It’s a lot of work to help our kids get through school and get the most out of it. However, the more education we can help them get, the better off they will be in all aspects of their lives. We try to remain positive and uplifting in our interactions with them when it comes to their education, and little by little, we are teaching them to acquire knowledge and enjoy learning. Whether we are learning school subjects or using our free time to learn a new skill, we keep learning every day.
Keep working with your child’s teacher to take actions that have the most effect on their learning. Educating yourself in topics of children’s education can be rewarding, and you should start to see real results in your family.
Each child is different, of course. Each child will need help in different areas of schoolwork. Try to find where their interests lie and encourage those, while still pushing forward to help them learn each of the school subjects. Try not to label your child as “bad at math” or “not a reader”. Help them understand that everyone makes mistakes and struggles to learn new things, and that they are developing new skills in these areas, so they should expect it to take some time to learn them. Let them know that you are learning alongside them. If you can both learn together, you can share your successes and comfort each other in your struggles. Keep encouraging—commenting on their work when you see them working hard.
Keep them reading—read books aloud to them, helping to develop a love of stories or nonfiction books. Enjoy this time together, cuddling on a couch. Listen to audiobooks together on the way to soccer practice or piano lessons!!
Encourage them to play math games or puzzles—give them problems to solve in their head while you are driving around, or listen to skip-counting songs to learn multiplication; help younger kids develop number sense by counting objects and dividing them into different piles.
Really lean into learning history and science…fun watching videos online and exploring new historical time periods or current events.
Get them outside, listening to music, dancing, and doing art (exposing them to as many movements as possible.
Finally, help your child develop interests that are truly their own and not forced upon them by their school. Some may love to learn about bicycles, doing simple repairs like changing a flat tire …even how to crochet, playing along with TV’s game programs like Jeopardy OR Password, etc.
Next month, we will discuss and give tidbits for different grade-levels, working with teachers and not just doing ‘parent-teacher conferences!
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
…as a T E A M…that WINS as well as needing COACHING!!!
BRENDA M. J. HUTCHINSON
{still learning/teaching}
Feel free to contact me for more info and school goodies