Up and down the UK

Children and teachers have kick started

A new school year

Some children are starting for the very first time

Others tacking the challenge of a new year group

Or key stage

The new school year

Brings excitement and anticipation

It can also bring worry and concern

It always brings questions

Are we doing enough?

Do I know enough to support my children in their new challenge?

Do my children have the skills they need to nail this year?

Often schools will send home

A letter at the beginning of each term

Outlining the learning ahead

Spelling lists come home weekly

Along with English and / or Maths homework

All on top of daily reading

It is easy to feel a little overwhemed with it all

For parents, teachers and children

There are lots of ways of supporting your children

And extending your own knowledge and skills

And it is absolutely okay to access whatever help and support you need

My husband is the cleverest man I know

But he did not understand phonics when our children started school

He did not see the need for learning sounds

As he had never been taught that way

David also struggles with the way calculations are taught in primary school

Expanded method, partitioning, combining, chunking!

There are books you can buy

Websites to browse

That help you better understand the theories and methods

That make up the school curriculum

But sometimes it is is not enough

And you might want to find more support for your children

To give them a little boost

To fire up their learning

For a new school challenge

Here are some ideas for a

Back to School Boost

As we begin a new school year

Build up your child’s confidence
When learning is hard

Knowing that someone believes in you is really important

Knowing that it is okay to try and fail is important

Knowing that everyone gets it wrong sometimes is important

We can build up confidence, resilience and self esteem in our children

As teachers and as parents

This is perhaps the most important thing that we can do

Reward Reading
I see people talking about how reading with their child every day is a chore

It does not have to be

Indeed it should not be

Sharing stories together is so important

Children become readers on the laps of their parents

If in the evening they are too tired to read to you

Read to them

Try not to do reading at breakfast or in the car on the way to school

Try to make it part of a special one on one time if you can

Reading is the road to so much enjoyment, adventure and opportunity

It should be cherished and rewarded

Encouraged and enjoyed

Make learning fun
If your children are sent home worksheets from school

Find a way to make them fun

Practise spellings with giant chalks on pavements

Write in shaving foam

Add numbers together using practical objects

Sweets are always a hit!

Try to make learning as practical and as playful as you can

Make learning relevant and real

Build learning into your ordinary days

Calculate the cost of your shopping

Work out change

Weigh ingredients for cooking

Hunt for shapes at the playground

Write lists

Letters

Postcards

Show how the things learned in the classroom

Are relevant in real life every day

Promote free play

Try to ensure that your children have time to just play

Let them build dens in the garden

Run and climb and swing

Get them outside and let them play

Too much pressure to learn

Can put children off

We want to promote a love of learning

And sometimes the best way to do that

Is to take a step back for a while

And let the children play

Learn Together

Take action to make sure that you understand what your children are learning at school

Attend parent workshops

Curriculum evenings

Read the handouts that are sent home

And if you have any questions

Do not be afraid to ask

As parents we must be partners in our children’s learning

It is important that we get involved

Create chill out time

After all the learning

And the playing

Time to relax and be still is essential

Build quiet time into your days

Family time to talk

Watch TV

Switch off and just relax

Get ready for sleep

Because sleep is so very important

For development

For learning

For health and happiness

Employ an Expert

If you are unsure how to help your child

Ask an expert to help you

More families are employing tutors

For children of all ages

Tutoring is not what it once was

It does not involve sitting at a desk for an hour

It can be practical

Play based

Fun

It can work in consultation with parents

With guidance from the school

It can focus on one curriculum area

Or have a more general focus such as problem solving or study skills

A tutor will work with you and your child

To provide the support that you all need

Tutoring can be a long term commitment

Or can be a short burst of learning

To give a boost or plug a gap

If you want to know more about tutoring

Why not give Fleet Tutors a call

See what they can do

Whatever you choose to do

To help your children with their learning

Is amazing

Because whatever you do

You are doing something

You are getting involved

And that is what we all need

Teachers, parents, children

To be actively engaged with learning

This is a collaborative post