(336) 792-7000
(336) 792-7000
[email protected]The COVID-19 pandemic has truly changed every single single aspect of our lives, from the way we interact with others, to the way we work and beyond. This is no different in the education sector; COVID-19 has dramatically altered the way school-aged children have been learning. And, as most recent reports are telling us, these changes haven’t been for the better. The vast majority of students all across the globe have suffered severe “learning loss,” especially in math.
Fortunately, there are several ways that you can help combat this learning loss and get your child back on track. Read on for a few easy ways to do so.
If you haven’t read the shocking reports yourself, you might be wondering just how severe this learning loss really is. Well, to answer this question in short: it’s pretty severe.
Renaissance Learning, a global leader in research, assessment, and learning analytics, recently conducted a study to discover the impacts of COVID-19 on education in America, specifically in the subjects math and reading. The study included over 1 million students from all 50 states, along with students in Washington D.C. Here are some of the most prominent findings of the study:
In math specifically, the findings revealed that students in all grades across the country were, on average, 12 weeks behind their expectations.
Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) - a system that many schools use to identity and assist struggling students - showed that a greater percentage of kids fell in the higher risk category in 2020 than in 2019
The Student Growth Percentile - a tool used to compare a student’s growth from one period to another with other students nationwide - revealed a -15 difference in the subject of math from 2019-2020. This means that rather than progressing in math, students regressed substantially in 2020.
Although learning loss has evidently become the norm across the country, does the same apply for North Carolina individually? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes.
Not long ago, on March 2nd, Fox News released a report that said the majority of high schoolers in North Carolina failed their Math 1, Math 3, and Biology exams. The report also confirmed that the majority of students all across North Carolina have experienced significant learning loss since the fall of 2019.
Regardless of the individual circumstances, it’s safe to say that all students were negatively impacted, in some shape or form, by COVID-19, and consequently prone to learning loss. Adapting to virtual learning was not easy, and upcoming challenges, like getting used to learning with masks and Plexiglass between desks, are still ahead. However, here are 4 easy ways you can help to prevent and reverse learning loss for your children.
One of the best ways to help your child solidify what they’ve learned is by having them teach it to someone else. So, a super easy way to prevent learning loss and strengthen their understanding of a subject is by simply asking them to teach you what they’ve learned at the end of every day. Doing so is quick, easy, effective, and will make dinner a little more interesting. Be sure to ask a few follow up questions, too!
Reading is a fundamental skill in every area of life. After all, you’ve heard the saying by Harry S. Truman before that “All Leaders are Readers.”
While your children are spending increased amounts of time at home, encourage them to read more books that challenge them, and monitor the books they choose so you can be sure to push them accordingly. It’s important for children to choose books that stretch them, as this strengthens their vocabulary, spelling, and verbal fluency, while also individually combating any reading learning loss. Depending on the book itself, they can also develop additional skills, like life skills, reasoning, financial literacy, and more. There are tons of interesting books out there; reverse learning loss by encouraging your children to read them!
One of the best ways to make learning fun for any student is to transform it into a game! Fortunately, there’s tons of educational games available today, from board games and online games to entire gaming systems. We previously wrote a blog about Educational Gift Ideas for Children 3+.
Ultimately, your goal is to get your child to balance out their regular gameplay with the educational gameplay. This won’t be difficult once they see how exciting educational games can be!
For most parents out there, getting your child back on track may seem like a daunting task, especially for those who are already short on time. That’s where a little professional help can make all the difference. Regardless of what subject or subjects your child has fallen behind in, the most effective way to reverse learning loss is with real-time, face-to-face, personalized tutoring that will identify your child’s needs and individually work with them to eradicate those weaknesses. That’s exactly what we offer here at Mathnasium.
Mathnasium’s individualized learning plans are proven to help students not just understand math, but excel in it. Our specially trained instructors know how to pinpoint your child’s needs and develop an individualized plan, based on our Mathnasium Method, to get them where they need to be. We don’t employ a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum, but a personalized plan that quickly brings about results, and even makes learning math fun!
Don’t wait any longer to get your child the support they need to truly thrive in math. Give us a call today at (336) 792-7000 to schedule your free trial!
