MANY children – especially in rural areas – have no concept of what school is until they are enrolled in grade one.
For the first time, they are faced with an alphabet and numerals, which among other things, they will now have to learn and recognise on sight.
Parents also are often expectant and want to see progress in just a few days. One such parent was shocked when he opened his child’s book and saw squiggly writings that no one in the home could decipher.
The conversation which I will translate went something like this in vernacular. Father: “Finshi ifi ulembele?” (what is this you have written?)
Son: (no response)
Father: “Kwena umwana ukuti alalemba ifi? Na teacher wine amufunda cipuba!” (How can a child who goes to school write like this? Even the teacher in charge of this class must be an idiot!)
Such outbursts from parents are common. This prompted the head teacher at one of the primary schools in Kasama to initiate a programme requiring some parents of pupils who were experiencing more problems than usual with their school work to attend some lessons with their newly enrolled grade ones.
This was to expose parents to the difficulties that public school teachers face and to get them more involved in what their children were doing in and out of school.
It is important to note that a typical public school has close to ‘70 pupils per class’.
So the established drill would require parents to arrive with their kids and sit with them in class side by side. Each parent and child would then be given a rubber and a pencil.
For every piece of work given by the teacher, the parent and child would be required to work together. If the work was unsatisfactory, the parent would erase it and they would start again.
It was amusing, to hear tales of how one parent became so exasperated when his daughter failed to write the letter K and started landing knuckle knocks to the child’s head. The alarmed teacher told the parent to stop as she worked with the same children minus hitting them.
Though some children, and some parents, where almost reduced to tears, it was obvious the programme was yielding results. Parents appreciated that the buck did not stop with teacher. When teacher laid down her piece of chalk for the day, it was the duty of the parent to step in.
It showed that when parents took an active role in things that have to do with their child’s education, they became more successful in school – it showed them that what they do is important.
Parent engagement was encouraged beyond the classroom. Helping their kids with their homework was encouraged.
Of course, helping with homework shouldn’t mean spending hours hunched over a desk. Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study and organization skills, explaining a tricky problem, or just encouraging kids to take a break.
Here are some tips from kidshealth.org to guide the way:
Know the teachers and what they’re looking for. Attend school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child’s teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.
Set up a homework-friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to complete homework. Keep supplies such paper, pencils, glue and scissors within reach.
Schedule a regular study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner.
Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there’s an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child break up the work into manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary — and take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.
Keep distractions to a minimum. This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls. (Occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful.)
Make sure kids do their own work. They won’t learn if they don’t think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions. But it’s a kid’s job to do the learning.
Be a motivator and monitor. Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns.
Set a good example. Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? Kids are more likely to follow their parents’ examples than their advice.
Praise their work and efforts. Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator. Mention academic achievements to relatives.
If there are continuing problems with homework, get help. Talk about it with your child’s teacher. Some kids have trouble seeing the board and may need glasses (children in rural areas with such problems are put in front of the class on a piece of sack cloth so they can see better; others might need an evaluation for a learning problem or attention disorder.
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