No one questions the need for almost incessant practice to become a world-class athlete. Long days practicing in the heat or cold, or money spent on individual coaching to perfect a skill are not only understood as necessary but are encouraged to help athletes optimize their skills. Few would argue the inherent value in practice as it relates to athletics, but there is a glaring double standard when the concept of practice is applied to academics.
Just like an athlete, students must practice continually to optimize their learning. It’s not enough for students to work on academics only in school. Students must practice their skills regularly outside of school to turn learning into real world knowledge. It is normal for students to take breaks from learning when they are on breaks from school. However, it is not necessary for kids to take breaks from learning. Learning can and should be encouraged continually for all students.
This summer let’s discover the countless ways we can keep our kid’s learning going. Think past formal sitdown learning and consider active activities that offer opportunities for spontaneous learning and real world application. For example, younger children can know more about their roles in the home and community by learning to plant vegetables, prepare simple meals or learning to do chores. Older kids can learn about money, consumer behavior, delayed gratification, and advertising bias and psychology as they earn money, save for what they want or plan for future purchases.
Teens with jobs or incomes can be made responsible for their cell phone bills, practice budgeting skills, research purchases, or learn about credit, banking and money management that will be immediately relevant when they are ready to buy a car or leave home for the first time.
If children are behind academically, formal, sitdown learning should be incorporated into the daily routine alongside informal learning opportunities. These are just a few ways to keep learning going outside of school. Some students master academic content effortlessly. However, some learners must practice skills continually to maintain what they are learning and not regress academically. In these cases, continual practice will serve learners the way practice serves athletes. They will be far more skilled and prepared to perform than they would be without practice. The absence of athletic practice will eventually cause athletes to lose games, but the absence of academic practice will cause many students to lose in life.
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