Julia Hanke's Blog

It has been public long before November 2020 that online learning is forcing a significant drop in students' academic performance. This was proven by a report on student grades from one of the nation's largest school districts. The report also showed that the most vulnerable students — children with disabilities and English-language learners — suffer the most. Between the last academic year and this one, the percentage of middle school and high school students earning F's in at least two classes jumped by 83 percent. [1]
Fairfax's data shows that children who are engaged and care deeply about school — children in stable home situations, whose parents have sufficient resources — will stay engaged in an online environment. In contrast, children whose socioeconomic status or home situation had blocked them from academic achievement before online learning took place will now slip further and further behind. [2]
And while professors and education experts are discussing whether the United States should offer every student a "do-over," which would mean everyone could go back to the grade they were in March of 2020, many Asian Americans are feeling forced to keep their children out of school out of fear of harassment or violent attacks which were caused by Donald Trump's racist language to describe the Coronavirus. [3]
Trump repeatedly used phrases like "Chinese virus" and "kung flu" which lead to Asians being punched in the face and knocked to the ground.
Mya Baker of education nonprofit TNTP warned that "the reality is we're talking about families living in multigenerational households, families where English is not spoken at home, so we're increasing barriers for those students who are already not performing well." [4]
With many students being depressed and frustrated and US teachers and educators feel overwhelmed by the enormous challenges, the situation is crying out for a solution.

What can we do as parents for our children?
For parents, it's a pleasure to see your child's face light up when you see your child so immersed in a book that he loses all track of time.
Reading is a privilege, but the love for reading takes this privilege to another level. As we learned from the above, it is also critical to your child's success—it's the key to their education.
Kids who love reading perform better in school. The more kids like to read, the more they do it, and the better they become at reading, writing, and spelling!
Children who develop a love of reading know that there is a payoff when they keep trying. The downside is that without the love of reading, the struggle is too upsetting, and kids can feel like giving up.

For tips on how to help your child read for the love of it read the full blog post here.

Get a FREE gratitude journal for kids here.