What is my role as a parent?
Skills
As a parent, you ought to know or guess the attitudes that have a positive impact on the education of your child. These include:
-Approval;
-Encouragement;
-Assistance;
-A constructive attitude towards education in general;
-A positive attitude towards what the child learns at school and in relation to academic tasks;
-High but commensurate expectations from your child.
Presence
First and foremost, you should be there for your child because the main purpose of homework and assignments is to teach the child to work independently. You should not do things for them, but support them in their efforts.
Acknowledgement of the child’s responsibility
Homework and assignments are the main responsibility of your child. Give them the opportunity to learn by themselves, develop their autonomy and acquire good work habits.
In various ways, homework and assignments also enable the pupil to consolidate or continue the work done in class. Thus, the child gradually realizes that their efforts have enabled them to make progress. To achieve this, they need your support, even if they do their homework out of the house.
Assisting the teacher
Homework and assignments are another way for the teacher to measure the progress of the pupil. Your cooperation and support are needed for your child to draw the full benefits from homework and assignments in order to foster the learning process.
Staying in touch
Homework and assignments allow the parent to see the progress of their child, and especially, to stay in touch with them. Despite other family management problems that they can cause, a good number of parents cherish this brief moment which offers them a unique opportunity to be part of the daily life of their child.
In short
Assignments and assignments are a shared responsibility between your child, their teacher and yourself.
Duration of homework and assignements
The duration of homework and assignments varies from child to child, the work to be done and the demands of the school. Generally, it should not exceed 60 minutes per day in early primary school, and 120 minutes at the end of primary school.
During the first years of primary school, your daughter or son will need you at their side to help out with their homework and assignments.
With time, your child will do their assignment with more autonomy. They will still need your help, but in a different way.
How do i guide, support and encourage my child ?
Guidance and support
To guide and support your child while taking into account their age and needs, it is important to:
-Respect their speed and personality and let them struggle because that is how they will develop their autonomy
-For example, do not whisper the answer to them as soon as a problem arises;
-Be consistent and constant in your demands and expectations
-For example, do not change, from one evening to another, your demands on handwriting;
-Respect the objectives pursued by the teacher and the methods they prefer. For example,
-do not go beyond what is planned in class
– check how the teacher solves mathematical problems in their book; to teach them good work habits within a context and a routine that suits them, for example,
-Encourage them to always prepare their school materials in an orderly manner,
– Encourage them to revise their notes regularly,
– Help plan their work and studies in preparation for an exam,
– Ensure that they effectively use their timetable.
In collaboration with your child, find a place where they can work in good conditions, and undisturbed, for example:
– If the child prefers to do their homework at the kitchen table, ensure that their siblings do not disturb,
-Make sure that there is adequate lighting,
-Make sure that the television is switched off and that the computer is not connected to social media; also ensure that they have access to necessary material: dictionary, grammar, calculator, books, computer etc
– Make sure that the child has rough work paper, pencils, or an English / French dictionary,
– Allow them plan their work and organize themselves for example, ask them to do so.
Encourage
To encourage your child through your actions and words, taking into account their age and needs, it is important to:
-Highlight their successes and make them feel proud of these successes
-For example, point out their progress and strengths (sense of effort, quality of work and perseverance);
-Do not blame them or overreact if they experience difficulties
-For example, help them to review their working method, consider what they have understood, find out what they can do to improve, and encourage them in this light;
-Show them the usefulness of what they have learnt in their current and future lives and help them understand the importance of education for their future
-For example, explain to them how the mathematical concepts they learn help you in your work;
-Allow them talk about their day at school; show interest in what they learn;
-Pay particular attention to their motivation and interest in their homework, as well as towards school in general. At times, they will need more of your encouragement;
-Talk to them positively about education; this will give them the zeal to go to school.
Reading: The key to success
Homework and assignments often include readings. By assisting their children with their homework and assignments, parents help them learn to read. But they can do a little more if they help them develop interest in reading. By so doing, they contribute more to the success of their child.
Experts agree that a child who reads greatly increase their chances of success. To incite this love for reading, parents can:
-Take off time to read with their child as often as possible; while they are still tender, read aloud to them, listen to them read a story, read in turns;
-Help them see their progress in reading;
-Make them discuss what they have read, ask them questions about what they read, read part of the story and ask them to imagine the rest;
-Provide them with stimulating and interesting children’s books: comics, novels, biographies, documentary books;
-Propose reading plans according to their age and taste: newspaper articles or reviews and news on the Internet;
-Talk to children about what they read, their favourite authors, books or articles they like.
What should I do everyday ?
Tasks to remember
Do the following regularly:
-Inquire about school requirements (especially at the beginning of the school year);
-Quickly find out messages sent to parents by school staff and take action;
-During the early years of primary school in particular, pay daily attention to the timetable or the list of your child’s work, according to what is used in class;
-Attend meetings with teachers, including when report cards are being given.
What to do in case of a problem
In case of a problem
In order to help your child when a problem arises:
-Help them remember the explanations of their teacher;
-Ask them if any of their books or notebook might contain the necessary explanation;
-Suggest that they call a friend or a local resource person.
If the problem persists
In order to help your child if a problem persists:
-Discuss with the teacher in order to find solutions to the problem;
-Ensure, if need be, that your child participates in homework support or catch-up sessions at school;
-Do not hesitate to contact the head teacher if you need help or additional information.