Supplementing Your Child’s Education via Futures Academy’s Learning Café

Being successful in school is not just about understanding subject matter. Possessing perseverance, organization, planning, and emotion regulation are equally crucial for thriving academically. Often, these competencies are part of a balancing act that many students have yet to master effectively in normal circumstances. And when you add the challenges of virtual learning, countless students struggle to survive, much less thrive.

According to a report by McKinsey & Company that surveyed teachers across the globe, the adverse effects of distance education not only impact students academically but socially as well. Key among the detriments attributed to online education is learning loss.

If you are the parent of a stressed-out learner or are a student who has trouble with online learning, you may be frustrated and perplexed about where to turn for help. Understand there are supports available that offer hope and produce the positive results students and parents desire. At the Learning Café, parents are kept informed about their child’s progress, empowering them to be advocates for keeping students on track and students receive the structure they need to excel educationally and socially.

Learning Café as Supplemental Support
Futures Academy’s Learning Café assists young people by strengthening essential skills and providing one-on-one support to encourage competence and help manage homework-related stress. One of the core components of the Learning Café centers around improving students’ executive functioning.

What is Executive Functioning?
Executive functioning is a set of mental processes that equip us to perform the vital skills needed to navigate everyday life effectively. There are three broad categories that encompass executive functioning – working memory, flexible thinking, and inhibitory control. These skills develop in early childhood through the mid-20s and are necessary for kids to achieve competence in various settings, including the home, social situations, and school. When it comes to school, being proficient in such areas as time management, staying focused, and organization optimize learners’ ability to achieve.

“How We Help Students”
Through group learning and individualized coaching, the Learning Café aids in skill development by increasing self-awareness and equipping students with strategies for success. We also utilize the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment tool. The MAP test evaluates learners’ grade-level proficiency in the areas of math, reading, and language. The tool is useful for identifying students’ strengths and areas for improvement to tailor a program to the individual student.

Group Learning
Using small groups to foster peer interaction, we teach students how to be successful online learners through homework support and engagement in activities that promote this goal.

Study Skills Course – This small group resource focuses on helping students understand their learning styles while giving them solutions for getting organized, improving study habits and time management, and following through on assignments.

One-to-One Support
Individualized attention is another layer of support that is provided via the Learning Café.

• Homework Coach – With the assistance of a homework coach, students receive skill reinforcement and weekly meetings to help relieve homework stress. And through weekly check-ins with parents, they gain peace of mind knowing their child has access to the resources necessary to progress.
• Tutoring – One-to-one tutoring is also an included service where expert teachers work with students based on subject-specific needs, focusing on content mastery, skill-building, and confidence.

No matter what school your child is attending, the Learning Café can help them overcome virtual learning loss. There are two programs to choose from, Learning Café Classic and Learning Café Premium, designed to meet your child’s needs. If you have been looking for a supplemental program to support your child’s online school format, consider the Learning Café. Visit Futures Academy today to learn more about the Learning Café and how we help students succeed.

Futures Academy, 35 N. Lake Ave #160, Pasadena, (866) 598-0406 or visit www.futures.edu/campus/pasadena.