Primary Years Programme

Fostering Student Voice and Agency at Home

At Saltwater P-9 College, we are committed to nurturing student voice and agency—ensuring that every child feels heard, valued, and empowered in their learning. Student agency is not just about making choices; it’s about understanding their role as active participants in their education, taking ownership of their learning, and developing the confidence to express their ideas.

But fostering student agency doesn’t stop at school—it begins at home. Parents and families play a vital role in encouraging children to think critically, ask questions, and reflect on their learning.

How Can You Foster Student Voice and Agency at Home?

Here are some simple ways to start meaningful conversations with your child:✅ Encourage Decision-Making – Involve your child in small daily decisions, such as planning family activities, organizing their study time, or setting personal goals. Ask: “How do you think we should plan our weekend so that we all get to do something we enjoy?”

✅ Value Their Opinions – Create opportunities for your child to share their thoughts on topics that interest them. Whether it’s about a book they’re reading, a movie they watched, or a school project, ask: “What do you think about this?” or “What would you do differently?”

✅ Promote Reflection – Encourage your child to think about their learning experiences and choices. You might ask: “What was something challenging today, and how did you work through it?” or “What’s something new you learned that you found exciting?”

✅ Use Open-Ended Questions – Instead of yes/no questions, try using key concept questioning techniques that encourage deeper thinking. For example:

• Form: “What does this look like? How is it structured?”
• Function: “How does this work?”
• Causation: “What caused this to happen?”
• Perspective: “How might someone else see this differently?”

Unit of Inquiry Launch – Engaging Conversations at Home

Across our school, classes have begun launching their new Unit of Inquiry, where students explore big ideas connected to real-world issues. To support these inquiries at home, we encourage you to have discussions using key concept questions.

By engaging in these key concept-driven conversations, you are helping your child develop curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence in sharing their ideas—essential skills for lifelong learning.

Thank you for being active partners in your child’s learning journey. We look forward to hearing about the wonderful discussions happening at home!

Fostering Approaches to Learning (ATL) Skills at Home

At Saltwater P-9 College, we support students in developing Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, which are essential for them to become independent, lifelong learners. These skills help students think critically, manage their learning, and interact effectively with others.

Parents play a key role in reinforcing these skills at home. By having conversations and engaging in activities that support the ATL skills, you can help your child become a more confident and capable learner.

What Are the ATL Skills?

The IB Approaches to Learning skills are grouped into five categories:

1️⃣ Thinking Skills – Encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.2️⃣ Social Skills – Developing teamwork, communication, and collaboration.3️⃣ Communication Skills – Expressing ideas clearly and listening actively.4️⃣ Self-Management Skills – Managing time, emotions, and behavior.5️⃣ Research Skills – Asking questions, gathering information, and analyzing sources.

How Can You Discuss ATL Skills at Home?

Here are some conversation starters and activities for each ATL skill:

1️⃣ Thinking Skills – "How can we solve this problem?"

💬 Discussion Questions:

• "What other ways could we solve this problem?"
• "Can you think of a different way to do this?"
• "What would happen if…?"

🏡 At-Home Activity:

• Solve puzzles, riddles, or brain teasers together.
• Play strategy-based games like chess or Sudoku.
• Encourage creative projects such as storytelling, drawing, or building with LEGO.

2️⃣ Social Skills – "How can we work together?"

💬 Discussion Questions:

• "How do you think your friend felt when that happened?"
• "What makes someone a good team player?"
• "How can we show kindness to others?"

🏡 At-Home Activity:

• Play board games that require turn-taking and cooperation.
• Encourage your child to help with planning family activities (e.g., a picnic, movie night).
• Model and discuss conflict resolution strategies (e.g., using "I" statements: "I feel upset when… because….").

3️⃣ Communication Skills – "How can we express our ideas?"

💬 Discussion Questions:

• "What was something interesting you learned today?"
• "Can you explain this to me in your own words?"
• "How can we make sure everyone gets a turn to speak?"

🏡 At-Home Activity:

• Encourage storytelling – ask your child to tell a story about their day.
• Have a family debate on a fun topic (e.g., "What’s the best ice cream flavor?").
• Play a guessing game where one person describes an object without saying its name.

4️⃣ Self-Management Skills – "How can we stay organized and focused?"

💬 Discussion Questions:

• "What’s your plan for completing your homework?"
• "How can you manage your time better?"
• "What helps you stay calm when you’re feeling frustrated?"

🏡 At-Home Activity:

• Help your child create a daily schedule or checklist for tasks.
• Teach mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or journaling.
• Set a timer for focused study/work sessions with short breaks in between.

5️⃣ Research Skills – "How can we find out more?"

💬 Discussion Questions:

• "Where do you think we could find more information about this?"
• "How can we tell if something is true or reliable?"
• "What questions do you have about this topic?"

🏡 At-Home Activity:

• Visit the library or explore educational websites together.
• Do a family research project (e.g., learning about a historical event or a different culture).
• Encourage your child to ask questions and investigate rather than just accepting information at face value.

Encouraging ATL Skills Daily

🔹 Model these skills – Children learn best by example, so demonstrate problem-solving, self-regulation, and critical thinking in your daily life.🔹 Celebrate effort, not just results – Praise your child for trying new things, even if they don’t get it right the first time.🔹 Make learning fun – Integrate ATL skills into daily conversations, activities, and even playtime!

By fostering these skills at home, you are helping your child become an independent thinker, effective communicator, and resilient learner.

Thank you for your ongoing support in your child’s learning journey. We look forward to hearing about the wonderful ATL-inspired conversations happening at home!

📢 We’d love to hear from you!If you have any stories of inquiry-led conversations at home, share them with us via email or through your child’s teacher.

Thank you 

Michael Nicolaides

Michael.Nicolaides@education.vic.gov.au