Dear Primary Families,
Thank you for your support, understanding, and flexibility with the changes to the school hours this week. It has required a level of adaptability from everyone and I have been impressed by how our students – and teachers – have been able to quickly adjust.
We are often asked for suggestions as to ways in which parents may support their child at home. Below are five easy ways you can assist your child’s learning at home, whether it’s formal education related to school or incidental learning through play, exploration, and life experiences. By utilizing these five strategies, you can help your child become a lifelong learner.
Take an inquiry stance
Meet a question with a question: How could you find that out?
Be prepared to inquire together: Let’s figure it out together!
Ask an open-ended question: What do you notice?
Be a learner: Here’s how I am going to find out
Support conceptual understanding
Value Process
How did you do that?
Why did you do that?
What strategy did you use?
Harness the power of key concepts
What does it look like? (Form)
How does it work? (Function)
How is it connected to other things? (Connection)
How does it change? (Change)
Why is it like that? / Why is it the way it is? (Causation)
What are the different points of view? (Perspective)
What are our responsibilities? (Responsibility)
Support your child’s agency
Invite and involve their voice: Let them express themselves
Support their choices: What choices are you making as a learner?
Emphasize ownership: You’re in the driver’s seat
Prioritize reflection
Get them thinking about their thinking
How do you know?
What makes you think that?
Is there another way you could do that?
What did you find easy or challenging? Why?
Give feedback that goes beyond the moment
Teach the learner, not the learning: Move from asking, ‘How are you doing?’ to, ‘Where are you going?’
Give specific feedback on the process: I like how you did … What might you try doing next?
If you have any questions about inquiry or how to support your child, please do liaise with your child’s homeroom teacher.
I wish you all a happy weekend.
Best regards,
Matthew
Primary Team Lead