Cambridge Education

Education is an elemental part of a child's upbringing, shaping their cognitive, emotional, social, and intellectual growth. Recognizing the significant role parents play in their children's educational journey, academic institutions and educational organizations have debuted a variety of resources to support parents. These resources are designed to bridge the gap between home and school, giving parents the knowledge and tools they need to complement the formal education process.

Despite these challenges, School ‘X’ proved resilient and adaptive in the face of adversity. They were swift to transition, with the platform selection carried out on the basis of simplicity and accessibility, focusing on both live and self-paced learning options. Zoom was employed for live sessions and Google Classroom for assignment postings and feedback.

Digital writing tools like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor were introduced to enhance the students' writing skills. These applications provided real-time corrections and suggestions, empowering students to become their own editors and improving their grammar proficiency.

Technology incorporation is another impressive advancement. With the plethora of online reading and writing resources, learners can now access comprehensive e-libraries, multimedia content, james madison high school interactive quizzes, and writing tutorials. This blending learning approach bolsters students' digital literacy while enhancing their reading and writing skills. Mobile applications like Epic!, Raz-Kids, and Write About This have revolutionized learning through gamification, making it easier for students to practice consistently.

Reading fluency is a critical skill for 4th graders as it affects their overall understanding, comprehension and efficiency in reading. For those students who struggle, developing reading fluency can prove to be quite a challenge. However, there are several methodical strategies that teachers can implement to help struggling students become fluent readers.

Initially, the switch presented several hindrances. Many students reportedly struggled with distractions at home, technological issues, and the lack of face-to-face interactions, which is crucial in a writing class setting. Teachers expressed concerns about communication gaps, due to text-based interactions, and difficulties in individual attention.

Firstly, the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has launched a website dedicated to offering comprehensive educational resources. The PTA's Parent's Guides to Student Success are available in English and Spanish. These resources cover essential subjects such as Mathematics and English/Language Arts and are specifically tailored for kindergarteners right through to high school seniors. They provide clear, concise information about what children should be learning at each grade level and what parents can do to assist.

Another significant resource comes from GreatSchools, a nonprofit that provides guidance to parents aiming to unlock educational opportunities for their children. Their comprehensive website contains information about schools across the country, offering insightful articles and videos on all aspects of education. From social-emotional learning to special education support, parents are provided with the resources needed to make informed decisions about their children's education.

School 'X', a medium-sized school with an average class size of 25 students, acted as our test subject. Pre-pandemic, their writing classes followed a traditional, in-person teaching model until they were abruptly shifted to a full-fledged online approach in March 2020.

Lastly, it's important to encourage home support. Encourage parents to read with or to their children, to increase reading material availability, and to provide a quiet, dedicated space at home for reading practice. Research indicates that students who read at home for 20 minutes per day can significantly improve their reading fluency.

Traditional summer reading and writing programs usually emphasized basic skills. However, in the wake of extensive research findings highlighting the benefits of active and practical learning, these programs have vastly improved. Instead of mundane methods, the redesigned programs engage learners through hands-on activities and game-like learning apps, presenting reading and writing in an entertaining way.

One significant development in good study habits is the shift from passive to active learning. Active learning emphasizes the precept of 'learning by doing.' Unlike passive learning where the focus is on absorbing information, active learning enriches students' understanding by engaging them in activities such as discussions, problem-solving, and experimentation. A 2014 report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences points out that students involved in active learning showed increased academic performance and lesser failure rates than those taught passively, proving its effectiveness.