Tag: online tutoring

Math is Math! Why Would They Change It?

If your child comes to you for help with their homework, you may be confused when you see how it is being taught. The mathematics that students learn today is most likely highly different from what you learned at school. 

The main thing to keep in mind is that math hasn’t changed. The way it is taught has. Unfortunately, when Ontario shifted mathematics teaching, parents were not informed. This left many frustrated as they realized they did not understand how to help their children in mathematics. 

The shift in the way mathematics is taught was not an overnight decision, although it may seem that way to some parents. Math education had been researched for decades by experts in both the education and mathematics fields, and it was found to be lagging in many areas. 

As society becomes more interconnected and globalized, information and technology are rapidly evolving. Since most information is now readily available through our smartphones or tablets, children need to be better versed in complex decision-making and problem-solving as these are skills that computers are not yet able to help with. 

Major Transformation

We live in a time of significant transformation, which means that children growing up through this period need to receive an education that prepares them for a world of automation and artificial intelligence. According to the 2016 Future of Jobs Report by the World Economic Forum, 65% of children entering primary school today will work end up working in job types and functions that don’t even exist yet. In the 2018 Future of Jobs Report, it was predicted that human skills such as “creativity, originality, initiative, persuasion, negotiation, and critical thinking will be in high demand along with “attention to detail, resilience, flexibility, and complex problem-solving.” This means the education needs to be designed with platforms that mirror what students will meet when they are ready for college or a career. 

The traditional ways of learning are no longer enough to prepare children for the future. There is an urgent need to improve education, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). So, our job as educators and parents is to prepare children for their future by teaching them mathematics that will be useful and applicable in the years to come. 

New Ways Of Thinking

The technological world around us today is forcing students into new ways of thinking, which should be reflected in mathematics instruction. Students need to be both effective and efficient thinkers. Effective thinkers are taught to think long term, which means using longer or more complicated methods for solving problems. This may not always provide an answer at first, but it allows students to develop a foundational understanding of math concepts that will eventually give them the skills to question, critique, and reason to get their answers. 

Efficient thinkers believe that math should be done in steps and procedures that produce an answer as quickly as possible with the least amount of time involved. Parents may remember this type of thinking from the traditional way math was taught by “borrowing,” “carrying,” or “putting a zero.” Many didn’t fully understand the algorithm but did know that it was fast and got them the correct answer. In the past, those who could get an answer quickly were considered good at mathematics.  

Multiple Paths To A Solution

The way that math is taught today prepares children to be creative problem solvers who can find multiple paths to a solution. Students are no longer expected just to get the correct answer; they need to focus on the process. 

Over the past few decades, research has shown that children learn math better when taught through guided discovery. This teaching method provides students with support, but they ultimately develop the math rules themselves, a stark difference from learning them through memorization, as many of us parents experienced. 

Helping Your Child

Dropkick Math is here for you if your child is coming to you for help with their math homework and you don’t understand how it is being taught. We are a type of online math tutor that can help your child understand the fundamentals of mathematics while also educating the parent. By learning alongside your child, we will expose you to new learning strategies your child is experiencing in their classroom. 

It is a common misconception that it is difficult for parents to contribute to their child’s math education. At Dropkick Math, we believe that by working together, both you and your child can learn the fundamentals of math and gain skills that will translate for years to come. 

Many people simply go online and search “math tutor near me,” but this will only get you traditional tutors who may not give you and your child the support you need. As one of the leading math programs in Toronto, Dropkick Math provides support in learning key math skills by focusing on relationships and engaging the parent/guardian. Get started today by learning more about our programs.

Closing The Learning Gap Created By The Pandemic With Online Tutoring

Closing The Learning Gap Created By The Pandemic With Online Tutoring

Closing The Learning Gap Created By The Pandemic With Online Tutoring

Chances are, during the past couple of years, your child has struggled to keep up with their studies. With the pandemic pushing students out of classrooms and into virtual learning, many students have fallen behind and are showing educational gaps. Many parents are now left scrambling and searching online for “math tutor near me.”

The good news is that many tutoring services have gone online, which makes it much easier and more convenient for many families. Research has shown that tutoring is one of the best ways for students to catch up and prevent gaps caused by the pandemic before they turn into something bigger. Online tutoring can provide fast and practical support for students and parents alike.

Learning Loss

Learning loss is commonly associated with the summer break. After being out of school for many weeks, students can lose some of their academic skills and knowledge. But over the past couple of years, it isn’t just the summer break interfering with student learning. During the pandemic, students may have experienced learning loss during this time as well.

Despite many efforts from parents and teachers, switching to online learning lead to disrupted schedules and feeling disconnected from school. This has all contributed to an unsettled learning environment.

A learning loss on a large scale like such has occurred during the pandemic can have a lifelong impact on affected students. Studies show that students already struggling in the classroom before the pandemic are most likely to be affected. If left unaddressed, this learning gap will likely get even more significant.

Why Tutoring Is The Best Solution

There are many reasons why tutoring is the best solution for filling in any gaps in a child’s education. Research has shown that tutoring can give students transformational results in a short amount of time. Therefore, it is more effective than summer school or extended school days. 

Tutors are commonly known and used worldwide. However, online tutoring services are now becoming more popular than ever. Online tutoring such as Dropkick Math can offer students an easy and convenient way to catch up on their studies. Online tutors can provide targeted teachings focusing on individual students’ needs and building from there. Our programs adapt lesson content to fit the needs of individual students in a way that simply isn’t possible in a typical classroom.

Our programs can also change the pace of learning to suit your child’s needs, making the process effective and efficient. Students who feel a sense of success in their studies will build confidence that they can take back with them into the classroom. Our fun and engaging games and quizzes have students eager to complete their work.

e-Learning

The past couple of years has pushed many students into becoming comfortable with e-learning solutions. Any child who has access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone and a good Wi-Fi connection can access our programs. 

We like to think of ourselves as “math program Toronto experts,” which means we understand how online learning improves retention as students can learn at their own pace.

The Benefits For Parents

Many remote working parents have faced challenges trying to homeschool their children and get their work done. With online tutoring, parents can rest assured that a professional will make sure they are learning what they need and getting the work done.

At Dropkick Math, we encourage parents to learn alongside their children. If they so wish, parents can actively get involved with the programs. Our trained instructors will help build a parent’s mathematics capacity so they can adequately support their child’s journey in elementary math. Success is achieved by learning together!

A More Convenient Approach

Math tutoring and support come in many forms and are no longer limited to hiring a local high school or college student to sit with your child at home or in the library. While that model may work for some, many students are eager for a more interactive and convenient approach that focuses on building relationships.

An online math tutor service can help your child close in any education gaps and help to ensure they are prepared for the year ahead. At Dropkick Math, our programs focus on the four pillars of math and can help your child no matter how much they are struggling.

For more information on our programs or to learn if they are suitable for your child, contact us today!

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Is Online Tutoring the Future of Personalized Learning?

Is Online Tutoring the Future of Personalized Learning?

Is Online Tutoring the Future of Personalized Learning

With school closures and social distancing measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online tutoring has seen a surge in popularity. But is online tutoring here to stay? Some experts believe that it could be the future of personalized learning. Here’s what you need to know about online math tutoring and how it can benefit your child.

Change Is Imminent

In this day and age of the COVID-19 pandemic, change is imminent. And in the face of an extensive range of education technology resources, schools are trying to adapt and figure out the best ways to move forward. Technology has become an integral part of education over the past couple of years, and online math help is showing a lot of promise to help students who the pandemic has impacted.  

Previous research has pointed to clear advantages of one-on-one learning. However, this leaves many students behind who can’t attend an in-person tutor. When technology is used and students can learn virtually, more students have access to this type of education. It has also been suggested that tutored students outperform their peers in school. This becomes problematic because the majority of students have never experienced tutoring, causing an achievement gap that separates students with access to one-on-one learning from those without.

Getting Help With Educational Gaps

Historically only those students with the time, means, and proximity have been able to access one-on-one guidance. But, with Dropkick Math, we make it easy for many students to get the help they need with the educational gaps they may be experiencing.

Leveraging technology to meet new education standards is a great way to reach students who may not have previously been able to get the help in mathematics they deserve. Our programs and educators can provide critical mentorship for students who may be struggling with their learning due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. We have combined education with expert knowledge to create personalized programs designed to help your child conquer their unique math problems in a learning environment that is fun and engaging. 

At this time, when families are the busiest they’ve ever been, online tutoring has emerged as an essential educational resource. When the world closed down, online tutors were still able to help children with their studies. Our online programs help connect students with subject experts, creating personalized learning that children need to excel. The flexible nature of online tutoring also helps to allow students to book sessions that fit their own busy schedules.

Online Math Tutor

Most students have now become accustomed to learning online, and many prefer online tutoring instead of in person. Students born in 2010 and onward have had a whole life of high-speed online communication. So, the appeal of online tutoring will only increase as its primary users become tech-savvy “screenagers.” One-on-one tutoring is no longer appealing to the younger generation, which is more accustomed to online activities. At Dropkick Math, we understand the need to keep students engaged and entertained while learning mathematics. Our programs aim to break down the challenges and build up confidence with a complete understanding of math and its relationship to real-world situations through fun and engaging games and challenges. 

Online tutoring does appear to be the way of the future, but at Dropkick Math, we take it a step further. Dropkick Math isn’t just an alternative to hiring an online tutor. It is a fun way to help your child thrive in mathematics through self-learning. 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.

If you are searching for a “math tutor near me” you may be presented with a lot of helpful options. But, it is important to understand the difference between a tutor and our way of working with students, which adequately supports their journey in elementary math. Our certified Ontario College of Teachers instructors offer a fun and engaging way to learn for both parent and child to understand the building blocks of mathematics.  

To learn more about our programs and contact us today!

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