Illinois educators try to tackle pandemic learning loss with high-impact tutoring

Jessica Macias works with third graders on math for one hour, three times a week at a Park Forest school. “It is not homework help,” she says of the high-impact structured tutoring. (Susie An / WBEZ)

After dismissal on a recent day at Mohawk Primary Center in south suburban Park Forest, Jessica Macias pulls out worksheets and squishy stress balls as she chats with a few third graders about pajama day. Macias likes to connect with the students before jumping into fractions.

“Do you know how to cut a pizza perfectly? I can’t,” she says as she shows the kids a colorful fraction chart. “Mine aren’t always equal, but this tells us where they’re equal.”