As the virtual school-year begins to wind down for many students over the coming weeks, a number of looming questions remain among students and parents as they look towards the future of schooling and education. Will schools reopen for in-person instruction by Fall 2020? If so, how will schooling change and adapt? Will students remain on track for the coming school year? While many of these concerns still remain up in the air and subject to state government policies and decisions, there are steps your student can take to prepare for the unparalleled changes and challenges they have and will continue to face.
Students currently stand on a precipice of unprecedented knowledge and learning gaps. The well-known “summer slide” typically refers to students’ expected knowledge loss during the 2-3 month summer break period as a result of limited to no forms of educational instruction. Yet, with many students facing the additional 2-3 month loss of in-person instruction due to social distancing measures, the potential impact of this new “COVID-Slide” is predicted to have a considerably larger impact on students. The coming months will be crucial to maintaining learning gains and keeping students on par with expected knowledge outcomes.
While individual districts across the country consider a number of possible intervention steps, including extended school years, additional weekend instruction, and even year-long schooling plans, it is unclear what institutional changes your student will face by Fall 2020. Nonetheless, students can take active steps to tackle expected learning gaps head-on. Utilizing a number of free online learning resources and tools, your student can remain focused, driven, and engaged in educational materials that will help counter learning losses. Students should direct efforts towards known trouble topics and subjects, particularly those relating to materials missed or inadequately covered as a result of school closures and online learning deficits. For those finding it difficult to navigate what exact steps or measures to take in order to proactively combat learning loss, our tailored Novella Prep services can assist your student’s specific educational needs. Through our personalized intervention strategies and over 15 years of online learning experience, we can support your student in effectively navigating this uncertain time, addressing potential knowledge gaps before they emerge. Facing the forthcoming challenges of this unusual time together and confronting potential issues directly, your student can emerge prepared, engaged, and on track.