5 top tips to prevent further learning loss over Christmas!
Every single year, the pressure for students to perform well increases. This year, that has intensified tenfold, as the pandemic has forced students to struggle with school closures and study from home. Even with the future still unclear for exams in England, the pressure of continuing learning is increasing as the school year rolls forward.
As the first term comes to an end, students might feel they need to switch off. Whilst, of course, they can do just that, a study revealed that lockdowns might have caused children to lose up to a whole term’s worth of knowledge* – meaning it’s the extra hours during the Christmas holidays that will be crucial for catching up.
“Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that it’s about balance,” said Frank Milner, President of tutoring company, Tutor Doctor. “It’s essential to dedicate enough time to learning, but it’s equally as important to focus on switching off to make sure children have a proper break.”
Here are Frank’s pointers to help manage time, create a healthy balance and keep the peace throughout this very challenging time for all.
1. Create a revision timetable (and stick it on the fridge!). Perhaps the most important step is to create a revision timetable. That way, you can physically see how the holidays are shaping up. Although social distancing measures has put pay to some of the usual holiday distractions from revision, it’s still important to have a schedule to stick to. Once study times have been decided, it will become much easier to factor in guilt-free downtime.
2. Take regular breaks. When blocking out revision time, it’s important to plan in breaks. Students need to allow their brain to rest for a while, so it can continue to retain information effectively. Similarly, knowing when to turn off completely for the day is crucial. Getting to bed at a reasonable time and switching off on revision-heavy days is key.
3. Prioritise workload. Using a red, amber and green system can help your child prioritise their work in a way that becomes manageable. Red means feeling clueless, amber means having some idea but needing a little refresher and green means they’re comfortable and confident in that area of knowledge. This simple traffic light system can help to create a clear schedule for revision by indicating how much time students need to spend on each specific subject.
4. Keep learning fun. Studying doesn’t have to be boring and feel like a chore - there are many ways of incorporating learning into your festive schedule. These three ways are great for getting children learning, even if they don’t know it:
a. Use maths at every opportunity. It’s extremely simple and effective to use maths in everyday situations, whether it’s counting the stairs as you climb them, laying the table or discussing algorithms used on phones.
b. Get them writing. Regular practice not only improves literacy and handwriting skills, it can also stimulate creativity. Activities could include writing a blog, a short story, keeping a journal, writing poetry or, if they’re musically inclined, song lyrics.
c. Play board games. Christmas is a great time to find a new board game. They can provide hours of entertainment, but also be played in shorter bursts of time if being cooped up in the house for an extended period of time has caused some friction between siblings. Scrabble, Monopoly and Snakes & Ladders are ideal games for all ages using both numerical and spelling skills.
5. Use online learning resources. Nowadays, with many kids being glued to their screens, they often prefer screen-based learning. Luckily, a plethora of options are available at our fingertips, so children can learn in an engaging and stimulating way that appeals to their digitally savvy personalities. BBC Teach offers great resources for all ages and subjects, with the Government’s website offering similar for all Key Stages.
Frank added: “There are many ways to ensure that learning can continue during the holidays – the great thing is that it doesn’t have to be stressful or strenuous. By being creative, it’s possible to help your child transition back into the new year at school with ease.”
For more information, visit www.tutordoctor.co.uk
Sources:
* Northumbria University: Learning loss and the implications for Covid-19 and school closures.