How to support your child's learning at home
It's back to school this week, and whether your child is approaching SATs, starting secondary or heading towards GCSE and A-levels, it pays to know how to support this for the 2023/24 academic year.
John Hattie's seminal study, Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement, found that "The effect of parental engagement over a student's school career is equivalent to adding two or three years to that student's education".
Yet, according to a report from ParentKind surveying 3,000 parents, 85% of UK parents want to play an active role in their child's education, but the top barrier to parents getting more involved is time (36%), followed by not being asked (28%) and being unsure of what they have to offer (25%).
If that's you, here's how you can support your child's learning.
Provide encouragement
Encouragement comes in lots of different forms. Aside from asking about school and telling them they are doing well, encouragement is also setting up a dedicated space for your child to study or simply ensuring they have a quiet workplace.
Also, let your child know that you are always there to answer their questions, no matter how silly they seem and make sure to check in with your child regularly to see how they are doing. This could involve asking them questions about what they are learning or checking in to see if they understand their homework.
Set clear expectations
It's a rare child who will revise, do homework and read beyond what they need to do, so talk to your child about what you expect from them regarding their schoolwork at home. This could include how much time they should spend studying each day or what kind of work they should do. When homework should be started and finished and what sort of extra work you'd like them to do.
That said, do set realistic expectations. Don't expect your child to study for hours on end every day. Instead, break down their studies into manageable chunks and help them create a schedule that works for them.
Help them to stay organised
Not all kids are great at organisation, and it's a stumbling block that can really hinder students. Help your child create a system for keeping track of their assignments, due dates, and notes using Google Classrooms or a homework app. At the same time, help them organise their books and notes so that they have a system in place when it comes to homework and revision.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to note-taking. Experiment with different systems until your child finds one that works. Colour coding can be a helpful way to organise your notes. Use different colours for other subjects, topics, or types of information.
The Cornell Method is a popular note-taking method that divides your notes into three sections: the notes section, the cue section, and the summary section. The notes section is where you take your main notes. In the cue section, you write keywords or phrases that will help you remember the information. In the summary section, you write a brief overview of the main points of your notes.
Use resources to help with homework
It can be challenging to help with homework. Either the work is done differently from how you were taught, or you need help figuring out where to start. This is where resources come in. The first and best resource is your child's teacher. Don't be afraid to ask how you can help your child, what books and online sites can help, and what key points you should guide your child to.
Alongside this, BBC Bitesize and YouTube learning are excellent for breaking subjects and work down into a way you can explain to your child.
For GCSE and A-level, help print off the subject specification (found on the examining board site) and the subject guides. At the same time, talk to your child about using a tutor, which can be helpful for more bespoke help and confidence.
Invest in a tutor
There are many benefits to your child having a tutor. Not only can a tutor give your child the individual attention needed, but they can also help your child with knowledge gaps and revision. More importantly, they can help with exam techniques, including answering questions, managing your study time at home, and staying calm under pressure.
A tutor is also a good idea if your child lacks confidence, or you do in helping them now that they are at a higher level.
Related Reading