1) Talk to your child - ask them what do they think they improved upon the most in their learning this year? What are their new learning goals? What do they need to improve on next year? How do they think they can do this?
2) Talk to their teacher – your child’s report can present limited information about their educational performance throughout the term/semester/year. Ask your child’s teacher(s) what they perceive to be your child’s strengths and areas requiring consolidation. Ask how your child can maximise their learning as well as their assessment performance. Your child’s teacher should be able to suggest ways you can support your child as they learn.
3) Encourage reading every day – your child’s ability to articulate what they have learned as well as their awareness of grammar, spelling, syntax and textual form will improve as will their imagination and their knowledge about worlds beyond their immediate environment. It does not matter what kinds of texts your child is reading as long as they are doing so every day. Their literacy skills will develop without them even realising it!
5) Role model a positive attitude towards learning – developing new knowledge, skills and values should be empowering, enlightening and, most of all, satisfying. Demonstrate to your child that you are open to always learning and enhancing your understanding of yourself and the world around you. Show them that knowledge is power and it can significantly change the way you live your life, presenting opportunities and possibilities you may have never previously even conceptualised.
We all want our children to achieve educational success but we should try to avoid focusing too greatly on grades, reports and ATARs and instead reflect and act on how we can help our children to become lifelong learners and experience educational success throughout their lives. Embark on the learning journey together as a family and empower your child for learning success not just educational success!