—By Dr Betty Kehoe
Principals and parents need to take stock of what is more important at this unprecedented time in our history.
Dr Betty Kehoe, Former Primary School Principal, and Mentor of Newly Qualified Principals
Step back and look at the reality for many families. Imagine a ten-year-old child worrying about a parent who goes out to risk his/her life as a healthcare worker. The same parent comes home after a long and difficult day and is expected to take up teaching duties.
A stressful teaching and learning environment is the last thing we want young people to remember from Covid-19. Frustrated parents taking on an additional role as untrained teachers, unsure of how to teach the subject matter, together with stressed children fearing the repercussions of not completing the assigned homework, are a recipe for educational failure.
Education is a journey, and this journey is not the same for all learners. Therefore, giving all students copious amounts of schoolwork does not make sense. Yes, give parents an overview of the content that their children would learn at school and ask them to teach what they can. Take note of whatever is not addressed so that the school may continue the educational process at a later stage.
During this coronavirus pandemic, parents may be well-advised to concentrate on English and Mathematics, the medium through which all curriculum subjects are filtered, except for Gaeilge. Homeschooling may then become a more positive and rewarding experience for both parent and child.
Suggestions for Creating a Happy Rewarding Educational Experience:
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