LittleVoices

We’ve explored what a home-school partnership is and gotten an idea of why it is important. However, is it truly effective? 

You may have heard this term before, perhaps dropped during parent-teacher conferences or during school orientations. (Note: it is not the same as family involvement in school). Home-school partnerships involve a willing and intentional collaboration between the school and family. 

An effective home-school partnership is a working relationship between teachers, family and students that leads to positive academic and social outcomes. Families and schools acknowledge their investment in children and work together to achieve common goals and take equal responsibility for children’s learning. 

How much time should teachers spend to work on social and emotional learning (SEL) with students? The answer is that there is no time limit. SEL has to be taught and embedded throughout the day, in order for these learnings to permeate real life. 

Picking up skills and hearing examples in school is one thing; however, connecting the dots in real life is another. To bridge the gap between personal development and real-world application, here are some tips. 

It is clear that understanding and managing one’s social and emotional situations well impacts learning outcomes. Academic and social issues are by no means mutually exclusive. There are five key social and emotional skills that children (and adults) can pick up – self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making and relationship building. 

So, while social and emotional learning (SEL) is not a singular subject that is taught four or five times a week, it should actually be woven into most, or every aspect of the school curriculum. And let us share why SEL is so important to children and adults. 

Parents, we feel you. It’s not easy to constantly worry about whether our children will grow up strong, healthy and to be a good person. Survival in this world is not enough – we need them to thrive. Unfortunately there is no winning formula to guarantee this. However, one of the tools we can equip our children with is social and emotional learning, to develop skills like empathy, communication and self-management. Such are the soft skills that will tide them through their daily lives and foster meaningful relationships. 

Why do schools focus so much on student attendance and implement punitive measures when students chronically do not show up? 

There are a few reasons beyond the simple one of attendance being the “rule”. Chronic absenteeism begins in the early ages. In fact, more than 10 per cent of kindergarten students and first graders are chronically absent (missing 10 per cent or more of school days). Students with high absenteeism rates are more likely to fall behind in math and reading, and dropping out of school later on. 

High rates of chronic absenteeism are reflective of a school’s culture. When attendance is de-prioritized, students’ morales may be diminished, affecting their affinity to school, a trait necessary for safe schools. Incorporating smart school management technology into school safety measures may therefore be a part of the solution in aiding the tracking of student attendance. 

When students' safety needs are met, the learning environment becomes comfortable and conducive. Schools are responsible for ensuring they are safe and accounted for during the day. 

In current society, “times like these” would refer to the ongoing pandemic and any ongoing situation that has potential to disrupt children’s school and family lives. 

Strengthened communication, transparency and trust are key in not only keeping up with children’s school lives, but also any new infection control measures. It may be hard to keep up with their lives especially if they do not openly share how their days have gone. An open, two-way communication between parents and teachers will ensure that any feedback and concerns are addressed. 

Parents who have a good relationship with their children’s school have children that demonstrate the following behavior:

• Greater class participation
• Positive feelings towards school
• Better grasp of learning material and improved academic performance
• Reduced school-related stress

Some ways to strengthen communication between schools and parents include the following: 

To have a ‘normal’ child who understands what you say, laugh when you play with them, look at you when you call out their name, talk at the age that he or she is supposed to, is a dream of every parent. No parents can imagine their life with a child that is born special and needs extra assistance. All they did is to cherish, support and protect their child. 

Like adults, children navigate social situations on a daily basis and need to learn to manage their emotions. It is important to start building emotional awareness and control early on, to help them better handle relationships and problem solve. 

It is hard enough for adults to recognise and understand emotions in themselves, let alone for children. Calming down when upset and describing one’s feelings requires much patience. This is where parents and teachers can come in to support them. With an adult’s guidance, children will progressively learn how to manage their feelings.