school year

How To Utilize The Rest Of The School Year (Part 2)

With only two months left of the academic year, you might be wondering how best to help your child effectively utilize the rest of the school year. Now that schools have opened up again, and students are getting back into their academic routine, it is essential to address concerns surrounding learners returning to school. How can we as parents and educators ensure that our children are fully utilizing the rest of the school year? We look at some practical tips that you can use to help guide your child’s academic success.

(Part 2) If your child is back at school…

1. Find out what the mark structure will be for your child’s school

While all grades are now able to return to school, the South African government has announced that only matric students will be writing final exams towards the end of the academic year. The loss of teaching time this year will mean that much of the schools’ curriculum will not be covered, resulting in a restructuring of mark allocations. In most cases the final test marks will be weighted less than the yearly marks, while assessments will contribute up to 60% of the academic year. It is essential to contact your child’s school to find out how the mark structure has changed since COVID-19, and figure out which areas your child should be focusing on. 

2. Find out what the new timetable will be

Due to lockdown regulations and the reopening of schools this month, the government has issued a revised timetable for the rest of the school year. The school year will end on the 15th of December for grades R – 11. Government schools will break for school holidays in the last week of October (26 – 30 October). It is important to get in touch with your child’s school with regards to the change in the recent academic calendar, and walk your child through the new changes. Ensure that your child understands when they are expected to be at school and when their holidays begin and end. With all the changes your child has had to endure this year it is essential to ensure that they understand what is expected of them academically in the next two months. 

3. Ensure that your child has a support system within their school & at home

It is important for learners to receive support from within their school. Help your child feel supported by ensuring that they are on the correct WhatsApp groups, receiving their latest school work, and that they know where to find their lesson notes and assignments. If your child is receiving their school work through email, make sure that you read through the email with your child to ensure that the work gets done. Finally, it is important to ensure that your child is able to reach out to their teachers if they need to. 

4. Understand your child’s feelings surrounding COVID-19 and their academic work

A key part in supporting your child’s academic journey for the remainder of the year lies in addressing the issue of the pandemic. Be sure to regularly check in with your child and their feelings around COVID-19. This will help them to understand that there is still enough time for academic success in 2020 and that everyone is in the same boat! 

  • Assess how they are feeling about their academics during the pandemic
  • Offer emotional support and reassurance
  • Establish realistic expectations around their academics and extra mural activities
  • Help them get comfortable with the new norms surrounding their school work
  • Give them time to adjust 
  • Make sure that they have their school work ahead of time

5. Set realistic expectations for your child’s academic performance for the rest of the year

Knowing how best to navigate your child’s studies is essential to their academic success. Learners have different study techniques and habits and it is crucial to find the learning solution that best fits your child.  Here are some practical tips on how this can be done:

  • Motivate your child to do their best
  • Reassure your child that this year is not an academic write-off
  • Figure out which areas and subjects need the most attention
  • Understand the new marking structure of your child’s school
  • Discuss getting a tutor or study assistance with your child

6. Get some help!

Parenting is challenging under the best of circumstances. If you don’t have the time or the knowledge to assist your child with their academics, an online or in-person tutor is a great way to ensure that your child gets all the support they need. Find out more about our tutors, or let us know how we can meet your unique learning needs. Take advantage of our current special and get 25% off our Study Skills Crash Course when you buy 5 tutoring lessons or more!

7. Make sure your child understands how they will be continuing with their academics for the remainder of the year 

There are numerous options available to cater to your child’s learning needs. It is important to establish which option is most suitable for your child, and help your child get settled into their new schooling routine. Once they feel comfortable with the changes, they will better be able to focus on their school work. 

A good place to start is by establishing how much ‘catching up’ your child needs to do with regards to the past few months’ school work. If this task seems too daunting, we’ve got you covered – our Learn@Home Tutors and Facilitators are ready to help. Our tutors can assist with prescribed schoolwork, lesson creation and execution, catching up on gaps in your child’s curriculum, reinforcing foundations and fundamental concepts, and so much more.

 

Written by Sula Cooper, BrightSparkz Staff & Blog Writer

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