RETURN ING TO T H E C L A SS RO O M:
6 Tips to Support Student Learning This Year This August, we welcomed back all of our students to in-person learning following a school year that presented so many challenges for our families, communities, and schools. Our school staff is committed to making this year one that’s filled with learning and social reconnection for our students. That’s why we asked several of our teammates from Camden and Newark to offer their best tips on how to support your child’s education in math and English Language Learning (ELA) as we transition back to in-person learning.
1.
Communicate with teachers early and often.
Transitioning into a new school year means that scholars and parents will be interacting with new teachers. Your child’s teacher will know your scholar’s strengths and growth areas and is a great resource when it comes to recommending supplemental practice materials. KIPP THRIVE Academy teacher Ashley Salter recommends communicating with teachers early on in the year and continuing to check-in throughout. “I notice parents think teachers are busy, and that’s true, but we still encourage them to check in through email, text, or Class Dojo—the more communication, the better!” said Salter.
KIPP Lanning Square Primary Learning Specialist Amanda Ruffner echoes the importance of family-teacher dialogue.”If a parent has concerns about students at home, they can reach out to ask us what we might be noticing in the classroom. That way, we can work together to develop a plan,” said Ruffner.
2.
Engage in real-world math.
Learning doesn’t have to happen only when your scholar is at school. There are many opportunities for your child to learn from everyday life. Ruffner thinks it’s important to make math familiar to students. “For Kindergarten, we’re big on number
identification, so play games like ‘I Spy’ at the grocery store when you see a number, or solve simple addition problems like ‘how many apples do I have?’” she said.
3.
Make learning a family affair.
4.
Spark curiosity for science.
Ruffner also recommends leveraging the competitive spirit of students’ siblings or other family members to support learning through flashcards or mini quizzes for math learning. When it comes to ELA learning, do adults in the family read the news regularly? If so, KIPP Newark Community Prep Assistant School Leader Tanisha Marchan recommends integrating the 5 W’s (Who, What, Where, When, Why) into student learning as family members read news articles. “The website Newsela. org is a great resource for helping students answer those questions as they read, which helps build strong reading comprehension,” said Marchan.
KIPP Whittier Middle science teacher Ryan Weaver recommends students
English Language Arts
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E P I C B O O KS (GETEPIC .CO M) A digital reading platform featuring 40,000+ high-quality books that builds reading confidence for students 12 and under.
QUI LL Grades 5-12, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Provides free writing and grammar activities for middle and high school students.
CO M M O NL I T.O RG A digital reading platform for middle and high schools students with a wide library of text genres and topics for individual exploration and practice.
i -R EA DY ELA Grades 3-8, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Supports student growth with targeted reading comprehension practice and support at individual level.
ACCE L E RAT E D READ ER Grades 3-8, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Support student reading and writing skills through reading comprehension quizzes.
ACHI EVE 3000 R EA DI NG Grades 9-10, available for free through students’ KIPP NJ Clever accounts. Supports student growth with targeted reading comprehension practice and support at individual level.
