PARCC is dead, what a relief! Now we move on to what really is important: the student. As a parent or educator, you must understand what your student understands, help them exceed expectations, and prepare them for the future. Here at Genie Academy, we have been talking with our teachers and gathering insight to learn to live without PARCC.
First, we need to know where the student is academic. The questions we need to ask are: Is my child performing to standards? If not, how can I help? To find this out, you must know the standards for your student’s grade level. The current standards by the New Jersey Department of Education can be found below.
Kindergarten Language Arts, Math
Grade 1 Language Arts, Math
Grade 2 Language Arts, Math
Grade 3 Language Arts, Math
Grade 4 Language Arts, Math
Grade 5 Language Arts, Math
These standards are essential ways of knowing if your student is on the path to success but do not worry if they are not meeting them. Every child is uniquely gifted and that gift might not necessarily be fractions or creative writing. Because of Genie Academy’s commitment to understanding fundamentals at every level and personalized learning plan, every child succeeds.
Secondly, exceeding expectations is a must. Unfortunately, there is a tendency in the NJ public school administration to not encourage the student past the bare minimum. Once student enters college or the workforce they are expected from day one to surpass the standard or leave. This is the harsh truth of the matter. Just as harsh is the fact that denying your students opportunities to go beyond the status quo is severely crippling their future.
Finally, there is the future. High school and college preparation does not have to be daunting. The steps you take now only aid in the success of your student. There are many college preparation routes you can take. Many high school students enroll in summer college courses. These are lower-level undergraduate courses that provide the atmosphere and education of a university. There are also online and in-person college workshops to teach students how to prepare for classes, how to manage their time, and how to use effective study techniques. CollegeBoard is a phenomenal resource for more than just the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). On their site, you can find K-12 preparation and enrichment services, college guidance, and a comprehensive and interactive program.
Every journey starts with the first step. When you know what to expect of the future, you know how to prepare for the future. You must work with your student, ask what future he or she wants and help your student achieve this goal.
There is no denying that academic enrichment is paramount, especially with these ever-changing and often failing efforts of standardized testing. It is now in the hands of parents and educators to shape the future of these students. As in any structure, there needs to be a solid understanding of the foundation of reading, writing, and math in order to build and grow. If the student does not understand mathematics vocabulary but memorized 2 + 2 = 4, they will not get very far. If your child knows every letter of the alphabet but does not understand why sentences and paragraphs are structured the way they are, it will be impossible to interact coherently with the world.
Sourced through the New Jersey Department of Education: http://www.state.nj.us/education/
