Up and down the UK
Children and teachers have kick started
A new school year
Some children are starting for the very first time
Others tacking the challenge of a new year group
Or key stage
The new school year
Brings excitement and anticipation
It can also bring worry and concern
It always brings questions
Are we doing enough?
Do I know enough to support my children in their new challenge?
Do my children have the skills they need to nail this year?
Often schools will send home
A letter at the beginning of each term
Outlining the learning ahead
Spelling lists come home weekly
Along with English and / or Maths homework
All on top of daily reading
It is easy to feel a little overwhemed with it all
For parents, teachers and children
There are lots of ways of supporting your children
And extending your own knowledge and skills
And it is absolutely okay to access whatever help and support you need
My husband is the cleverest man I know
But he did not understand phonics when our children started school
He did not see the need for learning sounds
As he had never been taught that way
David also struggles with the way calculations are taught in primary school
Expanded method, partitioning, combining, chunking!
There are books you can buy
Websites to browse
That help you better understand the theories and methods
That make up the school curriculum
But sometimes it is is not enough
And you might want to find more support for your children
To give them a little boost
To fire up their learning
For a new school challenge
Here are some ideas for a
Back to School Boost
As we begin a new school year
Build up your child’s confidence
When learning is hard
Knowing that someone believes in you is really important
Knowing that it is okay to try and fail is important
Knowing that everyone gets it wrong sometimes is important
We can build up confidence, resilience and self esteem in our children
As teachers and as parents
This is perhaps the most important thing that we can do
Reward Reading
I see people talking about how reading with their child every day is a chore
It does not have to be
Indeed it should not be
Sharing stories together is so important
Children become readers on the laps of their parents
If in the evening they are too tired to read to you
Read to them
Try not to do reading at breakfast or in the car on the way to school
Try to make it part of a special one on one time if you can
Reading is the road to so much enjoyment, adventure and opportunity
It should be cherished and rewarded
Encouraged and enjoyed
Make learning fun
If your children are sent home worksheets from school
Find a way to make them fun
Practise spellings with giant chalks on pavements
Write in shaving foam
Add numbers together using practical objects
Sweets are always a hit!
Try to make learning as practical and as playful as you can
Make learning relevant and real
Build learning into your ordinary days
Calculate the cost of your shopping
Work out change
Weigh ingredients for cooking
Hunt for shapes at the playground
Write lists
Letters
Postcards
Show how the things learned in the classroom
Are relevant in real life every day
Promote free play
Try to ensure that your children have time to just play
Let them build dens in the garden
Run and climb and swing
Get them outside and let them play
Too much pressure to learn
Can put children off
We want to promote a love of learning
And sometimes the best way to do that
Is to take a step back for a while
And let the children play
Learn Together
Take action to make sure that you understand what your children are learning at school
Attend parent workshops
Curriculum evenings
Read the handouts that are sent home
And if you have any questions
Do not be afraid to ask
As parents we must be partners in our children’s learning
It is important that we get involved
Create chill out time
After all the learning
And the playing
Time to relax and be still is essential
Build quiet time into your days
Family time to talk
Watch TV
Switch off and just relax
Get ready for sleep
Because sleep is so very important
For development
For learning
For health and happiness
Employ an Expert
If you are unsure how to help your child
Ask an expert to help you
More families are employing tutors
For children of all ages
Tutoring is not what it once was
It does not involve sitting at a desk for an hour
It can be practical
Play based
Fun
It can work in consultation with parents
With guidance from the school
It can focus on one curriculum area
Or have a more general focus such as problem solving or study skills
A tutor will work with you and your child
To provide the support that you all need
Tutoring can be a long term commitment
Or can be a short burst of learning
To give a boost or plug a gap
If you want to know more about tutoring
Why not give Fleet Tutors a call
See what they can do
Whatever you choose to do
To help your children with their learning
Is amazing
Because whatever you do
You are doing something
You are getting involved
And that is what we all need
Teachers, parents, children
To be actively engaged with learning
This is a collaborative post