We can see the learning gaps in schools right now.
The fact is, students missed learning time, due to COVID shut-downs and online learning.
We can’t go back in time and prevent the learning loss. What we need to do is look forward to what we can do to close those learning gaps as quickly and efficiently as possible.
We all know that the initial time out of school was rough on education. Teachers did a phenomenal job to prepare lessons spur of the moment and try to educate students long-distance. But, several years later, most of us can agree that there really is no comparing the education that students receive when they are in the classroom, compared to remote.
I am not bashing teachers on this. They rallied all of their resources and made it work with what they had. What teachers always do.
Teaching students remotely versus having them in the classroom across the kidney table from you is a completely different learning experience.
The second school year affected by COVID did not do many students any favors either. Many students remained in the remote education setting, which, despite more preparation time, isn’t the same experience.
Some students received instruction from a specific teacher able to differentiate instruction. Other students were assigned online lessons including pre-recorded videos and explanations. While both were an effort to meet the needs of students, both remote learning formats struggled to provide the level of differentiation and individualized support that is entrenched in the physical classroom.
Last school year, (2021 to 2022) showed that students entering brick and mortar schools for the first time, or quite frankly even those who were physically in school most of the previous school year exhibited some big learning gaps. When standardized assessments were administered, the reports were frustrating and abysmal.
We are comparing students who had been taught remotely for at least a quarter of their school careers, plus attendance issues due to exposure, or positive with COVID; to students who had never experienced a pandemic before.
It makes sense the students that we work with today are at a disadvantage compared to students of years past!
The standards and benchmarks teachers have been trying to teach are even more difficult than ever before. Our students are missing key foundational skills. But, the education system has kept trucking along, expecting students to be like they were in years past.
That is unreasonable in the least.
First, we all must acknowledge that, when we compare students in our classrooms today with students even 5 years ago, there is a big discrepancy in skills.
Once we acknowledge and accept that, we must make a solid plan to fill in the skill gaps so that our students can continue to move forward and be successful.
But, what can we do to address the learning gaps?
The solution is going to require us to think outside the box when it comes to resources and planning. It was an extraordinary experience that caused this, and it is going to require extraordinary teamwork to solve it.