Covid-19 Resource

1. Use the 80/20 Rule

Ever heard of the 80/20 rule? Do you know where it comes from?

A civil engineer and economist, Vilfredo Pareto investigated a number of different industries and found that 20% of the companies in each industry were responsible for 80% of their industry’s production output. This finding was so consistent that it became known as the Pareto Principle—or the 80/20 rule.

When it comes to learning, that magical, most impactful 20% is the study of three things: math, English, and executive functioning.

Math and English are the languages that make all other learning possible. Executive functioning is all about getting things done (organizing, planning, task management, and prioritizing).

These three make up the killer combo that ensures success in all other areas of academics. While your child will likely benefit from the other 80% of their school-at-home efforts, the key is to pay special attention to the impactful 20%. Do that and you won’t have to sweat the other 80% nearly as much.

2. Make Learning Active

Now that you know where to focus your child’s efforts, let’s talk about how. Because how your child learns math, English, and develops executive functioning is even more important than what they learn.

The key is active learning.

Passive learning based on memorization is of little to no value to your student’s educational development. Active, engaged learning fosters your student’s intellect and curiosity. It develops their ability to think and to reason. It gives them confidence to tackle harder, more complex problems.

Unfortunately, the majority of school learning is far too passive. In order to make the 20% count, it’s critical to teach your student in a way that actively engages their mind and puts them in the driver’s seat.

3. Focus on Math

As we saw in tip #1, math is one of the two fundamental languages that make all other learning possible. So, how do you make sure your child is getting the most out of their math education? Here are a few tips, broken down by grade level:

Grades K-5

Elementary school children should be doing at least an hour of math every day, with at least 30 minutes of time spent working on problems. It’s also important to ensure that they’re being challenged without getting overwhelmed. Look for the sweet spot where your child has an opportunity for new learning each day without getting frustrated and dejected.

Middle to High School

Twice a week, have your child teach you what they are learning in class. This practice will help reinforce your child’s understanding of the material as teaching is one of the best ways to learn. You don’t have to know the material to be of help. Ask questions. Questions are the foundation of intelligence. By asking questions, you are modeling this important practice.

4. Focus on English

Along with math, English is the other fundamental language that makes all other learning possible. Here are a few tips to make sure your child is getting the most out of their English education, broken down by grade level:

Grades K-5

Elementary school children should be reading and writing for at least an hour each, every day. For the majority of elementary level students, the key to reading and writing development is time on task. Consistency is key. It’s also important to make sure your child’s reading material is at the right level. Too easy and the student won’t progress. Too hard and you can turn your child off to reading.

Middle to High School

Make sure your child is reading at least 30 minutes a day. Consider making it a family event, where at the end of each session, each family member takes a couple of minutes to share what they are reading while other family members ask questions. We also recommend setting aside time for weekly writing prompts based on your child's interests. Encourage creativity as well as spelling and good grammar.

5. Give Them the Tools to Get Things Done

Along with math and English, executive functioning rounds out the most impactful 20% of learning. Organizing, planning, task management, and prioritizing—you can think of executive functioning as the tools your child needs to get things done. Here are a few tips for helping your child with executive functioning:

Keep a daily routine

Elementary school children should be reading and writing for at least an hour each, every day. For the majority of elementary level students, the key to reading and writing development is time on task. Consistency is key. It’s also important to make sure your child’s reading material is at the right level. Too easy and the student won’t progress. Too hard and you can turn your child off to reading.

Make it visual.

Make sure your child is reading at least 30 minutes a day. Consider making it a family event, where at the end of each session, each family member takes a couple of minutes to share what they are reading while other family members ask questions. We also recommend setting aside time for weekly writing prompts based on your child's interests. Encourage creativity as well as spelling and good grammar.

Move targets closer.

When working on executive functioning, make sure to start with easily achievable goals and pick your battles. Don’t start out with a long, intimidating to-do list. Instead, start off with a simpler list and focus on being consistent. Develop the habit of consistent success and build from there.

Learning from home doesn’t have to be plagued with missed opportunities, stress, and failure. With the tips outlined above, it can actually be an opportunity for many students to develop skills that may have been skipped over during in-school classes.