How to address unfinished learning in math

Time, time,time, see what’s become of me…  

A Hazy Shade of Winter by Simon & Garfunkel

The lyrics of A Hazy Shade of Winter by Simon & Garfunkel can awaken what teachers and administrators feel when they are trying to find more time for learning. We cannot take back the time we lost from Covid but there is time for filling in the gaps in learning.

Time in school is used in a variety of ways, but where do we find more time for learning?  School days are filled with lots of distractions and disruptions.  When students walk into school they are on school time, but within the school day students transition to other classes, have lunch, use the restroom!  Of course we will keep this time, but what about time that is scheduled for learning.

Once students are in the classroom they are on class time.  Teachers and students are often interrupted by announcements, fire drills, phone calls from the office, attendance, and the list goes on.  Schools have limited distractions from the outside the classroom but we are still struggling with time inside the classroom.

Within the classroom,  students and teachers have instructional and academic learning time.  In a 50 minute class, often instructional and learning time is cut to 30 minutes or less.  This is not enough time for teachers to do their job nor for students to do theirs, learning.  

Is it the student’s responsibility to learn?

Increasing academic learning time may not look the same in every classroom.  Students, teachers and administrators each have a role in academic learning time.  If students are on task, not interrupting each other or the teacher, there is more time for instruction.  Much easier said than done!  Teachers are teaching, students are learning, but is it enough to fill the gaps and have students on or beyond level?

Students must take responsibility for their learning.  They know when they are off task, do not understand a concept, and when they can make time for study.  While they know these things, they are kids.  While we would like to say they don’t make good choices, they may be overscheduled!  Students are involved in sports, after school clubs, and the arts.  Some have obligations, work even full time, taking care of siblings, making dinner and helping with homework.  While they may not make good choices, some of the choices are out of their control. 

Teachers really know how they use the time in their classroom.  They know what they have covered, what is on the exams and the curriculum standards they are expected to cover.  They also know their students, when they are off task, often when they do not understand a concept, and how they may not be able to study.  

Administrators know the schedules of teachers and students.  They may know what they think is going on in classrooms.  They probably know the most “notable” students in the school, positive and negative!

Everyone has a piece of the time puzzle but who sees the whole picture.  Of course there is communication, studies regarding time in schools, but is there time for that?  Haven’t we tried this before? Let’s face it, all stakeholders, students, teachers and administrators want to be successful. 

Using our instruction and learning time more effectively

Maybe we need to think less about time but more about the tools we are using or should be using.  “Remediation” has become the tool used to fill the gaps, but it hasn’t worked and it has taken too much time.  There are so many skills and standards that may need to be learned, how do you prioritize which ones a student needs?  It is crucial that students are continuing on grade level, but which skills do they need to be there? 

Course mastery allows students to work on gap areas that need to be filled while at the same time working with on level content and skills. Course mastery allows teachers to help students fill in gaps while assigning specific skills for current content mastery.

Using Khan Academy Districts as Your Instructional Tool 

Khan Academy Districts can be used by schools to accelerate learning for all students.  This makes it easier for administrators and teachers to address gaps in knowledge, and use data to inform real changes in instruction. There are many ways that schools can use Khan Academy Districts to find time and fill in those gaps. 

Khan Academy Districts Tools for Students:

Khan Course Challenge:  Students need to know their gaps in knowledge so they can purposefully find time and know what they need to remediate.  T

Khan Mastery Reporting for Students: Students need to know when they really understand a concept and they have reached mastery .  

Khan Academy Districts Tools for Teachers:

Activity Report: Teachers need to be able to know at a glance what students need to remediate and be able to assign targeted activities to help students purposefully remediate necessary skills.

Khan Mastery Reports and Assigning Assignments:  Teachers need to see when a student reaches mastery  and when a student is stuck needing more assistance  

Khan Academy Districts Tools for Administrators:

Activation Reports:  Administrators need to know who is using the resources to fill in gaps for students and monitor at a glance teachers and students . 

Progress Overview Reports:  Administrators need to know the data regarding minutes on resources and the number of skills mastered.  

Once everyone has the information that they need, and the correct tools to support learning and filling gaps, the time problem is different.  Armed with the information, administrators and teachers can talk about their classes, specific students within classes and what is needed to support all learners.  

The conversation is now around helping students be successful.  As a team, administrators and faculty can:

1. Have conversations about time before, during, and after school when support can occur. 
2.  Identifying small groups of students, across grades and teachers, with similar skill deficits and finding opportunities to work with them. 
3.  Have team conversations (faculty, students)identifying time around student schedules for added support.
4. Communication with the school community, like coaches and after school programs, to help carve out time for mastery.

Teachers and administrators are also a bridge for parents.  Parents want their children to be successful.  Students’ gaps did not just spring up, they have struggled, as have their parents, in supporting them.  With the data from the Khan Academy Districts reporting, teachers and administrators can meet with parents and discuss a specific plan for students.  Parents can help identify time, monitor mastery, (Khan Parent accounts) and support their children through their mastery programs.  

Using all the tools available, and by working together, all can celebrate!  Using Khan Academy District’s tools, administrators, teachers, students and parents can all celebrate student achievement and success!

Resources

An Introduction to Khan Academy for Teachers

6 tips for motivating students

Phillips, Vicky. Finding Time For More Teaching, Learning And Joy In The School Day (December 2022)

Silva, Elena. ON THE CLOCK: Rethinking the Way Schools Use Time (January 2007)

Superville, Denisa R. Making time for academic recovery in the School Day:  Ideas from 3 Principals (December 2022)