Back to Normal? Far From it….and That’s Okay!

Most students have returned to a traditional school setting. While many aspects of school may now feel “normal,” let’s remember to empathize with our children. Returning to classrooms after months of disrupted and virtual learning is anything but routine. Just this week, Montgomery County Public Schools published test results that prove “sobering but not surprising” with regard to the academic slide shown in standardized test scores. (https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-students-math-proficiency-literacy-plummet-after-year-of-virtual-classes/?fbclid=IwAR0Z6PrT-BLmsNfsYpcNjvWooG90Yux9kIuuRy4BQPeUM6YPsQ_q-h99pqM)

As a mom of three boys spanning the elementary to middle school years, I see firsthand the disconnect between the “pandemic learning slide” and grade-level expectations. The goal posts for expectations and grading haven’t moved, yet our children have not had the opportunity to access the curriculum as intended for more than a year.  This is frustrating for parents and students, but we can do something about it.

Prioritize and Celebrate Strengths

First, check in with your children’s mental and emotional health. If your children show signs of anxiety, stress or depression (https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/depression.html), it is time to hit the pause button. Look together at their weekly schedule. If there are too many after-school activities planned, let your children decide on which ones generate the most passion and put the others to the side for a little while. In terms of academic classes, if a child struggles with too many AP or honor classes, encourage him/her to speak to an academic counselor to decide on the best path forward. Continue with the classes in which they are most fully engaged and maybe change course for the ones that are not working at the moment. Allow children to feel good about their strengths while celebrating everything they are overcoming and accomplishing during an unprecedented time.

Focus on Process and Effort over Product and Grade

Students may work harder than ever to fill learning gaps from the past year and not reap the benefits when it comes to grades. As disheartening as this can be, remind children to focus on the effort and process. Most schools have an online grade portal available to parents, a helpful tool to use as a starting point for family discussions. Putting maximum effort into schoolwork is a life-long skill that students should embrace.  Considering the process to complete an assignment can lay the groundwork for success across grades and content matter. If the effort and process do not align with the final product and grade, it is important we encourage students to reach out to their teachers or engage in tutoring support.

We want our children and students to feel successful, happy and engaged. Let’s reflect on the past 18 months and the hardships we have all endured. Celebrate your child(ren), marvel at their accomplishments (both large and small) and show them we are their biggest cheerleader and their partners on this journey.

Regards,

Lori Solovey

Owner, LS Tutors