COVID-19 has had a profound impact on learning, especially in younger grades
COVID-19 has brought a profound impact on student learning over the past year-and-a-half, especially for younger grades.
"Teachers for the younger age group are seeing that more on the social side," said Oxford Learning director Lorelei Burgess, who added reading and academics are not the only areas of concern. "More so, the children's ability to learn, to sit and focus to instruction."
Many students have struggled and fallen behind academically. Burgess said teachers faced a near nightmare scenario, to come up with strategic and coherent teaching plans in unstable environments.
"They have gone from in-person teaching, to online teaching to in-person teaching and in some cases back to online teaching, when the schools have closed," said Burgess.
Brittany Amber said the pandemic exposed inequities in the education system. Amber's daughter in Grade 2 takes French immersion.
"She hasn't had consistency in learning French," said Amber. "Without that consistency and being in a home that speaks English, it has been a challenge for her to absorb and learn the language at a level that immersion requires."
South of the border, the federal government is now focusing its energy on a new strategy that targets the mental health and well-being of students.
"We must make sure that will be social and emotional well-being is part of the program," said U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. "And that we provide educators with the training to best support our students."
Burgess agreed with this approach.
"I really do believe that the mental health impact for both teachers and students is going to be significant," said Burgess, who also predicted the educational fallout from COVID-19 would last for years to come.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.