Author: The Dropkick Math Team

Balancing Screen Time During The Pandemic

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date February 24, 2022
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Balancing Screen Time During The Pandemic

The COVID pandemic has changed the way students live, learn, and visit with their friends. They have logged online to attend school, played online games, and visited with grandparents over video chat. This is the first generation of children to be so reliant on screen time and for students to show a gap in learning due to a pandemic. Dropkick Math understands the strategies that children need to overcome any educational gaps they may have missed during the time they were involved in online learning. Our programs offer math help services that can provide you with the tools to support your child in math moving forward.

An Increase In Screen Time

Unsurprisingly, children worldwide were reported to have increased screen time during the pandemic. But these stay-at-home orders that prompted children to turn to the screens have had many educators and parents debating how much screen time is appropriate for children. These COVID-19 safety measures shifted the ideals around children and screen time so much that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) even updated its guidance on-screen use. They now suggest, “Screen usage has likely increased for children, but parents should ensure media use is positive and helps the family and community.”

How Can We Balance Screen Time Effectively?

Although screen time is being used for education and socializing, it can come with consequences. But why is balancing time on screen important?

It is more important than ever to put schedules and structure into daily life for children to ensure a healthy balanced lifestyle. If no measures are taken, screen time, video games, and social media can really creep in and take over.

Through the pandemic, many parents and educators have been reporting that the more screen time young people have, toddlers in particular, the more behaviour problems they may exhibit and the more learning problems they experience in their development. Children need to interact with the real world before venturing into the virtual world.

But these cautions are not limited to very young children. Parents of children of all ages need to be mindful of the impact that increased screen time may have. This increased screen time has been found to affect:

Sleep – Essential for mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Physical Activity – Exercise and movement can help young bodies develop and prevent obesity.

Socializing – Interacting with others can promote communication and help to build empathy.

Family Time – Connecting with family members can help to establish bonds, trust, and openness.

Diet and Nutrition – Whole, healthy foods can provide essential vitamins and nutrients that are essential for good health.

Personal Responsibilities – School assignments and housework can foster discipline, helping to form structure and responsibilities.

How many hours of screen time is healthy? While there is no definitive answer to this question, it is vital to keep a healthy balance. Screen time can affect everyone differently, so parents should be on the lookout for behavioural signs in their children are over engaging with screens. Kids that have severe tantrums need to turn off their games. Teens who stay up late at night, stop socializing, or spend time with family also need to cut screen time. Some children have stopped grooming and failed to meet their responsibilities at school, which could eventually cause school failures.

How Do You Balance Screen Time And Offline Time?

Talking with your children about their screen time can help keep parents engaged and knowledgeable about their child’s online activities. Parents should also encourage their children to share online experiences and discuss them. Starting a conversation can help normalize similar discussions about content as they get older. Simply talking to kids about their media can be incredibly powerful.

How Parents Can Manage Screen Time

As the pandemic has required children to use their computers and phones more often, it can be tricky for parents to try and limit their screen time. Therefore, balancing screen time may mean changing the way kids use electronic devices. Instead of simply playing games, use the opportunity for your child to play an educational game that can help them understand key skills focused on a specific subject. These games can also teach adults about their child’s cognitive learning development. If you notice your child likes playing games focused on mathematical equations and scores, that child may enjoy working more on complex math problems. At Dropkick Math, we use math intervention programs disguised as fun and engaging games to help foster your child’s confidence in mathematics.

Children can also use their screen time to watch interactive videos about topics that interest them, such as animals. This can help introduce them to different educational concepts. Older children may find content that can help build their skills more tactilely. For example, they can learn a new skill such as cooking or sewing.

The key is to monitor and moderate screen time. There are a few steps that can be taken to help children achieve a healthy balance of screen usage, including:

Creating a daily schedule with breaks to relax and unplug for mobile devices
Communicating with teachers to recommend online and offline educational activities for children
Making use of social media and video chats to help children avoid isolation
Being selective about content to help ensure your child is only looking at trusted sources for positive informational and useful content
Using media together with your child so you can monitor what they’re viewing and what they are learning

The primary key to remember when balancing your child’s screen time is to provide them with a break from screens. By stepping away from laptops or iPads, children can participate in a variety of other activities.

More To Education

At Dropkick Math we understand there is more to your child’s education than simply staring at the screen. We are not an online math tutor; we are much more. We help children understand their identified mathematical stumbling blocks through fun and engaging game-based learning. By approaching math in a fun and engaging way, we can provide you and your child with the tools to move forward in math. Contact us today for more information about our programs.

How A Positive Attitude Towards Mathematics Can Improve Skills

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date February 21, 2022
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How A Positive Attitude Towards Mathematics Can Improve Skills

For the first time, scientists have identified a pathway in the brain that links a positive attitude towards math and achievement in the subject. The study of elementary school students performed by the Stanford University School of Medicine found that having a positive attitude about math was connected to better function of the hippocampus. This part of the brain is an important memory center during the performance of arithmetic problems.

Children’s higher math scores have long been observed in those who show more interest in math and perceive themselves as being better at it. And this study shows that even once IQ and other confounding factors are accounted for, a positive attitude towards math can still predict stronger students’ performance.

Researchers had previously hypothesized that the brain’s reward centers might drive the link between achievement and attitude. The belief was that children with better attitudes were better at math because they found it more motivating or rewarding. But, this new study helps to show precisely how a positive attitude can open the door for children to do well.

From brain imaging results, researchers found that when a child was solving a math problem, their positive attitude scores correlated with activation in the hippocampus. The brain’s activity in the reward center, including the amygdala and the ventral striatum, was not linked to a positive attitude towards math. The brain imaging results suggest that the hippocampus mediates the link between positive attitude and the retrieval effects from memory, which is associated with better problem-solving skills. In short, having a positive attitude can act directly on your memory and learning system.

Foster A Positive Attitude

Fostering a positive attitude towards math can prepare children for academic success from a very young age. Every child can succeed in math with good practice, teaching, encouragement, and motivation.

Parents are children’s first teachers, and their attitude and behaviour towards math can influence their child’s perspective. Parents need to motivate and encourage a positive attitude towards math outside of school starting at a very young age.

Children need to realize that math is connected to everyday life. Parents can help children by including them in daily activities that require math, such as cooking, keeping track of time, finding symmetry in nature, in comparing prices at the grocery store.

In fostering a positive attitude, it is also essential to teach a child that it is OK to be confused by a problem and all part of learning. Practicing is the first step to building problem-solving resilience in students. Try to encourage your child to experiment with different approaches when solving problems. There is often more than one way to solve a math problem, and teaching them different strategies can help them tackle different types of issues.

Make Learning Fun

At Dropkick Math, we believe that learning should be fun. Repeated math practice can often become tedious and tiring, so give children assignments in chunks and keep them short. Try different ways of practicing, such as digital games, board games, worksheets, and even physically active games. Our programs offer a fun and interactive way of learning the four pillars of math.

Try to make time for games that can enhance mathematical skills such as algebraic reasoning, number sense, proportional reasoning, and operational sense.

Praise and Rewards

Giving children constructive and honest feedback should be paired with praise and reward for putting in all the effort despite their results. Let the child know how proud you are of them for working hard and show them that you believe in them. Always start with simple problems and move slowly to the more complicated ones while encouraging them to retry challenging problems they failed to solve. This way, their confidence in math increases and any math anxiety may disappear.

Fostering a positive attitude towards math means making every mathematical experience positive. Whether it is homework, practice, or a test, it means supporting and encouraging children, so they stay motivated and feel confident about their mathematical skills. For more information on our programs, contact us today.

How Virtual Learning Has Affected Your Child’s Education

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date February 18, 2022
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How Virtual Learning Has Affected Your Child’s Education

As COVID-19 rapidly spread across the country, schools shut their doors and classes were moved online in order to slow the spread. The transition to online learning has been hard for teachers who need to change their courses and for students who are left to adapt to the new learning environment. The biggest group of students affected by virtual learning has been elementary grades, with educators and parents noticing a lack in education in this younger demographic.

While online courses do offer a chance for students to miss fewer classes during the pandemic, the learning disadvantages outweigh the positives.

The Challenges Of Online Learning

Online learning for many children can be extremely difficult. Students must be organized, self-motivated, and have a high level of time management to do well in an online program. These online learning methods can be an effective alternative educational medium for mature and self-disciplined pupils, but this type of learning environment is unsuitable for younger children.

The challenges of online learning have impacted children to a great extent. They have shown loss of motivation, self-discipline, and many have lost the will to study. In many homes in Ontario, students are left struggling when trying to understand concepts taught, and as online learning causes social isolation, pupils have not developed the necessary communication skills.

A Great Loss For Students

Let’s face it, nothing beats being in a classroom. The pandemic has resulted in a significant learning loss for students, both academically and from a social-emotional standpoint. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested that virtual learning “might present more risks than in-person instruction related to child and parental health and emotional health and some health-supporting behaviors.”

More than 97% of educators have reported seeing some learning loss in their students over the past year when compared with children in previous years. 57% estimated their students are behind by more than three months in their social-emotional progress, and 1/3 of them expect more students to need individual education plans (IEPs).

Lack Of Motivation

Being at home is a different pace for kids. Motivation to complete assignments and stay engaged in the class can be extremely challenging. Helping students with time management and creating structure can be helpful, but because the in-class accountability is missing, assignment deadlines often get overlooked.

With virtual learning, students are also lacking group success. Unless there is a collaboration tool in place for small groups to interact together, students can feel frustrated as they are not receiving the same valuable social knowledge as their in-person peers. Lack of interaction has been found to hinder children’s development and cause social withdrawal.

Hard On Teachers

Virtual learning hasn’t been easy on teachers either, as it was overwhelming if they were not adequately trained with new technology. Teachers were expected to become experts in IT, develop and implement virtual friendly assignments, and keep up with their usual workload. Many teachers were left with questions and no support throughout the pandemic, and it proved to be very frustrating for all parties involved.

Make Up For Lost Learning

Educators have hinted at several ways students can make up for lost time once the pandemic ends. Some recommend including 50 hours of targeted instruction over two weeks or high-intensity tutoring equaling 50 minutes of daily tutoring for a year. However, both of these could come at a steep financial cost.

At Dropkick Math we understand the gap in learning that has resulted from virtual learning. Our programs are aimed at students who may be struggling with mathematical concepts or those who need more personalized learning tools. Our programs focus on the four pillars of math and use child-centered, research based techniques and strategies.

We believe in building the parent or caregiver’s capacity of mathematics to adequately support a child’s journey in math. Through building relationships, we help build a child’s confidence and help to fill in any learning gaps they may have from virtual learning.

What Do The Studies Show?

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date February 15, 2022
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What Do The Studies Show?

After two years of disruptions, it is safe to say that the pandemic has impacted children’s education. With an estimated 90% of all children worldwide who have had their education disrupted, change is needed. Students cannot continue to be pulled in and out of school and be expected to learn the same way in front of a screen as if they were in a classroom.

As of May 2021, schools in 26 countries were closed country-wide, and in 55 countries, schools were only partially open. Even though many are starting to open again slowly, evidence suggests that students will continue to feel the consequences of lost learning during the pandemic.

The Gaps In Learning

With millions of children deprived of regular education during the pandemic, it is vital to get help for those who may have any gaps in learning. At Dropkick Math, we offer programs to help students build their confidence by developing their understanding of the fundamentals of mathematics.

According to recent research, math learning seems to have taken a bigger hit during the pandemic compared to other subjects. Due to this lack of proper education, student’s growth rate in math is expected to slow during the next few years. So, getting them the help they need now could help them get caught up quicker than expected.

What The Research Shows

Although it is still early days and the pandemic is not over yet, some studies are starting to be released on the effects of missed education on children. Research shows that the impact of the pandemic on K-12 student learning was significant, leaving students on average five months behind in mathematics and four months behind in reading by the end of the school year.

Here in Ontario, initial findings show that impacts of the pandemic are concentrated in math. Reading achievement in the fall of 2020 was consistent with the prior year, but average math achievement was 5 to 10 percentile points lower than the previous fall. It was also noted that, on average, students made gains during the early phase of the pandemic; however, math gains were smaller than pre-pandemic trends.

Studies are also beginning to show that high schoolers have become more likely to drop out of school, and high school seniors are less likely to go on to postsecondary education. But the crisis didn’t just impact academics. It also took a toll on students’ broader health and well-being, with more than 35 percent of parents being extremely concerned about their mental health.

Unfinished Learning

As more research becomes available and the true cost of the pandemic is shown, many educators are using the term “unfinished learning” to capture the reality that students were not given the opportunity to complete all the typical learning they would have typically completed.

As policymakers and education leaders work together toward recovery, Dropkick Math is here to fill in any gaps in learning that may arise. As one of the leading math tutoring services in Ontario, our trained instructors can provide support in key math skills through fun and interactive programs.

We start by assessing the student with our free early indicators check-in. From there, we can help place your child in the program best suited for their needs to start building their math confidence and develop their skills for the future.

Get started today by learning more about our programs.

How Important Is It To Be Involved In Your Child’s Learning

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date February 13, 2022
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How Important Is It To Be Involved In Your Child’s Learning

Even parents who were top of the math class when they were in school may find themselves perplexed by modern math curricula. But, in this time of disrupted traditional instructions, parents and teachers need to work together to support their children’s math learning. This is why at Dropkick Math, we believe that parent involvement is vital to the success of a child’s math education. By being actively involved and setting high expectations for your child, you can help guide them towards having high values of doing well in school.

Get Involved

One of the main problems is that most parents simply don’t know how to play a more significant role in their children’s math education. This situation can be complicated because many parents struggle with math themselves. This can make it more difficult for them to help their children and often inadvertently pass on their math anxiety.

What students discover, observe, and learn outside the classroom can benefit them greatly. In real life, they can get practical education applicable to real-life situations, and in school, the instruction focuses on theoretical and the abstract. Parents can help to merge these two realms.

An easy way of interacting with your child and teaching them that math is used in everyday life is to talk aloud as you work through daily tasks. Thinking aloud and asking questions can allow your child to hear how you think which will help them develop the essential skills needed for solving problems. For example, if you were eating cookies, count how many you have, ask what happens when you break them apart and talk about their shape.

When trying to stay involved with your child’s learning, there are some steps that parents can take:

staying in touch with the child’s teacher
encouraging a child to talk through their math assignments
embracing informal math thinking, such as playing games that focus on patterns or counting

A Stressful Time

Educators say to remember that we are in a uniquely stressful time for parents, children, and educators. Many families are still struggling to make remote classes work which means many children have a varying level of support.

Both parents and teachers should be encouraged to talk with one another, not just about the subjects that may need work, but about the student’s skills. Parents should also take time to speak to their children about math. If parents don’t understand the math themselves, they can ask their child to explain it to them, adding to a child’s self-confidence.

Parent Engagement

By learning math with your child, you can become a role model for them. The Ministry of Education recently released information on “Parent Engagement,” which said, “Parent engagement matters. Study after study has shown us that student achievement improves when parents play an active role in their children’s education, and that good schools become even better schools when parents are involved…”

Practice Perseverance

If you are a parent that is struggling to be engaged in your child’s learning, it is worth the perseverance. Getting parents involved can be productive for everyone involved, and an educationally attentive home setting has been proven to impact student achievement positively.

Learn how our programs at Dropkick Math can help you learn alongside your child. Our programs focus on the four pillars of math and allow the parent and child to work together in a fun and interactive learning environment.

How To Easily Apply Mathematics In Everyday Life

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date February 10, 2022
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How To Easily Apply Mathematics In Everyday Life

If you take a quick look around your home or out on the street, you will quickly come to realize that numbers are everywhere! From the numbers and minutes displayed on a clock to the sequences of numbers on the license plate, there are various opportunities for children to apply their mathematical skills in everyday situations, whatever their age.

Making real-life connections to numbers can help children with their counting, estimating, adding and subtracting skills. Many don’t even realize they’re using math as they count the number of seconds before they hunt for a friend in a game of hide and seek or play hopscotch on numbered squares in the school ground.

There are many opportunities to demonstrate to children how the need to use mathematical skills is all around us. In the supermarket, while cooking dinner, or on the walk to school all offer many chances to speak about math. And with a bit of nudging, it’s also a chance for children to show you what they already know and how they can work problems out by themselves. This can help build the child’s confidence based on what they’ve previously learned.

In The Supermarket

Taking your child to the supermarket can provide a wealth of opportunities to use their mathematical knowledge. Start by looking at price labels, special offers, and ask them to help calculate a discount on reduced items. Show them how to use multiplication to determine the best value when looking at multibuy offers. Involve younger children by using scales and weighing some of their favourite fruits or vegetables. Also, try to use cash to familiarize your child with handling money and calculating change at the checkout. This is a great way for children to start to understand money and budgets, and it can be fun for them to try estimating the value of the final shopping basket at the checkout.

Algebraic reasoning can also be practiced in the supermarket. Although it may seem like a foreign concept to many children, believe it or not, we do use it regularly. For example, you will need to use an algebraic equation to figure out how many hamburgers you would need for a party if you wanted two hamburgers for every adult, one hamburger for every child, and an extra three just in case.

Cooking At Home

Try cooking with your child at home using simple recipes that utilize several mathematical skills. Choose a recipe such as muffins that produces a larger amount than the number of people in your family. Have children rewrite the recipe by halving amounts or doubling them. Children can also learn to weigh out ingredients to the appropriate amounts and learn how to read varying increments on a weighing scale.

On A Field Trip

No matter if a child is going on a daily walk around the house or a long car journey, they can begin to understand the use of numbers in the world around them and start to develop mental dexterity. For example, ask them to keep count of silver cars and red cars simultaneously, or use a pedometer to record steps on their regular walk to school. Younger children could be asked such questions as “how many shoes are on the shoe rack?” This can help to encourage children to use unique and complex skills such as counting in twos.

While out on a walk, children can also be encouraged to find patterns in nature. Depending on their age, the more complicated the pattern they may be able to find. This can help them develop their skills in geometry.

Number Sense

To understand math deeply, the brain needs to form connections. So seeing it in real life can help children form these connections between abstract math concepts and real everyday life. When math becomes more relevant for students, they become more interested, engaged and willing to participate. By incorporating mathematics in everyday life, you could help to develop your child’s number sense.

The Ontario mathematics curriculum for grades 1 to 8 states that “In integrated learning, students are provided with opportunities to work towards meeting expectations from two or more subjects within a single unit, lesson or activity. By linking expectations from different subject areas, teachers can provide students with multiple opportunities to reinforce and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a range of settings. Also, the mathematical process that focuses on connecting encourages students to make connections between mathematics and other subject areas.”

This helps explain why the curriculum focuses less on memorizing facts and equations and focuses more on critical thinking and problem solving about mathematical concepts. Parents can help extend this learning at home by making the connections between a child’s activities and the math concepts.

Career Choices

Some children are focused on the fact that their favourite career doesn’t have anything to do with math. Therefore, they are not motivated or engaged in learning mathematics. So, it is a great idea for these children to get them looking into the courses they will need to take to earn their degree/diploma in that field. Researching the career more to figure out what is actually required in that position often shows students how math can help them get into the career they choose. Once they see the math behind the career, they may be more motivated to excel to go into this profession in the future.

At Dropkick Math, we understand children need to encounter math in everyday life to help develop their fundamentals in the four pillars of math. Our programs focus on algebraic reasons, operational sense, number sense, and proportional reasoning. With a fun and engaging learning environment, your child can build on their math skills and gain the confidence they need to excel in mathematics. Learn more about our programs today!

Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of Making Mistakes

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date February 5, 2022
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Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of Making Mistakes

Believe it or not, making mistakes in math is actually a good thing. Mistakes can not only be learning opportunities, but as students consider their mistakes, it can also be a time when their brains grow. So, the proper math learning techniques can be the key to a child’s confidence to make mistakes and learn from them.

Normalize Mistakes

It is important to normalize mistakes and help children understand that it’s OK to make them, especially when they are learning something new. An excellent phrase to remind students of is, “I’m not going to be good at this right away, I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s OK.”

The way parents and teachers react to a child’s mistake can make all the difference in whether they continue to put in the effort or if they give up. So, it is vital to encourage your child to exercise their brain by trying those challenging activities and encouraging them even when they make a mistake. It is important to remember that it is the learning that happens after a mistake that moves the child forward in their understanding.

Mindset

Often, children develop a fixed mindset when it comes to learning math. They believe they either have “it,” or they don’t. They believe that understanding math is an innate gift rather than problem-solving skills that can be developed over time.

It is crucial to let your children know that making mistakes is normal whenever they’re learning something new, no matter how old they are. Let your child know that you are still learning and making mistakes even as an adult. Explain to them that if they got everything right on the first try, they would not truly be learning anything. Remind them that learning can be filled with twists and turns, and mistakes are all part of the journey.

Work Together

If your child is struggling with math concepts, work with them to better understand their thinking. Reassure the child that not only is making mistakes OK, but it will also allow them to go back and learn more about the root of the problem. Teach them that mistakes are just a sign that they’re learning and growing and that each one they make is a chance to rethink the question and work and understand it fully.

It can be helpful to share your personal experiences of growth in math or other areas. You could also ask your child to share some mistakes they have made in other subjects that they have overcome.

When students understand that mistakes are part of the learning process, it can help shift their perception of mistakes as something to embrace rather than avoid. This can eventually lead them to learn that mistakes are not just OK but also expected.

Safe Learning Environment

Math can be challenging for many students because there’s pressure to get the right answer. When they don’t get the correct answer, it can often trigger feelings of guilt or shame which can be difficult for those who struggle to embrace their mistakes.

But, a safe learning environment can allow students to take risks in discussions and in their work. It can help create opportunities for risk-taking and self-reflection at the end of each lesson. At Dropkick Math, we provide a safe community of support where students learn that the process is just as critical as arriving at the answer.

We understand that some students believe math is fun, while others become almost paralyzed at the thought of numbers. That is why our programs are built to suit the child’s individual needs. We help the child approach math in a fun and engaging way and provide the parent/ guardian with the tools to support their child moving forward. Find out more about our programs and how we can help build your child’s confidence in mathematics.

Part 2 – How To Talk To Your Child About Their Report Card

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date January 27, 2022
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Part 2 – How To Talk To Your Child About Their Report Card

In the second part of our series, “Report Cards: What Do They Really Mean,” we will discuss how to speak to your child about the marks they received on their report card. Students will be receiving their report cards any day now, and parents must understand what the marks mean and speak to their children about them.

Many parents struggle with how to speak to a child who may have a gap in learning. They often don’t want to make the child feel bad for falling behind, so they tend to shy away from the situation. But this won’t help the child with the problem they may be facing.

Find Some Quiet Time

If a child brings home a report card that indicates they may be struggling, a parent must address the mark. The best way to approach a child is by finding some quiet time where you can sit down with them one-on-one. You will want to give them your undivided attention, without any distractions, so try and set aside enough time to have a quiet, relaxed discussion.

Focus On Effort

It is important not to focus on the child’s marks on the report card but to focus on their effort and attitude instead. The teachers’ comments can provide a lot of insight into how the child performs and if they are limited in any way. Focusing on effort over achievement isn’t going to reduce their motivation to work hard. If a child is focused on trying their best and feels that their efforts are seen and valued, they are much more likely to be resilient learners. A child who is a resilient learner is more likely to challenge themselves and are more comfortable making mistakes.

A child needs to understand that everyone is different, and we all struggle and excel in different areas. Try to avoid any comparisons between your child’s report card and a sibling or classmate’s report card. The focus should be on where they achieved well or greatly improved from their last report card. Siblings should be reminded that comparison is pointless because they have been graded on entirely different outcomes.

Set Plans And Goals

If a child’s report card indicates an area of challenge, or a gap in learning, speak to them about using it as a way to plan a learning goal. Use their current report card as a baseline and then set an individual learning goal for the next term.

It may be helpful to compare your child’s last report card to the current one to help them see their progress. Identify any areas that the child is still struggling and discuss why they may still be falling behind in that area. Be sure to praise any improvements made and their areas of growth.

After making a comparison of the last report card, it can be helpful to set a plan to focus on the areas that may need attention. Along with your child, decide on steps they can take to progress towards their learning goal. These steps could include asking to meet with their teacher to discuss suggestions of ways to meet challenges. They could also set a weekly goal for a little extra study time or revision with your help.

Have A Conversation With Their Teacher

It may also be helpful to have a conversation with your child’s teacher if they appear to be struggling. A parent-teacher conference can help clarify your child’s academic performance and overall experience at school. In a one-on-one conversation, teachers can give more detailed information about your child and offer suggestions on how they can improve in any areas that may be falling behind. This can be an excellent way for a parent to better understand how their child is performing in the classroom.

At Dropkick Math, we believe that parent engagement is vital for a child’s success. By being actively involved and setting high expectations for your child, you can help guide them towards having high values towards their schoolwork.

If your child is showing a gap in learning in their math skills, Dropkick Math can help. Through our fun and interactive programs, students can focus on the four pillars of math and get caught up to where they should be in their curriculum. Get started today by learning more about our programs.

Part 1 – How To Read Your Child’s Report Card

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date January 20, 2022
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Part 1 – How To Read Your Child’s Report Card

It is February, and that means that the 1st term report cards are just around the corner. At Dropkick Math, we believe it is crucial for parents to fully understand how to read the report card and decipher what the marks really mean. So, we have completed a two-part series for parents to refer to during report card time. This first article will focus on the marks on the report card and what they mean for your child.

It is essential that parents understand that this year’s marks on your child’s report card may be hindered by gaps caused due to COVID and virtual learning. The pandemic reshaped Canadian society and disrupted more than a year of schooling, which has slowed progress in math for millions of Canadian students.

Younger students saw some of the most significant declines, and educators are now left trying to help students catch up to pre-pandemic levels. So, when your child brings home their report card, remember that their grades are just a snapshot in time of where they are now and the direction in which they should be working towards for the end of the year.

So, what does this mean for your child?

How do you make sense of what the mark means, and what can you get out of the comment that your child’s teacher has provided?

Let’s break it down for you:

The Mark

If your child meets the curriculum goals set by the ministry in the new math curriculum, they will receive a mark in the B range or something in the 70s. Higher marks represent the notion that your child is consistently achieving the goals set by the ministry.

But what about if the mark is below?

The grades reflected on your child’s report card are to help them understand how they are performing and where they can make improvements before getting their final mark of the year. So, if students are not doing well, it should be thought of as they haven’t got it “Yet”….as these curriculum goals are to be achieved by the end of the year.

A mark in the C (60s range) or D (50s range) means that your child has learning gaps and is experiencing difficulty meeting the goals set in the math curriculum. Now, these gaps are just that, missed learning that has created some misconceptions in your child’s education. It may be due to a variety of reasons including, an absence in an earlier grade or the result of missed learning due to COVID. Whatever the reason, your child has missed something that has and can continue to lead to problems as their education moves forward.

The good news is, with the proper identification and effective teaching instruction, these misconceptions and learning gaps can be addressed and filled, helping your child move forward with new math learning. However, if left unchecked, these gaps can continue to grow and often end up creating a variety of math anxieties in your child’s future math education.

The Comment

All too often, parents pass over the comment provided with the mark. After all, “It is just a cookie-cutter” comment…right?

Some things can be pretty general in the comment provided by your child’s teacher, but there is also some helpful information if you know what you are looking for.

Report card comments are often designed from an asset based lens, meaning the first part of the comment should list all the things that your child can do. It is essential to read this section to see if the teacher has provided some information about what your child might be able to do on a limited scale.

The last part of the comment is also valuable as it identifies the ‘next step’ in your child’s learning or what things your child struggles with and should work on to help their overall math learning for the second term. Reading this comment allows a parent to understand better what their child did, what areas they were limited in, what they could do, and the areas they struggled with during the 1st term.

A report card can provide helpful insight into a student’s learning. If a child is showing a gap in learning, the report card can help a parent understand this gap and inform them where the child may be struggling. Effective teacher-parent-student communication is fundamental to student success. So, it is also a great idea to reach out to your child’s teacher for more in-depth information on how your child is performing if they appear to be struggling.

If your child is experiencing a gap in learning, Dropkick Math has programs that can help get them back on track. Our tailored programs equip students with problem-solving skills that can help them for years to come. Get started today by learning more about our programs.

How Does Dropkick Differ from a Tutor

Post author By The Dropkick Math Team
Post date January 17, 2022
No Comments on How Does Dropkick Differ from a Tutor

How Does Dropkick Differ from a Tutor

When a child is having trouble with math concepts, it can be frustrating for both child and parent. Parents may try to help, but often find that the way math is now taught in school differs from what they learned. They also don’t want their child to see them struggling and develop math anxiety.

So, what can you do to help your child?

Most parents find a local math tutor. Someone who can sit down with the child and explain the concepts so they can move forward. However, for students, the help they receive often focuses on addressing an immediate need rather than the root cause of their struggle.

A math tutor will go over the current topic concept that the student is having trouble with. They will help the students answer some questions dealing with that topic so they can get through the task at hand. But math tutoring only helps in a bandaid-style format. It may fix the immediate issue but doesn’t address the root cause of the learning gap. Tutoring also doesn’t help to set the student up with skills needed for the future so when they hit a new roadblock in math, they may require another session with the tutor.

How Dropkick Math is Different

Dropkick Math isn’t just an alternative to hiring a tutor. It is a fun way to help your child thrive in mathematics through self-learning. Our unique programs focus on the fundamental misunderstandings your child may have in math and can provide them with the skills they need to keep advancing. We work with your child and yourself to understand the underlying problems rather than just focusing on helping them through the material they are learning at school.

By focusing on the four pillars of math, our fun and engaging programs can help your child understand math fundamentals. By the end of the program, your child will be able to persevere through challenging math concepts, ask questions for clarification, and learn from valuable mistakes.

Parent/Caregiver Involvement

At Dropkick Math, we think that parent/caregiver involvement is essential for a student’s success. Math tutors may help the immediate problem but end when a child catches up. Then, once they are gone, the issues often persist. But with Dropkick Math, we put you in the game with your child. After identifying a child’s problems in mathematics, we step in and work with both parent/caregiver and child to solve them.

Our trained instructors work through the program with parents/caregivers, so you are learning math alongside your child. This means that we develop your understanding of math, how it is being taught, and how your child understands it. You become a crucial part of your child’s future learning and an ally when they have a problem with the next concept.

Unlike a tutor, we are not just a bandaid. We are a lasting solution that gives you and your child tools to move forward and give math the dropkick it deserves. Short fixes don’t always address the fundamental gaps in learning, but with Dropkick Math, you can rest assured that your child will master every building block of math learning.

A Foundation of Knowledge

With Dropkick Math, students can eliminate homework struggles and build a foundation of knowledge and confidence in math that will last a lifetime. By advancing their math skills, students can become better students. When armed with the right skill set to tackle problems, students will gain the confidence and independence that will carry them throughout life.

Learn more about Dropkick Math’s programs and how they can help your child advance in mathematics. By understanding the difference between hiring a tutor and giving your child the chance to succeed through self-learning, you can help set them up for a future of math success. Get started today by determining your child’s needs with our free early indicator’s quiz.

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