DALLAS — Kids are still out of school for a few more weeks, but after a year of online classes and the learning loss caused by the pandemic, some parents are using this summer to play catch-up before the fall bell rings.
What You Need To Know
- TEA stated that standardized testing scores went down in math and science for the first time since 2012.
- Some parents are getting tutors for their kids to feel caught up for in-person learnig..
- One teacher reminds parents that students suffer learning loss naturally during summer months.
More parents are dropping off their kids with tutors before school starts back up. Tutoring is a new business venture for Olivia Prescott, who is a former elementary school teacher. She is also a new mommy.
“With COVID, everything shut down and I made the decision not to go back just for my family, safety and things like that,” explained Prescott.
A student's struggle to get through a math or science question is a trend Prescott continues to see when she works with kids. Some of them are performing below grade level.
One student who Prescott is trying to get all caught up to speed is Vanessa Hampton, who will be in the 5th grade soon. Hampton is working at a 3rd grade math level and did virtual learning this past school year. According to her mom Courtney Hampton, it was more tears and frustration than learning when it was time to connect with the teacher over a computer.
“There were issues with logging on, or your kid would log on and the teacher would mark them absent. A lot of kids were getting left behind because a teacher can't focus on a computer with 15 to 30 kids and get them all what they need when they have different learning disabilities or whatever the reason may be," said Courtney Hampton.
Prescott spends time explaining to parents that students suffer learning loss during the summer months naturally when there is no school. Taking that into account and considering students who didn’t do so hot with virtual learning — teachers will mostly be playing from behind too.
“It’s heartbreaking,” proclaimed Prescott.
The Texas Education Agency recently stated that standardized testing during this past spring for grades three through eight showed standardized testing scores across the state went down in math and science for the first time since 2012. The biggest drop in test scores overall was the math section of the test.
“Schools are going to have to reassess their thinking. Teachers understand that students are not where they need to be,” said Prescott.
Not all families are in the financial position to fork over extra money for tutoring like the Hamptons. Prescott knows that and says constant encouragement and many free online sources can help fill some of the gaps that some students have.