Will Enrichment Programs Just Replicate What is Learned in School?

Nikka Pangan, Researcher

Regular schools follow certain curricula to teach your children prescribed skills and knowledge 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.

Instead of replicating what they learn in school, a good enrichment program supplements it through proper support and skills enhancement. It must 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?

Will my child benefit from an enrichment program?

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.

By addressing these needs, parents and teachers alike are able to help 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:

1. It 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 is not confident with numbers or because he cannot comprehend the word problem in the first place? What if she is having difficulty writing essays not because she does not know what to say but because she does not have adequate vocabulary and organization skills to express her thoughts? Is he actually too advanced for his grade level and not motivated to do well in class? It is through a good assessment tool that you are able to pinpoint these.

   From the assessment, the enrichment center should be able to determine the current level of your child and start there. The style of teaching and the kind of activities given to your child must be apt for his 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.

2. It is able to build the specific skills that your child needs.

   “What is the ultimate goal for my child?” As you review the program in depth, it should be able to answer this question. If the assessment indicates that your child is great at reading comprehension but lacks essay-writing skills, you need a good academic writing program. Find out if the enrichment can teach proper techniques and offer guided practice to achieve your goal. Your child has specific needs that will be best addressed in specific ways.

3. It aims for independence.

   This is often where enrichment differs greatly from private tutoring. As your child develops critical skills for academic work, he will no longer need help with schoolwork: he will build the confidence that will benefit him even beyond school. Is this the goal of your chosen enrichment program?

Other considerations

• Is it taught by professional teachers?

  Regular schools do not have the luxury of time to repeat lessons that a child finds difficult. The lessons, however, were taught by professional teachers who ensure effective delivery of the lessons. Is the enrichment delivered by bonafide teachers who can adjust the program as needed to suit your child’s current needs?

• Do they have the right classmates?

  In school, children learn not just from their teachers but from their classmates as well. Does the enrichment center feature comfortable class sizes where students all belong to the same competency level? Is your child in a group where he is both encouraged and challenged by children who have similar skills? This helps him feel less shy and confident enough to make mistakes while learning.

• Will your child enjoy it?

  Is the program fun, or do you have to enforce the accomplishment of assigned worksheets? It takes time to build the fundamental skills promised by enrichment programs. If your child quits after one or two months -- simply because they did not like it -- then it would be a waste of tuition.

Building The Skills That Matter Most

At THE LEARNING LIBRARY, we focus on 4 fundamental language skills to develop independence in students: listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension, and writing. Twice a week classes are reinforced by practice on other days of the week. Regularity builds mastery, and mastery builds independence.

Find out why our enrichment programs have been trusted by parents since 2006. Schedule a free assessment by calling 0917-828-2669 or messaging us at inquiry@learninglibraries.com.