So your school year has started, you’re a few weeks in, and the best laid plans seem not to be working for your family. Instead of letting the panic set in that your school year is off the rails before it has begun, shower your plan with some grace and take a deep breath.
Every bump in the road in our academic plan does not mean that the entire system needs to be overhauled or changed. You and your family might need additional time to settle into your new schedule and rhythm for the new school year. This year will not be a copy and paste of last year. There may be new subjects with new intensities, new kids being added, and new life experiences happening. So, what do you do when your two vital subjects, Math and English Language Arts have you in a sticky situation and you start questioning your academic plan? Reevaluate; don’t panic; and assess your specific student.
When your math-minded student all of the sudden is struggling on something they previously were excelling in, a flight or fight reaction might kick in. Or perhaps a program that’s been working for years starts resulting in wrong answers after wrong answers. Or when you are just starting and jumping into a math program and something is off. Or after spending hours doing research over program after program, you find yourself at your wit’s end and convinced your student will fail math this year.
Don’t just scrap your education plan. Instead, trust the instincts that led you in this direction. First, take a deep breath. Then look at your students’ work as they are writing out problems. Are they writing the problems out correctly? Do you notice silly errors? Are they struggling because they need to simply slow down when doing their work?
Now take a look at their tests. Are they maintaining an 85% average? If so, chances are they are retaining their learning. Tests and quizzes assess the program and will give you the best indication of skill retention. Instead of rehauling your math program, work on pacing and slowing down during daily work. Your mental math kid might need to start writing down complicated math equations. This can be a new skill to work on. And especially in math, make sure your students are placed accurately within the specific program. Third grade math in one curriculum may not be the same skills being taught in 3rd grade in another.
As you prepared your English Language Arts (ELA) academic plan, perhaps you found an all-in-one curriculum that should work for your avid reader. Now, a few weeks into the program you notice small breakdowns in the curriculum. Your avid reader is breezing through the reading selections. However, when it comes to their writing samples and assignments, they are messy, disjointed, and you can see the struggle throughout them. Abandoning the whole program is not entirely necessary—perhaps just a reevaluation. ELA is a tangled web of components that teaches all the necessary ELA skills. Seeing how all components are connected in ELA, like building blocks, can help shed light on why your very creative storyteller is struggling and getting frustrated in writing down their stories. Stumbling over the hurdles of grammar, spelling, and handwriting can become deflating and frustrating. Take a closer look at their writing samples: while they’re composing and also at the finished product. Make note of their spelling, their grammar, usage, and mechanics. Your solution may be as simple as adding a grammar or spelling resource. Doing so can help to make writing less of a chore. As they focus more intentionally on the structure of writing, the style, and content will begin to come forth.
Always remember, you are your student’s best advocate. The consultant team here at Rainbow Resource Center is always happy to talk through, hear your thoughts, and walk-through options with you Monday-Friday 8:30-5 CST via phone, live chat, or email. ~ Rebecca
