The growth and development of a child can be maximized when parents and teachers work together. Parents play a role as teachers beyond classroom and school activities. At Skill Stork International School, we consider the Parent-Teacher Partnership as one of the foundation pillars of a child’s development. Parents can communicate and share responsibility, and continue to support their children to help shape their development at school and at home.
This blog will discuss some of the myriad ways parents can support their children, especially those on any of the IB, Cambridge, or CBSE learning pathways, to create a positive learning environment at home that helps children develop skills that will serve them in the future.
The Importance of Parent-Teacher Partnership
Active parent involvement is much more than just signing and checking homework. A child’s academic achievement and confidence are complemented by a parent’s active involvement with their child’s learning. It also helps develop skills and a mindset that encourage lifelong learning.
Skill Stork is all about teamwork among educators and caregivers and helps facilitate the sharing of student information with parents and guardians about their child’s school performance, specific skills, and gaps. A parent can access information about the school’s educational model. https://skillstork.org/learning-pathway/
There is a strong correlation between student success and parental involvement.
There is a correlation between a child’s parental involvement and the child’s
- Higher grades
- Growth in emotional and communication skills
- Enhanced self-discipline and motivation
- Better adaptation of inquiry-based learning (IB and Cambridge)
Parents can foster the understanding of IB and Cambridge Learning styles at home.
IB and Cambridge’s educational philosophy is centered on inquiry- and application-based learning rather than rote memorization. A home structure that appropriately supports the children’s home activities.
Support for IB Learners
IB students flourish with feedback that encourages them to:
- Question
- Apply their learning to the world around them
- Consider their own learning
- Practice self-directed learning
Parents can bring IB education home through world news, children’s expression of their views, and their in-depth study of their chosen topic.
How Parents Can Assist Cambridge Learners
Cambridge focuses on understanding the theory and developing skills. Parents can assist with this by:
- Dismantling complicated concepts
- Facilitating practice and control
- Offering easy science and math real-world applications
- Encouraging reading along with the development of vocabulary
Skill Stork’s distinct combination of life skills and academic rigor helps parents and teachers align. You can learn more about life-skills education at this link.
Ways Parents Can Assist Learning at Home
1. Ensure A Consistent Learning Environment
A consistent study space encourages children and helps them develop discipline and focus. Make sure it isn’t big, just quiet, well-lit, and free of distractions.
2. Set Up Daily Routines
Plans that are consistent and studied at short but regular intervals help more than those with inconsistencies. Parents can help children create a timetable to schedule homework, reading, and revision.
3. Communicate Regularly With Teachers
Teachers have insight into your child’s unique style and learning progression. Regular comms through the school’s portal, meetings, or messaging help parents understand the requirements and upcoming activities.
4. Promoting Home Reading
Reading broadens vocabulary, comprehension, and the critical thinking required by IB and Cambridge learners. This can result from storybooks, digital libraries, or suitable articles for the child’s age.
5. Support Inquiry and Curiosity
Instead of answering their questions directly, parents could help children come to their own conclusions. Simple questions such as the following are great:
“What do you think will happen?”
“Why do you think this is the correct answer?”
“How could we try to prove this idea?”
This approach helps children learn to reason and take ownership of their academic journey.
6. Monitor Screen Time Mindfully
While technology in the classroom is beneficial, excessive screen time can negatively affect a child’s focus. A wide range of offline activities, such as reading, outdoor play, and artistic hobbies, can provide a counterbalance to screen time.
7. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results
Recognizing a child’s hard work fosters confidence and motivation. Progress recognition, no matter how small, helps to inspire a growth mindset.
How Parents Can Support Skills Beyond the Academic
Home learning is not restricted to an academic syllabus. Parents are essential to the teaching of many life skills.
Encourage Independence
Instilling independence can be as simple as giving children their own responsibilities. Things like organizing their desk, managing their own homework, and completing simple tasks can help children learn responsibility and time management.
Communicate Openly
Having open, ongoing conversations with children about their school experiences, friendships, and challenges helps them develop their emotional intelligence.
Foster Creativity
Creativity is an integral part of problem-solving and boosting future skills. Arts, music, storytelling, and construction all foster creative thinking.
Teaching Real World Skills
Cooking, budgeting, and planning are activities that involve children and teach essential problem-solving skills. To develop real-life decision-making skills, children and parents can work together on these.
For more modern education ideas, parents can check out Edutopia’s Parenting & Education Hub.
How Teachers Assist Parents In This Teamwork
At Skill Stork, teachers are more than just givers of information. They help parents better understand the curriculum expectations, provide feedback, and offer strategies that are tailored and individualized to each child’s learning style.
Teachers like to:
- Provide learning challenges on the topics.
- Provide and share a variety of additional resources and books.
- Suggest and encourage specific activities to develop a particular skill.
- Provide advice on practicing new skills.
- Encourage and support the child’s social and emotional challenges as well.
This teamwork lays a strong foundation for the student’s success.
Building a Future Capable Child Through Shared Accountability
A strong parent-teacher partnership helps build a seamless connection between school and home. Children feel supported, understood, and appreciated by both home and school. Skill Stork’s open culture encourages parents to be active participants in their children’s learning journey, be it in academics, life skills, or emotional support.
Consistent parental engagement leads to children becoming confident, self-sufficient, and inquisitive, with the learning skills needed to navigate the future.
Final Thoughts
Education is not just something done at school. If all the adults are on the same side, children will get the help they need to do great. Education is one of Skill Stork’s most significant pillars of success, along with IB and Cambridge certification, and parents are one of the most important influences on their children’s education.
