AD | Collaborative post
School was a bit of a strange time for me. I remember really loving school when I was in primary school and for the first couple of years of secondary school. Then, I discovered going out and doing things I shouldn’t have been doing and I stopped paying quite as much attention to lessons. I came out of secondary school with okay grades but I know I could have done better. I really should have done better and really, I let myself down. Now that we have Erin, although she’s only 4, it makes me think about her time at school and what we can do at some point to help her out! Here are some ideas:
Private tutors
One of my worst subjects was maths. For at least a couple of years I sat at the back of the class, messed about and really didn’t pay attention. I actually chose to pay someone to do my homework as I just didn’t want to do it myself. Maybe it was more like I couldn’t do it myself but somehow I scraped by and stayed in the 2nd to top group. I have no idea how really. However, when GCSE exam time started to get closer we realised that it was time to do something. I was really lucky to have a private tutor for about 6 weeks before my exam and it really helped. I was able to concentrate better than in a classroom and learn the things I was struggling with.
Help with homework
I’m sure a lot of teenagers would probably prefer to go off to their room to do their homework (I used to do some of mine on the bus to school). I think it’s important to encourage children to do their homework in a social space at home, such as the living room or dining room table. You might not sit down with them for the whole time but you will be present enough to be asked for help or to check in every now and again to see what your child is working on.
At Erin’s age, homework comes in the form of reading and learning phonics. The Usborne Phonics Readers range is a great option for children Erin’s age.
Show an interest
I think once your children get to secondary school they start to need less help with the work they are bringing home and it can be hard to get them to talk about their school day. It might be an idea to set aside some time each day after school to talk to your child about what they have done during the day and what they have enjoyed or disliked. You might find that you both like a certain subject or maybe you can teach each other something new.
A good night’s sleep
In my last few years of secondary school I had way too many late nights. I never wanted to get up in the morning and I sometimes didn’t even make it to my first class. A teacher of one particular class joked and asked if I’d been out the night before if I turned up late. Being tired can mean starting the day wrong and not having enough energy or concentration while at school. It’s so important to get enough sleep, even if that means having an early night before school sometimes!
Do you have any tips? Please share them in the comments!
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