic device, but will squint or narrow their eyes when looking at the smartboard up front. This usually happens as a result of nearsightedness - the inability to see faraway objects clearly. Since nearsightedness can grow worse over time, students with this issue should be evaluated for vision problems as soon as possible.
3. Low grades in high-ability students.
Some students seem to have a good handle on classroom material, yet struggle when it comes time to show their learning through quizzes, tests, or other assignments. If this is happening to one of your students, vision problems could be the culprit.
4. Headaches/head down on desk often.
When vision is blurry, the eyes have to work harder to focus, which can result in head pain. If this behavior is displayed after working on a computer or reading a book, it might be a result of astigmatism or farsightedness (difficulty seeing things close up). Either way, getting it checked out is always a good idea.
5. Using their phone to take pictures of the board.
Students who pull out their phone cameras to take photos of notes often do so because they are unable to see them from their desks — the zoom feature makes it easy to enlarge the text. (Some students may also use their phones for non-academic activities when they are unable to see the board.)
6. Lack of interest in sports.
Vision problems can affect bodily coordination, which makes some sports difficult. As a result, many students will avoid the activity altogether. If your once-active student is suddenly avoiding PE or team sports, it could be that glasses are needed.
Complaining about their vision. If your student says “I can’t see” or “That’s too hard to read,” take it seriously. Kids are honest - often to a fault!
Carey Optical appreciates teachers! As a thank you for your dedication to teaching, we’re proud to offer educators special discounts. Click HERE to see the latest discount for our educations.
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