Joe’s Jotter: Parents & Primary School Children Working in Harmony

Topics: Exams, Parents, Study and Learning, Teaching

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Joe’s Jotter: Parents & Primary School Children Working in Harmony

Joe’s Jotter: Parents & Primary School Children Working in Harmony.

Parents are now taking a greater role and Interest in their children’s education more than ever. However, this can be a difficult task, as many parents are working from home (and away) and are trying to support their child’s learning also. It can be difficult to achieve the exact ‘hands on’ balance, and of course each child’s needs are different. Creating a consistent routine, keeping positive, keeping calm, putting rules and consequences in place, allowing time for your child, talking to, and reassuring them are all factors that will contribute to producing a more harmonious learning environment.

I have worked with a Primary Teacher to develop this feature, and I hope you will find it helpful as we move to a new normal and different ways of learning and communicating. In this feature I have included some areas we consider important to you as a parent. I hope they are of some help and create a safe, happy and loving environment for your child.

It is important to plan a daily structure and involve your child in this process. With your child, sit down together and draw up a balanced timetable of learning, fun and breaks. A child will follow a timetable better if they help plan it and this will also build their confidence. In doing this you are giving them a level of ownership to control and determine their own routine.

Tips on planning a routine and timetable

Set times to get up and go to bed
Agree a timeline including structured work, recreational/practical activities, and breaks
Choose activities the child enjoys
Plan short sessions e.g. 20 mins and always allow flexibility. There is no set time if the learning is balanced and varied
Identify times you can work with them and times they can work independently
Aim to include movement breaks regularly throughout the day
Ask your child what they like to do and include this in the daily schedule
Introduce a positive reward system e.g. choice time, sticker chart. treats etc
Decorate the timetable and display it at your child’s eye level

Supporting Schoolwork at Home

Junior Infants – 2^nd Class

The best way to support children of this age is to:

Sit with them as they work
Work for short intervals
Take movement and snack breaks
Use the outdoors to break away from tabletop tasks
Use a reward system
Encourage your child to focus on the task in front of them
Read words/questions carefully
Form letters correctly
Check correct pencil grip
Have concrete materials readily available for number work
Provide practical experiences for Maths work, e.g. Shapes around me, weighing food from the cupboard, counting, checking etc
Challenge them by asking different types of questions in various subject areas
Try and relate topic areas to your child’s own experiences
Always give praise and encouragement

3^rd Class – 6^th Class

Allow children to work independently as much as possible
Offer support and assistance as needed
Assess learning by observing, questioning and correcting work
Monitor presentation of work and handwriting
Look at their school workplan beforehand to familiarise yourself with the different subject areas
Use age appropriate actions from the ‘Junior Infants - 2^nd Class’ list above

Outside the Classroom

It is important for your child to enjoy free time and activities they have fun with. Here are a range of activities that you and your child can choose from:

Practice how to keep safe during Corona virus spread
Exercise, sport, games
Imaginative free play
Fine motor skills: Lego, play dough, beading, building blocks and cutting
Linking in with loved ones and friends on voice calls and video calls as social interaction is very important
Learn life skills: indoors and outdoors (Choose jobs that children can do)

- Baking, cooking, gardening, (planting, weeding), setting the table, emptying the dishwasher, making their bed, tidying their room, folding clothes, sorting clothes, hanging out the washing, farming (safely) etc

Media and Online Time

It is important that your child has access to recommended online facilities during any school closures where possible. Ensure your child’s safety online and set up parent controls on devices to monitor child’s activities online. Below I will list some of the more useful websites you can work on with your child.
It’s a good idea to link with the school and class teacher through email, in order to give and receive feedback and to send on work samples for assessment.

Twelve Useful Websites to Support You as Parents

helpmykidlearn.ie (Learning for all Age Groups)
PrimaryScience.ie (Science)
twinkl.ie/offer (enter the code IRLTWINKLHELPS)
webwise.ie (Online safety)
vooks.com (Literacy)
starfall.com (Literacy)
scoilnet.ie (All curricular areas)
topmarks.co.uk (Maths)
learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids (Words and Numbers)
askaboutireland.ie (SESE)
krokotak.com (Arts and crafts/colouring)
positiveparentingsolutions.com (Parental Advice)

“Mistakes are proof that you are trying.”

More details about Joe’s Maths Tuition Classes for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate (2024) and his Award Winning ACE Maths Solution Books can be found via the links below.

ACE Maths Tuition Classes: acesolutionbooks.com/ace-maths-tuition

ACE Maths Solution Books: acesolutionbooks.com/buy-my-books

Joe’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JoeMcCormackEducationalExpert

Learn more about...ACE Maths Tuition (October 2024)