Learning & Teaching

Janine Turville

Empowering Learning

As educators part of our responsibility is to empower your children to explore the learning process rather than seek the ‘right answer’.  Now while it's certainly a good thing to affirm students in their learning, many times we want students to be creative with their learning. We want to  allow them to own their learning and show us what they know in new and inventive ways. Often there isn't "one right answer," or one correct strategy or way.

Similarly, we want students to be reflective, to ask themselves, "How do I know if I'm on the right track?" or "What could I do next?" Instead of coming immediately to the teacher, we want students to experiment on their own. Our goal is to empower our students to be self-directed learners.

Teachers use questions as a very powerful redirection tools to encourage the students to own the process of learning. As parents you have an multiple opportunities to encourage your child to be problem solvers, thinkers and self directed learners. Next time your child ask you to solve something for them or asks you a question perhaps instead of  responding with "Yes" or "No," ask your child, "Why do you think that?"  If you notice an error or gap in learning, try using questions that push your child to think:

What else could you try?

Have you experimented with another idea?

Why do you think this is true?

Of course, if your child is floundering, and failure is not productive, by all means step in. But also feel free to allow yourself wait time before you do so!

Below is the outline of the  curriculum that your child will be covering this term.  Please take the time to read through, as this may be a great way to connect with your child’s education.