It happens to millions of students every year. 2.4 million to be exact in the United States. The national rate of retention has been on the rise for the past 25 years. By the 9th grade, half of all American students have flunked at least one grade.
Students suffer extreme anxiety over the prospect of being left behind, and their self-esteems can take the largest hit. Research has found few “significant differences between groups of students retained early (kindergarten through third grade) or later (fourth through eighth grades).
Authors and University. of California researchers Shane Jimerson, Gabrielle Anderson, and Angel Whipple comment note, “What is most important is that, across studies, retention at any grade level is associated with later high school dropout, as well as other deleterious long-term effects.” They emphasize that “retention was found to be one of the most powerful predictors of high school dropout.” So powerful, in fact, that high school dropouts are five times more likely to have repeated a grade; students who repeat at least two grades have a 100 percent prob- ability of dropping out of school.
The solution lies neither in social promotion nor in the practice of retention. It depends on parents and teachers staying involved and asking themselves what they can do differently for each individual student on a case by case basis.
IF YOUR CHILD IS AT RISK OF GRADE RETENTION,
REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:
- Do your homework! The adverse effects of retention should not be ignored. Discuss alternatives with your child’s school support staff before blindly accepting this option.
- Meet with instructional personal to evaluate your child’s academic strengths, weaknesses, study skills, learning style, and behavioral problems. Work with either the school or a private educational service to develop an intervention plan that works for your child.
- Consider getting a private tutor to work with your child independently. Club Z! In-Home Tutoring will provide affordable, customized, one-on-one instruction for your child using the school’s curriculum. Club Z! serves students in all subjects, grades K-12. Teachers will travel to your home and will help your child get the remediation, confidence, and study skills necessary for him to catch up and get ahead. Club Z! students average a 2 letter grade improvement in 60 days, and students can work at their own pace in a non-competitive environment. Club Z! offers flexible schedules and no long term contracts.
- Stay involved! Children whose parents are engaged in their progress at school are less likely to be at risk.
- Closely monitor the progress your child is making once the interventions are implemented. Do not wait too long before making adjustments to approaches that are clearly not working.
JOIN ClubZ! at the Beaver County 7th Annual Week of the Young Child Celebration at the Beaver Valley Mall on Saturday April 16, 2011 from 10 am to 2 pm. The theme this year is “Investing in Young Children Benefits All.” There is no charge to participate in this family event that offers lots of fun for kids and information for parents! ClubZ! WILL HAVE A GIVEAWAY !! STOP BY OUR VENDOR TABLE AND SAY YOU SAW US IN MAC KID !
ClubZ! offers programs in ALL areas of the curriculum, for ages 4 and UP , is highly affordable and works with YOUR child’s curriculum and schedule.
YOUR FIRST VISIT IS a FREE no obligation meeting at YOUR home! It consists of a meeting with a ClubZ! representative to help “hear” and define your child’s needs so that the right tutor and program can be chosen. It’s worth investigating and Mac Kid Approved! We’ve met with the representatives many times and are confident in their mission and ability to help your child!
50 percent off the enrollment registration with Mac Kid Mention ( ages 4-10)
10 percent off the FIRST 6 HOURS OF TUTORING with Mac Kid Mention ( ages 11 and up)
