I'm often asked by parents what they should be doing to keep up their children’s learning in the school holidays. The holidays provide an ideal opportunity for parents to encourage their children to view learning as a life-long activity, not just something you do at school. Just as much learning occurs informally as it does formally in the classrooms and children need occasionally to be left to educate themselves.
The first of the year’s exams are not far away and students and teachers are working hard at the College to revise learning material in class.
Of course we all know that you get out what you put in, so how can you assist your child with revision at home? We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks below to help you support your child’s success in exams.
According to the late, great Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Unless, apparently, you’re among the 17 to 30 percent of children who have maths anxiety! Or you might be among the parents who experience ‘maths homework anxiety’ when you try to help your child with the day’s assignment sent home from school. Trying to keep up with the multiple strategies that children must learn in order to do their homework is not an easy thing.
By now you will have received results from the 2015 NAPLAN tests that were sat earlier in the year. Although these tests are surrounded by some controversy, there is no denying that the opportunity to compare your child's progress with their national cohort only comes along four times in their lives. You have the information, but what does it all mean for us as parents?
Recently, I cornered one of our English specialists and one of our Maths specialist and asked them, "What is one thing someone taught you that made a difference?" I thought I would share their responses. I hope it makes a difference for you like it did for them!
