Good grades don’t necessarily indicate that a student is actually learning the material. We need to look a little more closely to understand whether or not kids are making real progress.
One of our students told his tutor he’s doing fine in Spanish 2. He’s not having any trouble with the work, and he’s getting an A. But his tutor sees it differently. Through their in-session work, she’s observed that the student has not mastered the core vocabulary and verb conjugations he should have by this point. She’s very concerned about what this means as the content builds upon itself. At this rate, she doesn’t see how he’ll be ready for Spanish 3.
As tempting as it may be to say, “You know what? Grades are good, let’s coast a while,” we first need to know what the grades are actually reflecting. If it turns out that they’re not a good indication of learning, then coasting now might mean being lost later. We want kids to set up solid foundations, especially in classes like math and world languages. It’s also useful to think beyond grades for upcoming challenges like the ACT or SAT, and being self-sufficient in college.
There’s another reason we want to keep our eye on learning: motivation. You can’t underestimate the jolt of a light bulb moment! When students make new connections because they’re appropriately tasked, they want to learn more. If school is easy, those electric instants don’t exist, and you have a disengaged child.
Here are some questions that will help you gain a better understanding of your child’s progress:
Beyond the “work” of school, pay attention to your child’s demeanor and attitude. Are they often frustrated by a specific class or at a certain time of the day? Are they putting off homework to the last minute, or not doing it at all? Was there a class that was very challenging last year that is a piece of cake this year?
Obviously, this sort of behavior could crop up during the best of times. What you want to notice are patterns. It can be easy to miss signs that may indicate your child isn’t developing skills.
If you discover that your child needs a boost, there are several steps you can take. Start with the teacher. They’ll be able to give you pointers whether your child needs to participate more, meet with them before a test, or brush up on a few concepts.
A few of our favorite resources are Khan Academy, ALEKS, and IXL. They’re great spots whether your child needs review or enrichment. A little bit of time every day will make a difference! If you need some help figuring out where to dive in, your child can take one of our reading, writing, or math diagnostics.
Good executive functioning skills are key to learning. When students don’t have to reinvent the wheel every day, they’re able to focus on academic content.
Finally, help your child engage in non-school learning. Sports, improv, music, dance, art, volunteering, genealogy…anything that will help them show up, sustain attention, and make connections. As one of our students told us, “The more dedicated you are to anything, the more dedicated you’ll be to school work.”
We’re here if you need us!
Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.
My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.
I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.
On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.
Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!
A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!
I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.
On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.
Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!
My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.
My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.
On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.
What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.