Supporting Learning at Home
There is a wide variety of strategies for parents to support pupils' learning at home.
These can be used with pupils of all ages, but the younger you start, the bigger the impact.
The power of "Why?"
Don’t be afraid of your children asking why a particular problem works the way it does;
the stumbling block is often something straight-forward!
Also, don’t hesitate from asking children the same thing – if they can demonstrate that they know why a particular strategy is the correct solution to a problem, then they should have a solid understanding of that skill.
Different Methods
Don’t be afraid to show different methods to your child – there are more often than not multiple ways of explaining and setting out problems.
Show them how you do it and, if possible, try to relate it to how they have been shown.
If this is not successful, ask pupils to show your workings to their teacher who should be able to offer further support.
Quiz Time
Children often love competition & a challenge.
Regular quick quizzes can keep their Mathematical skills sharp and help with their confidence, whether that be after dinner, on a journey or at random points during the day.
Role Reversal
In order to tell whether your child fully understands a skill or problem, get them to teach it to you.
This is particularly useful if the methods are unfamiliar and/or if you are not particularly confident with Mathematics.
Keeping busy...
Children who engage in a variety of hobbies often display resilience & a positive growth mindset.
These may include:
Playing a musical instrument
Competitive sports
Family/board games
Creative activities (e.g. writing, arts & crafts)
