Dear Primary Families,
During discussions with a number of parents this week, we spoke about ways to support children at home. One thing that I always advocate for is for parents to read to and share books with their children. Research shows that this has a hugely positive impact and provides a range of benefits.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.“
Dr Seuss, I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!
Another suggestion that I always share is for parents to look for ways to help their child build and develop their inquiry skills and below I have given some strategies that may help towards this aim.
How to support inquiry at home
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) believes that students should actively participate in their learning and take ownership of it. At ABIS, we promote this by fostering inquiry, where students investigate and comprehend the world around them through their personal interests and by asking questions. 4 strategies to support inquiry at home for your child are:
Try new things: Trying out new skills and hobbies contributes to the development of a learner’s identity. Help your child discover more about themself and what makes them happy! Enroll in classes, explore online resources, or try on new experiences.
Play together: Board and card games boost literacy, math, communication, and reasoning skills. Try a family game night!
Learn together: Create a culture of learning and curiosity at home. Watch a documentary, read a book, or go to a museum.
Ask questions: Reflection is a powerful tool for inquiry. Here are some questions to try:
What is your class learning about?
What are you curious about?
What problems do you see at home or in school that we could solve?
If you have any questions about the Primary Years Programme, please ask.
Best regards,
Matthew Richmond
Primary Team Lead