How can I Help my Child Learn at Home? 5 Tips from a Teacher

 Many parents will do anything to help their children learn. However, many parents would quickly admit that they don't know specifically what their children need to learn. Sometimes parents want to go the extra mile to help their children reach their potential in school. Here are a few things that I would recommend to any parents who want to help their children succeed in English Language Arts.

1. Children should be reading! This one is an easy one. Many parents ask me what their child can do to read at a quicker pace or to comprehend the material with ease. I always start by recommending that they read more. Reading should be a daily habit for all school students. This is honestly more valuable than sitting through most tutoring sessions, blazing through another workbook, or watching instructional videos. For younger students, I often encourage them to read aloud as much as possible especially when they are comfortable at home. Children love the idea of reading to pets, parents, and stuffed animals. Older kids need to continue to read too. 

2. Make the library a priority. This goes right along with my first suggestion. Students are always requesting to take books out of my library and I always tell them that the library offers in much better selection than my small classroom. It always surprises me to see how many students have never been in a Public Library. When you take a trip to the grocery store, take your kids to the library. Teach them how to find books that they like and that they're interested in. Make sure that they get their own library card and get them excited to go pick out something to read a couple times a month. Not only does this give them an endless free supply of books, but it also teaches them responsibility and how to appropriately use a community resource.

3. Talk to your kids about what they are learning. Many parents expressed that their kids are not very talkative after school and often do not share about what they are learning about. I cannot speak for all teachers, but I post on my classroom webpage daily with a list of the topics that we covered in class. Make an effort to know what your child is learning about and encourage them to practice the skills in everyday life. This is not something that we can always do in the classroom, but it is something that you as a parent can do to make learning come alive. For example, if students are learning to compare and contrast in class you can make a fun game out of this skill by comparing meals at the dinner table.

4. Explore your child's interests that we do not always cover in school. We are able to explore many topics in school but sometimes students want to go deeper then what our curriculum and timeline allow. If you notice that your child really enjoyed a unit in school, try to encourage that learning at home. Schedule your own field trip, facilitate your own web quest, rent an applicable movie, visit a local resource, cook a specific meal. There are so many fun ways that you can educate your child apart from what they are receiving in school.

5. Take ownership of your child’s education. Parents who simply acknowledge that they share in the educational task of teaching students make a huge difference in their child’s learning. Learning is not only for school. You can offer your child amazing experiences and lessons that go beyond the classroom. You are qualified and you are important. Teach your child. Be purposeful about bringing education into your life. Not only will it be an amazing experience, but you might learn something too!