The duty of ensuring that kids are bound to greatness lies in parental choice and discretion
Education plays a vital role in building a child’s character and intellectual development. The systematic approaches implemented by academic institutions are essential in ensuring that kids are able to unlock the limitless dreams of their future.
While it stands that everyone has to undergo proper education, the fact remains that it is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor.
There are kids who learn easily just as there are students who find it difficult to find their proper footing inside a traditional classroom. Such is common in kids of all ages, and this challenge impedes their academic progress.
To negate these struggles, concerned parties, such as teachers and parents, have a shared obligation to implement learning reinforcements and provide moral support.
Here are some ways to help kids build a stable foundation in their lifelong pursuit of learning in school.
Foster a supportive learning environment at home
Learning transcends beyond the four walls of the classroom. In fact, this journey begins at home. Thus, preceding the role of teachers are parents who must be at the forefront of their kids’ learning progress.
They must foster a learning environment at home that encourages, appreciates, and empowers. It does not even have to be academic at all; even some praise offered for doing the dishes is an achievement that matters as much as getting a perfect score on an exam.
Interestingly, a 2010 research has it that constant encouragement of families drastically results in higher percentages of students who scored at or above proficiency on standardized Math achievement tests.
With the collaboration of these positive approaches, kids will then have a sense of safety—a sense of bravery even—to venture into any pursuit, academic or otherwise.
Practice open dialogue
Teachers and parents have a shared duty of monitoring a kid’s learning experience. More than being the safeguards that ensure optimal learning, they must also work together to provide concrete solutions against learning slumps.
Such is only attainable if teachers and parents will keep an open dialogue with each other and the child involved. Parents must check their kid’s performance with teachers through meetings or emails. Teachers, on the other hand, must also be able to transparently disclose a their student’s progress.
A 2013 research points out that “family involvement is positively linked to children’s outcomes in preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary grades.” More interestingly, children’s literacy and math skills are owed mainly from constant parental involvement in children’s academic life.
Constant communication allows teachers to gain insight from the kid’s personal life, especially if there are existing struggles that hinder effective learning. Just as much, parents will know the learning struggles they might overlook at home.
From there, both parties may come up with flexible arrangements and ideas on how to resolve the existing challenge as well as provide a toolkit against arising ones.
Implement the use of technology
Contrary to the common belief that technology does more harm than good, the digital landscape is actually a good starting point in introducing complex concepts to kids.
Given that the internet is a perpetual source of information, responsible and guided use will allow kids to have access to educational applications, multimedia tools, and interactive websites.
Through this, kids will develop a sense of autonomy on how to proceed, approach, and resolve problems. Ultimately, insights acquired from experiential digital tools at home may then be implemented in the traditional educational setting for a more conducive learning experience.
In fact, findings reveal that children exposed to technology and supporting activities tend to develop verbal, non-verbal, problem-solving, abstract, and conceptual skills faster than those who do not have access to computers.
Enroll in a supplemental learning program
Each kid learns differently; what works for some may not work for others, and this is why a tailored educational approach remains the most ideal choice.
For one, kids who struggle in numerical concepts need a specific learning program like the Seriously Addictive Mathematics (S.A.M) or Singapore Math that has several branches in the Philippines. Its structure is scaffolded to enable unique, concrete, and outcome-driven learning experiences for children aged four to 12 years old.
What makes it significantly different from other learning centers is its utilization of the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach in teaching Mathematics.
As explained by one of the S.A.M Singapore Math teachers, Sofia Tan, the CPA Approach introduces complex mathematical concepts with the help of “manipulatives.”
“Once the child has shown mastery in this stage, we gradually move to the use of visual representations (pictorial) so that they can see the relationship between the manipulatives and the drawings or diagrams on their books/worksheets,” she says.
“Then we transition to adding the signs of the operations and numbers. This is the abstract stage in which the visuals are now being replaced with numbers and symbols/signs. This step-by-step approach bridges the gap of the students’ whys and hows and it results in better retention.”
This meticulous teaching method matches learning materials to a kid’s readiness, interests, and learning profile. Aside from maximizing a kid’s engagement with the infusion of graphics, it also boosts comprehension and critical thinking so that no student will lag behind.
Sometimes, what’s keeping kids from unlocking their potential is the scarcity of support that parents give. And so, the duty of ensuring that kids are bound to greatness lies in parental choice and discretion.
Visit S.A.M Singapore Math’s website for inquiry and information, including the list of branches near you.
READ ALSO: “How I Helped My Student Reach His Potential” And Other Heartwarming Teacher Stories
Banner Art Dani Sison
