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We know fluent behavior when we see it: a smooth and rhythmic dance routine, an effortless piano performance, or a meaningful conversation in a foreign language. A fluent skill is automatic, effortless, and neurologically permanent. Fluent skills enable the learning of more complex skills. Experts in sports, music, and performing arts have embraced measurement systems and repeated practice routines to build fluent repertoires for decades; however, these methods receive little attention in classrooms. A lack of fluency or mastery of fundamental academic skills is often the cause of a child’s difficulty in the classroom.
Science has determined that kids don’t learn based on arbitrary timelines – like their age. Just because a child turns a year older does not mean they have mastered the skills needed to move up a grade level. Unfortunately, kids do not learn by merely being exposed to the material. Kids (and adults) learn by the repeated reinforcement of their behavior over time. Dr. Kimberely Berens, Fit Learning founder, says, “The repeated, reinforced practice of skills is what leads to permanent learning. In fact, with enough repeated, reinforced practice, skills actually become established as habits.”
A fluent skill is remembered, resistant to distractions and fatigue, and easily usable to apply to the learning of more complex skills. The Fit Learning model ensures that learners reach fluency in foundational skills (e.g. math facts) before moving on to achieving fluency in more complex skills (e.g. math word problems). When learners achieve fluency across a variety of academic skill areas, they begin to demonstrate cognitive fitness. Learners who are cognitively fit are agile, flexible, focused, perseverant, confident, determined, and able to think critically. Developing fluency is the key to growth and long-term academic success.
As we enter into year three of pandemic living, which has greatly affected the way students have learned, the need to build fluency in core academic skill areas has become even greater. With remote and hybrid learning the norm over the last two years, learners of all ages have been adversely affected by a lack of appropriate instruction and practice of skills. So, as students grow a year older, their academic progress has not grown with them. Now, with learning largely back in the classroom, many learners are finding themselves behind.
Fit Learning Cleveland provides highly specialized instruction that is backed by science. Fit learners begin by taking a comprehensive assessment to pinpoint skills where there are knowledge gaps. Then an individual learning plan is developed to target those specific “building-block” skills. Once the learner is proficient in that initial set of skills, they can much more easily move on to advanced concepts. This approach of “filling in the gaps” provides a strong and lasting foundation. Fit learners make an average of one year’s growth in 40 instructional hours. Fit Learning works with students of all ages and ability levels in Reading, Math, Comprehension/Executive Functioning, Expressive Writing, Penmanship, and Spelling.
Learn more at fitlearningcle.com