Strengthen Skills This Holiday Season
School breaks are an exciting time for students. Whereas some students end on a high note, others barely survive the semester. The good news: holiday breaks offer low-stakes opportunities to strengthen weak areas and prepare for upcoming challenges.
Resources are important.
Handouts, books, and online learning tools help extend learning beyond classroom instruction. Using learning tools effectively boosts confidence and achievement. In addition to curriculum materials, consider these resources.
ABC’s of Healthy Study Habits suggests research-backed approaches to studying
Study Log Reflection Activity helps identify what works and track progress
Parent Support: 30 Ways to Support Your Child’s Education provides strategies for use at home
Cultivating Grit: An Approach to Increasing Confidence makes one aspect of social-emotional learning accessible to educators and parents
Out-of-school times are opportunities for reflection. What worked? What didn’t work? Which skills were mastered? Which skills require different approaches in order to achieve success? How can we set SMART goals to experience real gains?
Reading new resources, discussing new strategies, and establishing new routines are just three ways to begin better than before.
Relationships are important.
In order to make the most of holiday breaks, establish and maintain dialogue. Parents find success when they leverage the knowledge and experience of educators. Likewise, educators reap the benefits of sharing performance evaluations and expectations with parents. Academic success is a team sport.
Talking Points for Educators and Parents:
Next semester's big ideas: How will the curriculum unfold in coming months? What are key skills and background knowledge needed to be successful?
Current semester's challenges: What do progress reports tell us about gaps in knowledge and abilities? How are next semester's learning goals linked to current learning deficits?
Behaviors impacting learning: To a high degree of certainty, behavior effects learners' ability to receive and process information; it also influences assessment results. Take time to explore the how, why, and what that link academic performance and behavior.
Implement a data-driven plan: After gathering information about performance, discuss expectations with learners. Allow them to respond to concerns about academics and behavior; develop a deeper understanding of the challenges your child experiences.
Using classroom data to develop and implement a learning plan during school breaks may be a challenge. You’re in the right place. Access to a highly qualified education professional for consulting services, parental engagement coaching, and private tutoring is only a click away. Click the green text to learn more and schedule.
Let us help identify solutions that enhance learning this holiday season.