Will enrichment programs just replicate what is learned in school?
By Nikka Pangan
Instead of replicating what they learn in school, a good enrichment program is supposed to supplement it through proper support and skills enhancement.
What is an enrichment program supposed to do for my child?
Regular schools follow certain curricula to teach your children the skills and knowledge that they are supposed to know at their grade level, all in one year. Standardized quizzes and exams tell you whether or not they have learned and mastered the skills necessary to move on to the next grade level. With the number of topics that have to be covered, time constraints, and big class sizes, it is virtually impossible to attend to every child’s learning needs. Remember, children are diverse.
An enrichment program is supposed to do two things: (1) help a child who is struggling in a specific subject matter or (2) enhance the skills of the child who wants to do even better in a specific subject matter. Between these two, what does your child need help with?
A struggling child is lagging behind his or her classmates, is resistant to attending class, is less likely to participate, and refuses to do assignments whether alone or with a parent. Your child may be behaving in this way not because he/she is lazy and does not want to learn but because there is a learning gap that needs to be filled more intently. An enrichment program is recommended for him/her so that a teacher can focus on the skills that he/she needs to build for him/her to appreciate the lessons being taught in class better.
A child who is able to understand the lessons and perform well in school is constantly on the hunt for the next challenge because he/she wants to get even better. This curiosity and desire for further exploration should be encouraged. An enrichment program is beneficial to achieve subject area mastery through greater experience in the form of activities, individualized projects, lively discussions, etc.
By addressing these two needs, parents and teachers alike are able to witness children become lifelong, active learners.
How do I spot a good enrichment program for my child?
There are 3 things to look for in a good enrichment program:
A good enrichment program has a good assessment tool for proper leveling.
This is important for two reasons: (1) You need to know what your child actually needs and (2) where your child is at. The only way that we can solve a problem is if we are able to identify the root of it. Is your child getting low grades in Math because he/she is not confident with numbers or because he/she cannot comprehend the word problem in the first place? What if your child is having difficulty writing essays not because he/she does not know what to say but because he/she does not have adequate vocabulary and organization skills to express his/her thoughts? What if your child is actually proficient in a subject but is too advanced for his/her grade level making him/her feel discouraged to do well in class? What your child actually needs can be different from what you perceive it to be, and that is okay. It is through a good assessment tool that you are able to discover these. From the assessment, the enrichment center should be able to determine the current level of your child and meet him/her there. The style of teaching and the kind of activities given to your child must be apt for his/her competencies and pace in order to build mastery over time. Giving something that is either too easy or too difficult, too slowly or too quickly, will discourage and frustrate your child just the same. It has to be just right.
A good enrichment program is able to address the specific skills that your child needs.
Now that you know the specific needs of your child, the next thing to ask yourself is, “What is the ultimate goal for my child?” As you review the program in depth, it should be able to answer this question. For example, the assessment result indicates that your child is great at reading comprehension but he/she needs help with academic writing. Your goal could be for your child to get high grades in his/her high school papers. Please find out if your chosen program will be able to supply your child with the proper techniques and guided practice opportunities in order to achieve your goal. If yes, then you can look forward to a fruitful experience for your son/daughter. Your child has very specific needs that will be addressed best in very specific ways.
A good enrichment program aims for independence.
As your child learns the critical skills taught by the enrichment program, he will no longer need tutoring to do schoolwork. This will boost his/her confidence which he/she will bring to regular school, and later on in life. Teaching a child to learn independently is the true measure of an effective enrichment program.
At The Learning Library
We understand that regular schools do not have the luxury of reiterating lessons that a child is having difficulty in. By zeroing in on the learning gaps of every child, we are able to give efficient, thoughtful, and purposeful assistance to get students to the level that they need to be. Since all programs are run by real teachers, their expertise on child development keeps our programs relevant across changing times and needs.
As we give our attention to every child, we encourage them to learn from one another as well. While children are grouped according to age and their prescribed grade level in regular school, we group them according to their competencies. Having a small group of 4 to 6 kids with very similar needs allows them to grow at a faster rate because they are in an environment of like-minded children who are either in need of help or of more challenge. By doing so, children feel less shy and insecure.
We focus on 4 fundamental language skills to develop independence in students: listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension, and writing. Regularity builds mastery, and mastery builds independence. Whatever a child’s learning needs and pace are, he/she is equipped with the critical academic skills needed to succeed in school and beyond.
Find out why The Learning Library’s enrichment programs are trusted by many. Schedule a free assessment by calling 0917-8282669 / 0917-8192266 or messaging us at inquiry@learninglibraries.com.