After Conducting 100+ Assessments for Children Across the World, I Realised This

December 2025 was intense for me as an educator.I conducted 100+ student assessments, meeting children from different countries, studying in different education boards and coming from different family and learning backgrounds.

International schools. National boards. Home schoolers...all category of children

And yet, after assessment after assessment, I found myself writing the same notes again and again.

That is when it hit me.

The problems were the same. Everywhere.Not because children are struggling.But because clarity is missing.What I Kept Seeing, No Matter the Country or Board

1. Children know sounds but cannot use them independently 

Most children can say sounds correctly, but struggle to efficiently blend longer or more complex words.

2. Guessing has quietly replaced decoding 

Across boards and countries, children tend to guess words due to a lack of decoding skills. Guessing may work for a short time, but it is not reliable.

3. Children are curious about spellings but unaware of exceptions 

One question kept repeating: "Why is this word written like this?"

They are actively searching for patterns and rules, but do not know about spelling exceptions.

4. They have ideas but lack confidence to express them 

Children have thoughts, imagination, and opinions. What they lack is guidance on how to organise those ideas into clear sentences and paragraphs with correct spellings.

5. Limited vocabulary affects expression 

Regardless of background, children struggle to find the right words. This impacts reading comprehension, writing, and confident speaking as well.

6. Fear of making mistakes is universal 

Many children hesitate because they constantly think,"What if I am wrong?"

7. Reading lacks fluency due to limited practice 

Even children who can read often read slowly and without confidence because decoding skills were never strengthened through consistent practice.

8. Spelling mistakes follow patterns 

Spelling errors are not random. They follow patterns because spelling rules and alternatives were never clearly explained.For example: writing "beech" instead of "beach".

Everything changes when children understand why 

Across all assessments, one thing was clear: The moment a child understands the reason behind a sound, rule, or pattern, their confidence visibly improves.

What This Taught Me as an Educator

Different countries.Different boards.Different backgrounds.

But the same learning gaps.

These children are not lazy.They are not weak in English.They are not “behind”.

They simply need learning that makes sense.

This is exactly what we need to focus on, bringing clarity into reading, writing and spelling so children stop guessing and start understanding.Because when learning becomes logical, children feel safe.And when children feel safe, they grow.

Clarity builds confidence.And confident children learn everywhere, no matter where they are.

By Sangeetha Ramasamy -Founder,

Klariti Learning Innovations Pvt Ltd,