With thanks to Dr. Donny Newsome, whose correspondence inspired and informed this blog post.

• It sounds like Fit Learning’s approach is just what my child needs to take their learning to the next level. How do I know which program is right for my learner?
• My child may need tutoring in multiple areas – where do I begin?
• My child’s teacher has raised concerns about their problem-solving skills.

One thing that makes Fit Learning a great “fit” for many families is the fact that we offer a variety of programs covering core subject areas. These includes reading, math, expressive writing, logic, penmanship, spelling, and study skills. Our Lil Fits kindergarten readiness program prepares young children for school through early exposure to many subject areas. We serve gifted/talented students as well as those who are struggling in school. (And, of course, all of our instruction is 1:1, with highly personalized learning sessions based on each learner’s specific skill deficits and motivators.)

So, where to begin in choosing a program for your learner?

In some cases, a child may struggle with one specific subject area, so it may seem obvious which program would most benefit them. For example, if a student finds math especially challenging, then a Fit Math enrollment is the way to go, right? However, Fit Learning co-founder Dr. Donny Newsome advises that the situation can actually be more nuanced. He recommends digging deeper to consider the following types of questions.

• Does your learner find word problems harder than regular computation?
• Do they struggle to navigate the number line flexibly?
• Does your child conduct the wrong operation on math problems?
• Does your learner struggle to understand time (e.g., frequently asking “are we there yet…”)?
• After a day of school, is your learner able to recount their day chronologically?
• Can your student effectively organize their room/toys/backpack?
• How do they do socially?
• How does your child do with learning new rules (e.g., in a new board game)?

Why are these questions so important?

Dr. Newsome points out that, at Fit, our experience has shown that students who struggle with a specific subject area often have underlying challenges – beyond the specific content itself – that are making it more difficult for them to learn. Here’s what we mean by that.

• If a learner finds word problems harder than regular math computation, then reading comprehension could be an area of deficit.
• If a child struggles to navigate the number line flexibly, then there may be a deficit in sequencing language.
• If a student conducts the wrong operation on math problems, they may have deficits related to understanding categorization or hierarchy.
• If they struggle to understand time, they may lack relational skills for understanding the connection between times on a clock and the relative experience of time passage.
• If, at the end of a school day, a learner struggles to recount their day chronologically, they could likely use help with skills such as sequencing, cause/effect, and describing.
• If a child is unable to effectively organize their room (or toys or backpack), then their hierarchy skills could be weak.
• If a learner has difficulty navigating social situations, they may have a deficit related to perspective taking.
• Finally, if a child has a hard time learning and remembering new rules, it could indicate skill deficits in the areas of psychological flexibility, cause/effect, sequence, and perspective.

The answers to these questions may reveal that your learner would benefit from the Fit Logic program along with (or prior to) Fit Math. This is because Fit Logic boosts executive functioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These are key skills needed for true understanding and success in all subject areas. The Logic curriculum targets the underlying areas that affect one’s proficiency in comprehending, sequencing, classifying, relating, and describing. Dr. Newsome advises that, for a student with deficits in these core skills, Fit Logic’s foundational program can make tutoring in math (or reading or writing) even more efficient. Simply put, the critical thinking skills and cognitive fitness gained through Fit Logic help learners grow in all academic areas, with benefits for years to come.

You don’t have to work through this alone.

Contact Fit Learning St. Louis and speak with Director Janice Smith about your child’s unique needs and challenges. Together you can discuss whether your child is a good candidate for a Fit Logic enrollment, either in conjunction with Fit Math (or another subject area) or as a precursor to it.