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                                                     Why should parents be involved in their child’s education?

*Children typically are more engaged in learning at school and at home.

*Children are typically better behaved in school and put forth more effort to learn even difficult concepts.

* Children typically have better social skills. 

*Children typically graduate from high school and some go on for more education. 

* Children typically develop more self-confidence.

* Children typically do not require frequent redirection in the classroom.

* Children typically are less likely to develop behavior problems.

                                                HOW HAS COVID 19 IMPACTED EDUCATION?

What is the Covid Slide? Will the Covid Slide go away when children are back at school?

Covid Slide may be a new term to parents but it is just one more very important reason for parents to be involved in their child’s education. Most parents are familiar with the concept of the Summer Slide. This slide is the phenomenon of kids losing significant knowledge, typically in reading and math, over their summer break. A 2020 NWEA study provided us with important information about children in grades 3 -5. About 20% of the year’s gains in reading and 27% of their gains in math were lost during the summer. The results were  similar in other studies for students in all other grades. These statistics will be compounded when considering the Covid Slide because many students did not have classes in all subjects during the pandemic. Some children had no schooling at all, and others had very little. The range is wide! Now is the time to connect with your child’s education. As you think about your child’s education, it will be important for you to also consider the Covid Slide! Helping children make up their loss of learning due to Covid will require a long-term commitment from everyone!

 

HELP YOUR CHILD OVERCOME THE COVID SLIDE!

 We are coming out of a challenging pandemic. However, parents, teachers, and students are facing a substantial educational question. “How will we make up for the lost learning that occurred during the pandemic?” 

Where does your child fall on the Covid Slide continuum? The way to determine your child’s academic functioning level is by assessing your child in each subject. Teachers are trained to conduct these assessments. Your child’s assessments will provide you and your child’s teachers with a baseline. This is where instruction can begin.  After your child has been assessed, then appropriately leveled instructional materials can be selected for your child. Children are often given materials which they can use at home to reinforce concepts they are being taught in school. This type of cooperative procedure, between school and home, helps children master concepts more quickly. 

Now, more than ever, you are needed to help your child grow academically. Parental action is also important to prevent future learning difficulties due to any learning gaps created during the pandemic. Everyone who interacts with children can help them through this crucial period. 

 
 

 What should parents do?

 Thinking of gaps in your child’s education in this way can help you understand the dire need for more parental help with your child’s education. Many educators predict that the Covid Slide may take many years of concentrated support to correct.  The important message is that all adults need to work together to help children thoroughly regain and master academic concepts which they have lost and then move them forward. 

Schools are planning different ways to address the Covid Slide in a variety of ways. Check with your school to stay informed about their corrective action plans. This is the time to unite with others to help children overcome the Covid Slide. It is never too late to begin!

 How are schools changing their curriculums or schedules to meet this challenge?

Schools are planning to address this crisis in several main ways. 

*Some schools are having students repeat an entire year to put them on an ‘equal footing’. 

*Another approach is to reduce and synthesize the curriculum. This approach will enable students to focus on a few subjects and learn them well. However, it will eliminate some of the important core content concepts. Parents can help by teaching an eliminated subjects at home. 

*Other suggestions include catch-up and remedial forms of education or using an abridged syllabus for the next two years.   Students would only study key subjects such as math and reading. Again, you can help by ‘filling in the educational gaps’ with a home study plan for your child.

* And other schools are considering summer school and after-school academic classes to ‘catch-up’ students. 

These are just a few of the many ideas brought forth to help children ‘catch-up’. Parents are currently working with their school districts to decide which remedial education program will work best in their communities. Get involved and stay involved with your child’s teachers.

What can you do to help your child’s school district to meet this challenge? 

*Take action – find out how your child’s school is addressing this crisis. 

*Join with others, share your ideas to help provide children with the best learning opportunities. 

*Prepare your home and children for more rigorous home studies to help them master the concepts they will be learning or missing in the curriculum. 

All parents are needed to help their children master educational concepts and successfully move ahead academically. 

So, Ed Connections’ message is: Get started now! It is never too late to begin!  Remember that we are all at different places on our life’s continuum, so start wherever you are! Try not to over compare yourself or your child to others. No matter where you and your child begin, just remember that getting started and following through is the crucial first step! Then prepare …to not give up but to… ‘keep your eye on the prize”! The prize: Your Child’s Education and Opportunities in Life!