Parents' Page: Supporting Your Child's Learning

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Supporting Your Child's Learning

The more you actively engage in supporting your children during the academic year, the greater are their chances of success. So here are some recommended recent articles and supports to help as you support your child in their learning endeavours:

Read what piques your interest now and bookmark others for later. I guarantee you’ll find some meaningful food for thought here – and you’ll also meet some great people who support children’s positive growth and well-being.

Happy reading!

Boys and Girls Learn Differently: by Patti Ghezzi at SchoolFamily. Get insights on how to help your son or daughter at home and in the classroom.
7 Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers: by Steve Reifman, M.Ed. A teacher’s strategies can turn your child from a reluctant to a willing reader. Try them out!
It Isn't Easy Being a Parent...: by the Search Institute. Nine strategies every parent should know based on fostering developmental assets in children.
Two Questions Heard Around the World: by Steve Constantino, Ed.D., at ParentNet Unplugged. When your children come home from school, replace the most common two questions asked by parents with a few well-placed statements!
Keep Your Middle Schooler Organized: by Nancy Darling, Ph.D., at Psychology Today. How to help kids develop organizational skills and relieve the homework struggle.
Parenting: Who Is More Powerful? Technology or Parents?: by Jim Jaylor, Ph.D., at Psychology Today. How are you flexing your parenting muscles against the strength of today’s media?

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Assessment of Student Learning

I structure assessment around two general principles: opportunity and responsibility. Students' learning is a collaborative process, one that involves students, their peers, class time and experiences, and their teacher. It is a process they must take an ACTIVE role in. I use a few summative evaluations where students demonstrate their learning and skill level, but throughout each course our time is devoted to opportunities for inquiry, practice and growth. Attendance and active participation and involvement in their own learning are critical, are required. Students' grades are based on skill sets: effective communication in all forms, critical reading and inquiry of our world, collaboration skills, and skill builders. Each student will create a portfolio demonstrating their development and learning, and it is required that they reflect and plan throughout the process. Assessment will be regular, ongoing and focused on improvement in learning. Student choice in modes of demonstrating their learning is offered, and student co-creation of evaluation criteria is utilized. Classes will integrate varieties of assessment practices including academic and creative writing, visual and multimedia creations, guided reads, role-plays, literature circles, quizzes, games, performances, blogs, debates, inquiry projects, independent and collaborative assignments, portfolios, etc. Standards of excellence will be high, challenging, but attainable. Students will have opportunities to redo work and demonstrate greater learning and attainment of skills throughout courses. Assessment standards and samples can be found at BC Performance Standards and the BC Ministry Prescribed Learning Outcome sites.

Top 10 Things Parents Can Do

TOP TEN THINGS parents can do to support their teenage child's learning (according to Mr.Thielmann's award-winning educator parent blog):

1. Provide a loving, peaceful, positive environment

2. Fulfill (& be attuned to) your child's real needs

3. Take an interest in what your child does

4. Be accountable & expect accountability back

5. Be responsible & expect responsibility back

6. Be a learner, show your passion for things you find interesting

7. Put a high value on education-graduating, and post-secondary

8. Help with time management- School as daily priority over social media

9. Read to your child

10. Talk, and listen, to your child