​Everyone is still talking about the learning losses caused by COVID.  The big question is are we making any progress toward correcting these learning losses?

The answer is unclear.  Several states are reporting problems:

• The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR) reported that “learning progress slowed across all grades and subjects.”  The OLR also stated on the average, students made less progress last year than in previous years.

 

• Superintendent Kevin Whitaker from Jamestown Public Schools (JPS) in New York state also confirms concern over learning losses during the pandemic. He explained that JPS would be working on overcoming these learning losses through Academic Intervention Services (AIS).  As Superintendent Whitaker stated,

“We are focused on learning loss recovery….  There’s been a tremendous amount of loss over the course of the past two years, and we’re hoping to address that with AIS teachers and reading teachers and some additional teachers on staff. But the second big item would be mental health support. We are committed to addressing the mental health stresses, anxieties and other mental health issues that have arisen as a result of the pandemic.” 


It is wise that the Jamestown Public Schools are looking at both the academic and mental health needs of their students.  In my reading clinics, I combine both learning and counseling.  It helps students learn and correct old learning problems.
 
While many state education officials talk about learning losses in the classroom from COVID, I could not find anyone reporting on improvement.  In fact, how will we know if learning losses are being corrected?
 
The only true way to measure improvement is through testing.  Although some states are reporting test data, most are not. 

 
One Example:  The Texas Education Agency Report
 
As stated earlier, it’s hard to measure the exact extent of learning losses from the pandemic.  Accurate test data is difficult to obtain unless states compare today’s test data with the test results obtained before the pandemic.  You cannot compare apples and oranges.  In order to accurately measure learning loss, you must use the same test. 
 
Fortunately, the Texas Education Agency did release comparative test data and stated,
 
“Since 2012, test results in the state had been steadily improving, but after COVID-19 related disruptions, the percentage of students meeting reading expectations dropped back to 2016 rates and the percentage meeting math expectations dropped to 2013 passing rates. Math test performance saw the most significant drop, from 50% of students meeting their grade level in 2019 to only 35% this year.”
 
This is from the 2021 report.  The 2022 scores are not available yet.  The report shows what most of us would expect from 2021—no improvement.
 
 
Were Learning Losses Worse Before or After COVID?
 
The Texas Education Agency report shows that 50% were reading below grade level before COVID.  The report talks extensively about how well scores were rising before COVID, but if you look carefully at the test scores presented in this report, the learning losses before COVID are much greater than the losses caused by COVID.
 
This is not a new problem, and it is not just happening in Texas.  It is a nationwide problem.  As a nation, we had devastating learning losses in reading before COVID.  According to the Nation’s Report Card, over 60% of students could not read at grade level before the pandemic. 
 
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For more on the learning losses that existed in reading before COVID, see:  Reading Wars are Over!  Phonics Failed.  Whole Language Failed.  Balanced Literacy Failed. Who Won?  It Certainly Wasn’t the Students
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​Our original question was:  Are schools making progress in reducing learning loss?
Thus far, we have not found any proof of improvement. 
It seems that so far, everyone is still trying to discuss how much COVID affected students.  Schools are talking about solutions, but we are not seeing any progress reports on that improvement.


Is There a Solution?
 
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath continued,
 
“… only 4% of students across all grades who are below grade level catch up within two years.”
 
Isn’t a 4% expected improvement rate completely and totally unacceptable?
  
At my reading clinic, I expect and produce such results as:

• A student who failed for nine straight years in public school is now reading.
• A student diagnosed with ADHD and failing in reading moved up two grade levels in one year.
• A student diagnosed with dyslexia and whose parents tried everything, including expensive private one-on-one systematic phonics tutoring, learned to read, and moved up to beginning chapter books in one year.
• Six children who entered the program reading at the (pre-K) level ended the year reading at the 2nd grade reading level.  Only one child in the group was a first grader.
• One student started at the pre-K level and ended the year reading at the third-grade level, while a second grader started the year reading below first grade and ended at the fourth-grade level.  This improvement was just from September to May.
• One year, a student moved up four grade levels in reading, 4 students moved up three grade levels in reading, and 8 students moved up two grade levels in reading after only 8 months of instruction. 
• Another year, two students moved up four grade levels in reading, 3 students moved up 3 grade levels in reading, and 6 students moved up two grade levels in reading after only 8 months of instruction. 
• Two students moved up 2 grade levels in reading after only 48 hours of instruction.

For the data on these students, see my book  After-School Programming and Intrinsic Motivation 

So, yes, we can teach failing students to read.  If we use the correct teaching methods, we can correct all reading failure—before and after COVID.  What method did I use?  Vowel Clustering.

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For more on Vowel Clustering, read:  Vowel Clustering Works Better than Phonics with At-Risk Students
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Will Tutoring Help?
 
The Texas Education report does say that Texas will be offering tutoring and special instruction to all students who do not pass the state test.  Neither the new state law or the Texas Education Agency report explains if such tutoring will enable students to pass the state test and/or what steps will be taken for students who still do not pass the state test after tutoring.
  
We need to remember that most schools offer tutoring, even offered tutoring for students who were struggling before COVID.  Tutoring is not new.  Yet the Nation’s Report Card test scores were higher in reading in 2017 than they were in 2019.  Yes, reading scores went down in 2019—before COVID.
 
The Nation’s Report Card showed that 4th grade students had a proficiently level (able to read at grade level) of 37% being able to read at grade level in 2017.  They went down to 35% in 2019 who were able to read at grade level.  This was before COVID.
 
In 8th grade the Nation’s Report Card showed similar results.  Students went down from 36% proficient (able to read) to 34% proficient.  Yes, that means that only 34% of 8th grade students were able to read at the 8th grade level.  These scores are also before COVID.
 
Tutoring alone may not be enough to correct the learning losses that our students are facing.
 
We need to admit that we had a major educational problem in reading long before COVID.  Because if we had been using the correct teaching methods in the classroom between 2017 and 2019, there is absolutely no reason that scores should have gone down.  Unfortunately, scores will continue to go down until we change the way (teaching method) we teach children to read.  We can blame it on COVID, but the real problem is not COVID learning losses.  The real problem is how we teach children to read in the public school classroom.
 
I will say it again.  Yes, we can teach children to read.  If we use the correct teaching methods, we can correct all learning losses in reading.  Unfortunately, we are not using the correct teaching methods in the classroom.  No, I did not say it was the fault of teachers.  Most teachers do not choose their own teaching methods.  It’s also not poverty.  Many of the students who I listed above from my reading clinic lived in the housing projects and were failing in reading when they entered my reading clinic. 
 
School boards, politicians, and angry mobs choose the teaching methods in most school districts.  Education in today’s public schools has nothing to do with teaching.  Schools have become political pawns.
 
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For more on teaching methods presently being used in the classroom, see:  When Phonics Fails  
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Are the Schools Using the Best Solutions?

I think that it is vital to correct any and all learning losses caused by COVID, but just returning to the 2019 reading level is not acceptable. Continuing to use the same old teaching method is also not going to work.  We cannot just ignore the learning losses that existed before COVID. 
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I have talked about this problem before.  Most schools want to talk about the educational devastation caused by COVID, but they rarely mention the learning losses that existed before COVID.
 
Paul Reville, former Secretary of Education for the state of Massachusetts, provides an excellent point to consider as we strive to correct learning losses in the classroom.
 
“Those of us in education know these problems have existed forever….  We need to redesign our systems of child development and education.”
 
“… in this situation, we don’t simply want to frantically struggle to restore the status quo because the status quo wasn’t operating at an effective level ….  We should be asking: How do we make our school, education, and child-development systems more individually responsive to the needs of our students? Why not construct a system that meets children where they are and gives them what they need inside and outside of school in order to be successful? Let’s take this opportunity to end the “one size fits all” factory model of education.”
 
Reville is correct.  If we are to help students improve, then we must correct all learning losses, not just the ones caused by COVID.  This brings us back to the question:  Are the schools using the best solutions to solve learning loss problems?
 
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For more on the methods schools are using to correct learning losses, read:  What Are Schools Saying about Pandemic Learning Losses, and What Is Being Done to Help? (Part 2 of a Series)
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Did We Answer the Question?  

We did not find any proof that schools have corrected the learning losses from COVID.  We are still waiting to see proof of improvement.  The primary suggestion that most schools discuss is tutoring.
 
Is Tutoring the Answer?

Many of the schools are talking about tutoring.  Tutoring can be effective; it may also not be effective.  Like every other teaching method, it depends on the tutoring methods being used.  Can tutoring solve the learning loss that students are struggling with? 
 
We will look at tutoring in more depth next time.  We will examine different tutoring methods that schools apply. In future posts, we’ll also examine some research that shows which tutoring methods may be best for helping struggling students recover.

Instead of trying to imitate others and following their example, be brave, wear a mask.

The coronavirus is becoming more and more contagious, so it’s important to choose the right coronavirus mask.
 

Yes, We Still Need Masks 

If you have been trying to decide whether you still need to wear a mask or not, a party of some of our leaders in Washington, D. C. just gave us a firsthand demonstration on why you should wear a mask:

 
“The number of people who tested positive for the coronavirus after attending the elite Gridiron Club dinner in Washington rose to 53 on Friday, all but confirming that the April 2 event marked a significant outbreak.

“The latest count suggests that at least 8 percent of the 630 journalists, politicians and VIPS who attended the annual dinner have reported positive tests.”

 
Yes, you guessed it, people were not wearing masks.  Most were vaccinated and many had received a booster shot, but no, they didn’t bother to wear their masks.  Masks provide that extra level of protection.
 
As Kimberly Prather, an aerosol scientist at the Scripps Institute of oceanography explains that, with the BA.2, a more contagious variant, old safety rules no longer apply.  Prather says that the old 6-foot rule is useless.  Prather contends that the rule should cover anyone sharing the air in a room. 

Similarly, Dr. Carlos Del Rio, an infectious disease specialist at Emory University, states:
 
"If you were part of an event where there's multiple infections, you will have been exposed. I don't care if it's 6 feet or 15…."
 
As obviously demonstrated in Washington, staying six feet apart or even being vaccinated is not enough.  If there is just one infected person in a room, then everyone is going to be exposed.
 
Remember our earlier analogy that COVID spreads similar to cigarette smoke?  It certainly did in Washington. As Meryl Davids Landau explains: 

 
“It’s true that viral particles are concentrated closest to an infected individual… but just as cigarette smoke eventually spreads throughout a room, so, too, does the coronavirus.”
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For more information, read:  Does My Child Still Need to Wear a Mask at School?
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Six feet or 15 feet will not be enough. Since it has been demonstrated that we still need to wear a mask, which mask will you choose?

 
Which Mask Should I Wear?
 
If you are trying to decide which mask to wear, it can be so confusing. 
 
The experts are saying to wear a N95, but what are the differences among the N95, KN95, and the KN94? 
 
 
The Difference Between the N95 and the KN95
 
Some of the experts are saying to be careful when purchasing KN95 face masks.  The KN95 is not necessarily as effective as the N95 mask.  Why?  Because of how it is made.
 
Dr. Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, and president and chief executive officer of ECRI (a non-profit organization that tests healthcare products used in hospitals) cautions people to be careful when purchasing KN95 masks. 


“…product safety, found that 60 to 70 percent of imported KN95 masks do not filter 95 percent of aerosol particulates, contrary to what their name suggests.” 
 
 
Joseph Allen, a COVID and ventilation expert from Harvard also stated that the N95 is best. He warns us to be careful when purchasing a KN95.

 
“… KN95s … a designation that’s very similar to an N95, but it’s not a US manufactured designation. I’m more cautious with these because we’ve had counterfeit [masks] on the market, some producing or providing only twenty five percent capture efficiency, despite being designated 95 percent. So KN95s can be good, it just requires consumers to do a bit more homework to look up on the FDA and CDC Web sites for the links that describe the testing done on masks by different manufacturers.  … if you’re going to buy a KN95, [make] sure that it’s a mask that has been vetted and verified by the US, FDA and CDC."

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The CDC website:  Approved N95 Respirators 3M Suppliers List | NPPTL | NIOSH | CDC
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Another factor to consider is that the KN95 does not provide the same breathability that the N95 provides. According to Conney Safety: 
 
“Besides the N95 being made to meet US standards and the KN95 being made to meet Chinese standards, data obtained from the performance testing of both masks show that there is a lower pressure drop on inhalation and exhalation for the N95 facemask. This signifies that the N95 is slightly more breathable than the KN95 face mask.”
 
One other concern is that the KN95 often fastens over the ears.  The N95 uses straps around the head,  which gives a better fit and more protection. 
 
Selecting the right mask is important.  Therefore, you need to check the manufacturer before purchasing a mask.  Also, be careful and watch out for false advertising. 

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For websites that give advice on selecting masks for children, see:  Do We Still Need to Wear a Mask?
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Is the KN94 safe to use?
 
Allen does say that a KF94 is usually very safe.

“… a KF94, these are masks certified out of Korea and as the name implies, ninety four percent effective. So really good masks. They tend to have a good fit and it’s a trusted certification out of Korea. These are widely used in South Korea.”

 
Buy a quality mask, but remember that fit is still a major concern. Olga Khazan explains: 


“… your mask has to fit well, and it has to be an N95 or similar—cloth masks offer scant protection against Omicron. “Well fitting” means you shouldn’t have any air leakage out of the sides of the mask, near the nose, or by the chin. If you wear glasses, they shouldn’t fog up….  The kind of mask that’s most likely to fit you snugly is the kind with back-of-the-head straps, as opposed to ear loops….” 

 
So, the conclusion is that a KN95 might be okay, but be careful, because some companies out of China are making KN95 masks that do not work as well.  Always check the CDC chart for the effectiveness before you buy a mask.

Don’t let caution keep you from buying and wearing a mask though.  Wear a quality mask and wear it correctly to protect yourself and those around you from COVID.

A lady proudly marched up and down the sidewalk carrying a sign that read,

“No Mask.  No Way.  I Choose Freedom.”

Exactly what was this lady choosing?  According to statistics, she was choosing COVID.  She was choosing to help spread COVID.  She was choosing to help COVID continue to mutate and form new variants.  She was choosing to help COVID continue to kill.
 
As of this week, COVID has killed 982,371 people in the United States. Why would anyone choose to help COVID continue to kill?   And yes, people are still dying.  Just last week, there was an average of  661 recorded deaths caused by COVID per day.  Yes, the numbers are down, but COVID is not over.
  
Many of those who have died were parents.  That means that thousands of children no longer have a parent to help support and care for them.  Nyesha Black, director of demographic research at the University of Alabama stated that:
 
“We will see the rippling effects of the pandemic on our society and the way it impacts individuals for generations….”
COVID is being listed as the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer.”
 
  
Why Would Anyone Choose to Support COVID? 
 
Unfortunately, every time you choose not to wear a mask, when you choose not to get vaccinated, or when you choose to not get your booster shot, that is exactly what you are choosing to do.  You may think you're supporting a political party or a particular politician, but in actuality, you are supporting COVID—and all of its many variants.  And COVID is a killer.
  
A September 2021 ABC News and Washington Post poll showed that vaccination and masking predict whether people will die of COVID:
 
“Unvaccinated Americans are several times more likely to be hospitalized and die….  For unvaccinated Americans, the decision to not wear a mask or follow other restrictions, ultimately caused increased transmission [of COVID], which in turn, resulted in more severe outcomes … [in] the 10 states with the lowest percentage of full vaccinations, death rates were almost twice as high as that of states with the highest vaccination rates….” 

 
Is It Really That Difficult to Wear A Mask?
 
I was at a medical facility this past week that clearly requires all staff and patients to wear masks.  There were signs covering the walls, in the hallway, and even on the chairs, saying to please keep your mask on at all times.  Yet, one lady sat in the waiting room with her mask dangling from her ear but nowhere near her mouth or nose.  She became furious when she was asked to put her mask back on.  She even admitted that she was immunocompromised.  In the lab at the same facility, a man walked in with a mask on, sat down, and immediately took his mask off and put it in his pocket.  Why?  He was at least polite when asked to put his mask back on.
 
Why Is It so Difficult for Some People to Give in and Wear a Mask?
 
Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., psychologist and professor at the University of Nevada, is the author of the popular book, Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life.  His research and work has demonstrated how “language and thought can lead to human suffering.” In a recent Psychology Today article, he outlined several reasons for people refusing to wear masks.  He said:
“…the science is clear: Wearing a mask is an effective measure to stop the spread of the virus (and research has shown that any concern about not being able to breathe properly is unfounded and untrue).

“Wearing a mask is a necessary discomfort to slow the spread of the virus, and to prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths. And yet plenty of people continue not wearing one. They may refuse because it’s uncomfortable, for political reasons, because other people are not wearing one, because ….  And even if people wear a mask, they often do it improperly, covering only their mouth but not their nose, thus making the mask more or less obsolete…. When you walk into an enclosed public space, you are better off with a mask. I know I’m not the first to tell you this, and I will not be the last. Almost everyone understands it at this point, and yet plenty of people continue to not wear a mask—even against their own self-interest.”

Dr. Hayes went on to propose two ideas for getting people to wear masks.
 
Step 1:  Know why it is important for you to wear a mask.

“The more you know why wearing a mask is important for you, the more you are going to act accordingly, and put on the piece of cloth. You have already heard plenty of reasons, but it’s important you find the one that matters most to you. Maybe you wish to protect your grandpa. Maybe you wish to be seen as caring. Knowing your why can be truly powerful, and it becomes even stronger still if you connect it to something bigger than yourself.”
 
Step 2: Empower yourself to do something for others.

“There are still many mysteries in the field of psychology, but after decades as a scientist and therapist, I can assure you: The more you allow yourself to feel uncomfortable in the service of what is important to you, the better your quality of life will be. In other words, by allowing yourself to feel the discomfort of wearing a mask, the more you empower yourself to do what matters to you, and the easier you will be wearing this mask.”
 
Dr. Hayes goes on to say: 

“Life itself asks us to learn not to turn away from what is painful or difficult and instead to turn toward our fears, doubts, and discomforts in order to live a life full of meaning and purpose. And you can practice this skill right here and now, just by covering your face with a small piece of fabric.” 
 
Dr. Hayes makes an excellent point that sometimes we need to step beyond our own self-interests and think of the needs of others.  This is an excellent article, and I encourage you to read it in its entirety. 
 
 
Are You Sure People Still Need to Wear a Mask? 
 
But wait, you may be saying, many people are saying that we no longer need to wear a mask.  Wrong.  You still need to wear a mask because masks provide an extra level of protection.  Only about 65% of the people in the United States have been vaccinated, and only 50% of those who are eligible have received a booster shot.  Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID, but masks provide a second level of protection.
 
Likewise, Dr. Anthony Fauci reminds us that:
​
“The Omicron subvariant BA.2 is more transmissible than regular Omicron, so more people are likely to get it….  The risk of getting the Omicron variant is significantly higher for people not yet vaccinated. The easiest way to prevent [a surge] is to continue to get people vaccinated." 
 
So, yes, you still need to wear a mask because most people who are unvaccinated also do not bother to wear a mask.  Wearing a mask as well as being vaccinated and boosted provides the best protection from COVID.
 
Every state has now removed its mask requirements.  COVID is free to spread, especially among the unvaccinated. Yet, even for those who are vaccinated and boosted, wearing a mask can keep you from having a “breakthrough” COVID infection.

 
But Mild Infections Aren’t Bad, Are They?
 
Yes, even a mild COVID infection can be dangerous because even “mild” infections can cause cognitive processing problems.  Research shows that COVID effects cognitive ability—the ability to think.  This reduction in cognitive ability even affects people who have “mild” COVID. According to a major scientific study:
 
“People who have recovered from COVID-19 tend to score significantly lower on an intelligence test compared to those who have not contracted the virus … the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 can produce substantial reductions in cognitive ability….”

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For more on the cognitive effects of “mild” COVID, read Should We Be Concerned about the Effects of COVID on Cognitive Processing and Executive Functioning Concerning Classroom Learning Losses?
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Masks Help Protect You From COVID
 
 
As Joseph Allen, a COVID and ventilation expert from Harvard explained: 

“…universal masking is still safest… [but] If you are vaccinated, boosted, and wearing a well-fitted N95 or similar indoors … regardless of what everyone else is doing… your risk is extremely low….  An N95 mask filters about 95 percent of airborne particles.”

But Allen goes on to explain that your mask must fit properly.  Your mask must cover both your nose and your mouth with a tight seal—no gaps.

“…two surgical masks—one on me, one on you—filter only about 91 percent, [but because] most people’s masks aren’t perfectly sealed onto their faces, studies show that N95s reduce the wearer’s uptake of coronavirus particles by 57 to 86 percent. And that’s on top of the protection that vaccines and boosters already offer.”
 
So, yes, wearing a mask makes a big difference.  The kind of mask you wear determines your level of protection.  Wear a N95, KN95 or KF94.
 
Also, the way you wear your mask makes a big difference.  Pulling your mask down underneath your nose because you are afraid that you won’t be able to breathe does not protect you from COVID.  It leaves you and everyone around you wide open to exposure. 
 
Wearing a mask loosely looped over your ears but not fitting tightly to your face is also not effective.  Don’t worry.  You’ll be able to breathe, even with a tight-fitting N-95 mask.  Surgeons wear masks all day long and breathe just fine.  When you go to ER, the personnel are going to be wearing masks and have been wearing masks all day, even during long shifts.  Workers who paint cars in factories, wear masks all day long while they work—even before COVID.  Some woodworkers, especially sanders, wear masks to protect their lungs.  Wearing a mask is not harmful or hard to do. 
 
It's easy to wear a mask, and who knows, it may save your life.  Are you planning to wear a mask today when you leave the house?
 
Be smart.  Wear a mask.  The life you save may be your own.
Photo: Elaine Clanton Harpine