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Engage kids on life at school
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AT Shanghai American School, parents are encouraged to be as involved in school life as they can be. Some parents have the time to do volunteer work during school time, whether with the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) or with other initiatives where parent help is sought. However, we know this level of involvement is not possible for many working families. Most important is joining in for parent-teacher conferences, as well as attending school exhibitions, athletic events or school performances.
In terms of supporting children in the work they bring home, parent involvement depends on the age and personal disposition of your child. In general, a parent’s most important role is to provide the child the time and place to do their homework. As they move through elementary school, parents can begin moving from a guiding to a supporting role.
At Shanghai American School, we are honored by the trust families place in us to shepherd their children through the most important years of their lives. Students thrive when families and teachers work together to support learning. Our teachers share the following pointers about how you as a parent can work with educators to help support your child’s education:
1. Ask children what they work on at school. Listen when there are things that upset them. Help them problem-solve, whether it is something that happened in class, or in the cafeteria.
Notice what interests your child academically. Help them cultivate their strengths and help them figure out what they love.
2. Communicate openly with teachers. We are curious to know how your child is at home. This helps us understand how to teach in the classroom. And reach out when something is going well for your child.
3. If your child is frustrated about homework, help them figure out a path forward. If you feel they do not have the skills or the understanding to complete the assignment, help them reach out to us (or if they are younger, reach out yourself). It may be that your child didn’t fully understand the assignment. This helps the teacher identify the next steps going forward.
4. If you have a concern about what is going on in one of your child’s classes, contact us. This is much more effective than talking with a friend or posting messages on WeChat. Just as you know your child at home, we know your child at school.
5. Help your child develop a balanced lifestyle. Giving them time to unwind, being with family, as well as cultivating non-academic interests will have a major impact on their ability to focus on academic learning.
(Jennifer Weyburn is Shanghai American School’s deputy superintendent of Educational Programs and Student Learning.)
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