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It’s now been two years since the pandemic started, and schools made the switch to online learning. For parents, this has meant helping their children with schoolwork from home. And for many, this has brought on new challenges – especially when it comes to math. In this blog post, we’ll explore how COVID has changed your child’s math education and what type of math tutoring you can do to help them at home.
It’s no secret that the COVID pandemic has disrupted education in unprecedented ways. According to estimates, students have fallen behind by four to five months on average, and the gap between high- and low-achieving students is widening.
Math and reading have been the most affected areas of education through the pandemic, and COVID has even changed the way children are learning these subjects. They have been forced to take in more information virtually instead of learning in groups surrounded by their peers.
With schools closed and parents working remotely, more and more students are using technology for their education. This can be a great opportunity for your child to explore new interests or delve deeper into topics that they are passionate about.
But online learning is not without its challenges. It can be difficult for students to stay focused and motivated in a virtual classroom, and there is a greater risk of distraction from friends or siblings. If your child is enrolled in an online course, be sure to establish rules and expectations for how they will complete their work.
COVID has also changed the way children learn by social distancing. When students could no longer gather in person, schools started turning to online platforms like Google Hangouts and Zoom to allow for virtual collaboration. While this was an excellent way for your child to stay connected with their classmates, it often means that they are no longer getting one-on-one attention from their teacher. During virtual learning, educators can no longer go over to a student with a hand raised who has asked for help. And forget calling a small group to a back table for extra support. Simply put, without well-developed one-on-one teaching, young children will struggle with basic math concepts.
With the new virtual classrooms, teachers were expected to interact with students at a distance and provide feedback in a virtual world. Many teachers felt frustrated at the technology itself and the change in the learning environment. Unfortunately, it was the students who were suffering the most as the educators tried to navigate the new virtual teaching world.
After the first year of virtual classrooms, some teachers were able to move forward and use tools to help them teach their students. Some used Google Slides as a presentation platform and incorporated the use of virtual manipulatives, the zoom annotation tool, online games, and Google Docs. But, many younger students still found this way of learning exceptionally difficult.
Learning math takes a lot of concentration and trial and error. But when students are trying to learn mathematics virtually, there may be an endless amount of distractions in their home to divert their attention. Many students have been left frustrated over the past couple of years which has caused a great educational gap in math learning.
If you are concerned about your child’s math education, there are a number of steps you can take to help them stay on track. First, be sure to talk to your child’s teacher about their progress. They may be able to provide you with specific resources or guidance on how to help your child succeed. You can also find online math tutoring and programs that are tailored to your child’s needs, such as Dropkick Math Academy. And finally, don’t forget to encourage your child to stay positive and motivated – things could be a lot worse!
If your child is exhibiting signs of falling behind in math, don’t panic, but do take it seriously. There can be any number of reasons why a child might be performing poorly. It could be pandemic related, or it could be that they are having a health issue. Whatever has cropped up, it is important to get them the help they need.
At Dropkick Math, we understand that COVID has put students in unusual situations, which may have caused a gap in their learning. We offer math programs that focus on the four pillars of math, through fun and engaging programs that 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.
Learn more about Dropkick Math’s programs and how they can help your child advance in mathematics. Contact us today to get started on determining your child’s needs with our free early indicators quiz.
