Backing up to Move Forward: How Choosing a Lower Level Can Encourage Academic Growth
I’m not the best parallel parker. In a downtown situation, I’d probably just drive to a parking garage or lot rather than park on the side of the street. No matter where I park, however, there is a certain amount of “backing up” that I must do. After all, my vehicle is a mini-van, so it’s not as convenient for parking as a compact car. I don’t like backing up. However, I don’t like a constant struggle either. Sometimes, you have to just BACK UP.
Have you ever considered backing up with your child when he or she is struggling? I’ve known some parents who have. When I was a school teacher, I’d occasionally have a student buckle down with their parent and work hard to fill a particular learning gap. Sometimes it was math facts the child had not ever fully learned. Other times, it was handwriting or reading. ‘Each and every time that happened, the child was bursting with pride and self confidence, and the parent had NO REGRETS.
When I taught at a school, I found myself wishing that I could “back up” with some of my students. They had a shaky foundation. I had middle schoolers who couldn’t add and subtract properly. I even had some middle schoolers who couldn’t read well enough to use their textbooks appropriately. It was defeating for them (and their teachers).
Why did it seem so impossible to back up and “meet them where they were?”
STANDARDIZED TESTING
Frankly, I have not seen standardized testing improve learning at all. I know from my personal experience that my own children (who have always been homeschooled) are learning well without it.
In a school situation, the teacher has a list of standards that must be taught. It’s long. In order to cram it all in before the state testing date (usually 1-2 months before summer break), there is no time to linger or “go back” to where the child needs instruction. Then, it all becomes about how to try your best at test taking. This frustrated me as a teacher.
But, YOU are a parent reading this. (Well, many of you are. I actually have some teachers on here too). I’m telling you that sometimes the most beneficial thing you can do is to back up to an easier skill level, build confidence with the child, and slowly work on more difficult practice. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT ON A SCHOOL TO DO IT. This process fills in the gap, increases motivation, and builds a solid foundation. Let’s look at a couple of examples and then what YOU, as the parent, can do.
Back up to an easier reading level.
First of all, I highly recommend listening to your child read aloud. If it’s painful (as in every other word is slowly read aloud or guessed), then the book is too hard for now. Most of the tutoring clients that come to me are struggling because the child is trying to read something that is a higher level than what they are ready for currently. Find a book that is easier for your child to read. One to two difficult words per page is a good rule of thumb—no more than that for a frustrated and struggling student.
If your child finds the easiest of books too difficult, I’d recommend reading to your child instead. Then, for reading practice you can have your child try reading one syllable, short vowel words. (pan, hug, stem, frog, etc.). Reading books comes much easier when children can read short vowel words fluently.
If your child is practicing each day (Don’t skip the weekend) even for 10-15 minutes you will see progress. Reading won’t seem like such a chore, and your child will be ready for harder books as time goes on.
Back up to basic math facts and number sense.
While it is true that some children with a math learning disability might always need a calculator or multiplication chart, it should not be that way for most students. As a middle school teacher, I ran into this problem. Due to state testing, I didn’t have the time in class to stop everything and give attention to learning math facts well (which they should have learned in elementary school). I would probably choose to handle it differently now. I’m older. I’m confident and set in my ways. However, many teachers out there are not. They’re going to push on through with the state standards—even if the child has not learned math facts. Your child does not have to miss out. You CAN do something about it. If you notice your child does not know basic math facts, there are options.
Number bonds are a wonderful way to practice addition facts. Generally speaking, the better a child knows addition facts, the better he will know subtraction facts. They are related. They are opposites. If you need to go “old school” and bring out the flash cards, fine! If you prefer using a high-tech app, then go for it. There are options.
As the parent, it is up to YOU, to set the expectation for your child.
Make a goal. Set aside time specifically for practice.
Reward when the goal is met.
Multiplication facts and division facts work similarly to addition and subtraction. The better a person knows the multiplication facts, the better division facts are learned. They have a special relationship. Understand the relationship, and it’s easier to remember them. There are probably more resources out there to learn multiplication than there are for addition!
I cannot tell you how many parents have spoken to me and said, “[My child] never did learn math facts well.” Why is that? It’s probably true the school didn’t practice it as much as it should have been. Do you give up then? Not at all! You advocate for your child. You make sure your child gets it. Don’t wait on the school. We have more resources than ever! Take charge of the evenings, weekends, days off, and summer break. It doesn’t have to take all the child’s free time. Just build in 10-15 minutes of practice a day. It won’t take forever. It may feel like it sometimes, but it won’t.
Consistency matters.
Set an expectation for daily practice.
Set a timer.
Here are some past videos of mine that may give you some ideas:
How to Help My Child Learn Multiplication Facts
Math Fact Flash Cards That Work
I have always homeschooled my own children. Experienced homeschoolers would tell you that you don’t keep moving forward in books and levels when your child doesn’t get it. You work until your child has mastered the material and then move on. If you need to order a curriculum level that is back a grade level or two, then you do that. It pays off in the end to have a confident learner. Don’t get so hung up on what you have seen in your own schooling experience. People learned throughout history in more than one way and certainly in different ways that what is currently occurring in schools. Think outside the box, and never underestimate what difference you can make as the parent.
YOU are your child’s most influential teacher.