Literacy and Numeracy

Reading Aloud

In our current situation, as parents, many of us are worried about our child's progress and development in their learning.  The reality is that we are all in the same boat - trying to manage work commitments, remote learning, our homes and care for our families.  All that we can do is our best.  As is the case with our teachers - they too are doing their best.

As we are all aware, maintaining routines, structures and rituals are even more important in our current situation.  My favourite one of these is the bedtime routine with my girls.  In particular, my younger daughter, as the older one thinks she is too 'cool' for this but we often catch her snooping and listening in ...  Reading aloud has been a part of this routine since they were babies and is always a special time for us.

Mem Fox has always advocated reading aloud as a key component to aide a child's literacy development.  Her 'Ten read-aloud commandments'  https://memfox.com/for-parents/for-parents-ten-read-aloud-commandments/ have been shared many times over the years.  I recently came across an article about Mem Fox and her recent health scares.  https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/08/mem-fox-on-fear-creativity-and-covid-19-what-if-i-die-with-the-story-unfinished.

During her illness, recovery and now COVID19, she has managed to write a new book to be published in 2023.  Her views on COVID19 struck a chord with me as she highlighted the positive side to this crisis - Families are spending more quality time together without the pressure of rushing from one activity to the next.  She views our lockdown as a huge opportunity for literacy, especially if parents are engaging with books and reading with their children.  And as only Mem Fox could capture it - 

"And there's the magic.  At the end of the day, after whatever calm or chaos has preceded it, something happens when an adult sits down with a child to read."

Enjoy these precious moments and make lots of beautiful memories.

Mrs Cathy Dimitrakopoulos

cathy.dimitrakopoulos@sjvermont.catholic.edu.au

PROBLEM SOLVING IN MATHEMATICS

In our current situation many families are working through daily mathematics tasks as a family. Whilst this has it's challenges, it also has so many wonderful advantages. 

When students are completing their tasks we want to encourage them to not just be mathematicians, we want to encourage them to be problem solvers. Why?

1) Mathematics is more than just calculation. 

2) Real life, modern society and civilisation is full of problems large and small. 

3) Promotes links between concepts and topics leading to greater understanding and new learning

So when your child is unsure, stuck in the learning pit and possibly frustrated, encourage them to use a range of the strategies below. 

When your child solves a problem one way, encourage them to use a range of the strategies below. 

When your child thinks they are correct, ask them to prove it by encouraging them to use a range of the strategies below. 

Remember - We all learn in different ways. Have fun with it. Embrace it.