Episode: 289

Episode Title: Not All Education is Academic

The academic learning loss created by the pandemic is real, but don’t forget what kids did learn last year—coming up next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 289 show:

Hello and welcome to The Perna Syndicate! Today, I want to offer a word of encouragement to parents and educators who are concerned about the academic learning loss that many students experienced last year.

As we know all too well, kids are observant. They absorb tremendous amounts of information from watching others. So as you deal with challenges and difficulties, remember that young people are often taking their cue from you. The example you set may have a bigger influence than you know.

Yes, 2020 created learning loss for many students. And yes, 2021 could turn out to be another year of disrupted learning. But don’t forget: not all education is academic. 

Life skills like coping with stress, putting forth your best effort every time, navigating uncertainty, dealing with conflict, and treating others with grace are all incredibly valuable lessons. And kids are learning them, right alongside us as parents and educators. 

Our goal is to help kids process their emotions, cope with stress, and solve problems. We want them to become stronger and more resilient. These skills will not only help them in school, but will also benefit them as they make decisions about their future.

As we work to bridge the academic learning gap, don’t forget everything else that kids are learning. Whatever the new school year brings, we can make the most of it by modeling a positive attitude—and helping kids do the same. 

Tomorrow: hope is important, but by itself it’s not a tactic to make smart education and career choices. I’ll explain more on tomorrow’s episode of The Perna Syndicate…see you then!