How parents can really help with homework - with the teachers blessing!
Do your homework before you go out; watch the telly; go to the cinema! The cry of many a parent anxious that their children do well at school, and yet the well intentioned advice is said at arms length. When the child was younger the parents took a hands-on role to support, guide and reinforce their learning. As they grow older this vital role seems lost in translation. Perhaps a mixture of a misplaced inadequacy - it’s up to the teacher isn’t it ? Or not wishing to interfere - they teach it differently to my day? all conspire to distance the parent from the very real opportunity to reinforcing the learning process at home.
The days of chalk and talk, text books only, 64mm film-strip slide shows and Banda handouts have long gone. Technology has changed the face of the teaching support now available. DVD’s, CD’s, board games and modern teaching aids are comprehensively used to support the four stages of the curriculum. Using these same teaching resources at home facilitates one of the most effective elements of learning - practice! Supporting the conventional text and exercise book homework this highly effective method reintroduces the parents’ interaction with the child in the practise function to the benefit of the child, parent and school.
Learning retention, self confidence and competence builds steadily in a child being able to reinforce the classroom lesson. The process is ideally performed at home allowing parents to re-engage in their child’s schooling. The products available are mostly self evident and teaching skills are not required. Research shows that 75% of learning retention is achieved through practising, a process that is all too often limited in school due to class size, time and equipment availability.
Covering all levels from foundation through Key Stage 1-4 (5 -15 years) the relaxed environment at home allows parents to monitor progress dynamically in conjunction with the teacher. A far better situation than the end of year report when corrective support may a little late. But would teachers support this activity? A recent survey showed overwhelming interest from teachers wanting to engage parents in this form of schooling support. The dynamic proactive support of your child compared to an end of term report shock – what would you choose?
