range of devices thatgive
us easy access to the internet in
our homes has increased hugely and has many positive uses. However, the internet has to be used safely and with respect; when it is used
to defraud, abuse or bully the consequences can be devastating.
To keep your child safe whilst using
their mobile phones, PC or tablet you should involve yourself with what they
are doing. If they like to play
games ask them aboutwhy they
like the game and discuss strategies that they use. Set the parental controls on the devices and discuss with your child why you are doing
this, appropriate behaviour and what they should do if they should access anything on the internet
that they find upsetting in anyway.
If they play online reinforcethe need
for them to invite only friends that are known to them. Explain to them the need for caution when
posting photos online. Remind them they
might have set their device to share with their "friends" only but their friends may not
At school, children are taught to be
safe on the internet using the acronym “SMART.”
SAFE-explain it is not safe to share passwords,
personal details, or
photos on the Internet. Explain that photos and videos on chat lines
can be shared and be seen by others.
Have a No Strangers rule so that they are only communicating with their
friends. Encourage your child to tell you if someone is trying to
"chat" with or meet them.
MEETING–Repeat that they should never
arrange over the internet to meet anyone even with one of their friends
ACCEPTING - do not accept 'friend' invites from strangers or open emails from
unknown senders. Discuss the dangers of
viruses and hacking.
RELIABLE - there is a huge amount of
information on the net and anyone can put it on there. So, check more than one site when looking for
information on line.
TELL - If you see something that is upsetting or
offensive on the Internet, or feel threatened then tell someone.
Whether your child is starting a new school or moving onto to
a new class and a new teacher, they are facing new experiences, new
opportunities and new challenges.The
following tips are some of the things that you can do to encourage and nurture
their learning and help them have a happy and successful year.
1. Have a routine and stick to it.Family diaries or timetables on notice boards
can help you and your child remember when to take in PE kits, instruments,
etc.Older students could use their
phones to make notes on assignments and use alerts to remind them to hand in
homework.Have a specific time for
reading and homework and an area in which your child can complete their home
learning activities.Have paper, pencils
and crayons easily accessible so that your child can focus on completing the
activity.Having a routine can make the
day less stressful for all.
2.Get a good night's sleep.Research recommends that school children have
10 hours sleep. Tired students find it more difficult to focus in class and
this has an impact on their learning.
3.Eat a good breakfast and provide your child with
a healthy snack and lunch.Your child
will be more alert and focused at school if they are not hungry and don’t
have too much sugar in their system.
4.Be on time for school.Arriving late, can be stressful for your child,
it disrupts the class and may mean that your child has missed key information
and work; this will have a negative impact on their learning.
5.Provide your child with opportunities to
experience new things and to ask questions; take an interest in their school
projects, e.g. visiting library and museums together.There are a range of extra curricular activities and local clubs that
your child can participate in.
6.Fresh air and exercise are important to your
child's learning.Give your child time
to play, to be creative and to be curious.
"Play is the answer to how anything new comes
about." (Jean Piaget)
with confidence and accuracy is an essential skill for all humans.The practical applications are numerous and
extend our knowledge, but reading can also bring an individual pleasure.
way to support your child with their reading is to have a regular time and
place to read where the distractions are limited.Whether your child prefers to read silently
or aloud it is beneficial to discuss the text with them to ensure that they are
reading with understanding and accuracy. Ask them questions about the setting
or characters as well as their opinions.When discussing the text with your child encourage them to PEE. In other
words, give their POINT of view and EXPLAIN their answers with EXAMPLES from the
text. Encourage them to ask their own questions too.Reading aloud has advantages for all
children; encouraging expression and fluency and developing confidence.
listening to a child read encourage them to ask themselves "Does it make
sense?"You and your child may find
it fun to take turns in reading and sharing the text, or reading in unison
together or echoing each other.If your
child is struggling with a word try giving them the beginning or ending; covering
up part of the word can also help.Some
children also find it useful to read following your finger/pointer to help them
keep their place.Other strategies to
use are skipping the word and reading on to the end of the sentence,
encouraging the child to reflect on what the word could be or to use the
pictures clues in the same way. A useful to way to know if a text is
appropriate is to open a book on any page and ask your child to read.If they make 1 or 2 errors then the book
should be a good choice.
all, do not over correct errors and stop ifyour child
is feeling frustrated
with the text - remember reading should be fun. "Reading is to the
mind, what exercise is to the body."Sir Richard Steele.
This blog is a copy of my article in Southwater Life magazine - March 2014 edition
When we judge a child on their ability to perform well in a traditional "pen and paper" test are we narrowing our understanding and appreciation of all that child has to offer? Are we in danger of taking away a child's self esteem and confidence? This month's quote is from Albert Einstein who was considered a failure at school.
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."
Keep this quote in mind next time you are planning a lesson or simply learning a new skill for yourself: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Albert Einstein Go ahead - try something different and remember it is ok to find things difficult or even to get things wrong.