2022 Year In Review

As The Study Huddle team reflected on the past year, it’s worth noting the words of physicist Richard Feynman, who said, “People who wish to analyze nature without using mathematics must settle for a reduced understanding.” The organization took this to heart and made math a key focus for 2022.

The team continued to encourage and support academic competitions in math, such as the AMC-8, MOEMS, Math Kangaroo, and AMC-10 & 12. These competitions not only help students learn beyond the constraints of the curriculum, but also promote inquiry-based learning through problem-solving techniques.

In addition to competition preparation, The Study Huddle also focused on group-based in-person and hybrid learning to foster teamwork and camaraderie. The organization expanded their reach to provide educational services in much-needed areas like high school tutoring. The high school tutoring program, which connects high school students with Ivy League college students or industry leaders, helps prepare students for STEM subjects and makes connections with experts in the field.

The pandemic brought about significant learning loss, and so The Study Huddle also worked to change the trajectory of the students’ learning curve to make up any shortfall. To support individual needs, the organization offered weekly small group mentoring programs under the guidance of a teacher, as well as advanced problem-solving classes for middle school students who were under-challenged in their gifted programs. The tutors also leveraged hybrid classrooms and class recordings to allow for flexibility and accessibility, and worked to improve existing academic competition and test preparation programs.

The results speak for themselves: the high school tutoring program has been successful in establishing connections between tutors and students, and preparing students for upcoming assessments. In academic competitions, the students are performing significantly better than the national average in MOEMS competitions, with over 50% qualifying for the AIME. In the PSAT prep course, more than 50% of the students placed at the 99th percentile with scores ranging from 670-720, and 30% received a perfect score of 720.

Overall, the focus on math and problem-solving, along with individualized attention and the use of technology, has helped the students improve their understanding and performance. The team hopes to continue this progress in the coming year, and will keep encouraging students to enjoy the process of learning rather than just the outcome.

One of the key ways students were encouraged to enjoy the process of learning was by rewarding them for showing their thought process and allowing them to enjoy their own discovery and learning. The educators also made sure to deconstruct concepts into steps to demonstrate understanding and teach concepts through hands-on practice.

Incorporating technology into the teacher’s instructions helps drive the quality of instruction. The Study Huddle used technology like online platforms and learning management systems to make sure the students had access to resources and materials outside of the classroom. The organization also used virtual and augmented reality tools to provide immersive and interactive experiences that enhanced their understanding of the material.

One of the most important aspects of the teaching instruction was the focus on hands-on and active learning. The Study Huddle believes that the best way to ensure students understand and retain information is through the use of real-world examples and practical application. This is why the team incorporated even more group sessions and group tutoring opportunities into the curriculum. Practice socializing in these academically focused settings never hurts either.

Another key initiative the team implemented was the use of formative assessments to monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly. By using formative assessments, The Study Huddle was able to identify areas where students were struggling and provide targeted support and interventions. The educators also used data from these assessments to inform instruction and make adjustments to the curriculum to better meet the needs of the students.

In addition to the academic support provided, the team also made sure to address the emotional and social well-being of the students. The Study Huddle also provided opportunities for students to connect and engage with their peers through virtual and in-person social events.

All of these initiatives helped to change the trajectory of the students learning curve and catch up on the learning loss caused by the pandemic. The Study Huddle is proud of the progress the students have made, and the team is confident that they will continue to excel in the future. The organization will continue to support individualized learning and focus on improving the overall statistics in test scores and competition wins.

In conclusion, 2022 was a challenging year for education due to the ongoing pandemic and its effects on student learning. Despite the challenges, the team was able to successfully implement initiatives that improved the students’ understanding and performance in math. Instructors were able to bridge the gap in learning loss and support individualized learning. The Study Huddle will continue to focus on math, problem-solving, and using technology to drive the quality of instruction. There will also continue to be an emphasis placed on hands-on and active learning, formative assessments, and the emotional and social well-being of the students.

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