DRIVER PRIMARY SCHOOL
AT HOME SUPPORT IN TERM 2
While schools remain open in the NT, some families are choosing to keep their children at home due to COVID-19.
At Driver Primary we are supporting these families by providing them with:
1. a hard copy work pack that aligns with Term 2 work being completed at school
2. a contact person who can arrange support from appropriate staff members if needed
3. online supports such as explicit learning instructions prepared by class teachers (click on the images below or links above to access)
4. Additional home ideas for families who want more to do at home (read below for more information or see additional home ideas link).
Suggested Schedule for Driver Primary School students working from home
The most successful homeschooling will turn learning into a lifestyle, if you are spending time when not doing traditional work (such as what has been set by our teachers), reading books, pursuing interests, doing arts and crafts, watching documentaries, and doing other interesting and incidentally educational activities. Even if it doesn’t look like school, this sort of incidental, real life learning can be very productive.
At all primary ages, but especially the older year levels, focusing on a child’s particular interests such as IT, History or Science can lead to more meaningful connections being made to English & Mathematics concepts.
Be kind to your children and yourself by remembering that you do not need to replicate a normal school day when your child is being home schooled. You need to figure out a schedule that works for you, your family & your own schedule.
Some advice from families who already home school their children are:
- Let them sleep in - it is good for their immune system (no need to even get dressed if they are more comfy in their PJ's).
- Talk to them about what they want to learn about/are interested in and let them be part of planning their home school day.
- Take time (at least for an hour a day) to be outside in the yard (physical activity, fresh air and sun are also important for their physical and mental health).
- Spend at least an hour a day reading (not all at once but throughout the day) - shared reading together where parents read to children, time for children to read aloud to develop their fluency and confidence, reading together to research and reading on our own for enjoyment are all important. Don't forget to talk to your child about what they have read (see homework section of our parent information booklet in INFORMATION TAB of this website for some tips).
- Factor in time to help with chores around the house.
- Cook and bake together. A lot of real life Reading & Math learning can occur when cooking.
A suggested daily timetable would be a mix of:
Learning
Play Time
Family Time
Free Time
How much time do we recommend spending on the work set by the school each day (this is a guide only and should always be guided by the needs of your child & the schedule that works best for your family)?
Preschool & Transition
1-2 hrs a day is plenty & some of this might be learning through play or watching an educational program on ABC Me (they have an educational program running during school hours with Early Years programs in the morning) & discussing the concepts. Talking about what they are learning, counting, identifying colours/numbers/letters & reading with young children are the essentials.
Year 1 & 2
2-3hrs a day & some of this might be learning through play or watching an educational program on ABC Me (they have an educational program running during school hours with Early Years programs in the morning) & discussing the concepts. You may choose to break up English & Math learning evenly if they don’t struggle with anything, but could focus more on their areas of need if they particularly struggle with reading, writing or mathematical concepts.
Years 3-6
2-4hrs a day & some of this might be practising sight words if they have trouble reading, reading for pleasure, writing for pleasure (check out our free write PowerPoint in the coloured work pack resources links) or practising their times tables (check out the x tables powerpoints in the Blue & Purple pack resources). They may also benefit from watching an educational program on ABC Me (they have an educational program running during school hours with middle/senior years programs showing middle and end of day) & discussing the concepts (older students love BTN & there are plenty of episodes online which provide great opportunities to discuss some of the current local & worldwide events). You may choose to break up English & Mathematics learning evenly if they don’t struggle with anything, but could focus more on their areas of need if they particularly struggle with reading, writing or mathematical concepts. At this older age they will be more likely to be able to complete some work independently but also really benefit from checking they have a clear understanding of the concepts they’re learning about.
We have set 3 assessment due dates for the whole school (end of Weeks 4,6 & 8) to provide flexibility for families (see assessment page in the front of each work pack) . All we ask is that assessment tasks are handed in at these times & that they are completed as independently as possible so that teachers can asses what students can do without help. It is up to families to decide how & when practise work is completed & how much help your children require.
The Northern Territory Department of Education has also partnered with Department of Education in Queensland and New South Wales to develop The Learning Together: Families & Schools Resources Website to support families throughout COVID-19.
Click on the image below to access this.
There is also a wealth of information online to support families to offer rich learning experiences for their children at home. We have chosen a few to showcase here.
Click on the images below to access some excellent information and ideas.
