Skill-based Learning: Part 2

We concluded our Foundations of Learning Series by reviewing the idea of skills-based learning.

At today’s final parent forum of the semester we concluded our Foundations of Learning Series by reviewing the idea of skills-based learning. We discussed how we can provide our children with the opportunity to develop the skills at home (see the list below).

We also recapped the six why sheets and reviewed how they related to each other and how the foundation of all our interactions with our learners is based on our image of the child.

Parents’ Forum will return in January, but for now here are our ideas for developing skills at home:

Communication skills

What we do already

• Weekly check-in with my kids: What do you like?  What don’t you like?
• “Tell me what your thinking”
• Family time in the evenings 
• Reading together (them to me and me to them)
• Ask them about how they felt about the day at school
• Older siblings are often better at explaining expectations to younger siblings
• Always listen to them, let them tell you about their day without interrupting them

We could try

• We need to improve our listening skills

Self-Management Skills

What we do already

• Let them get themselves ready for school
• Bath themselves
• Pack and unpack their school bag
• Pick out their own clothes to wear
• Take responsibility for choosing when to do homework
• Turn on the water heater at 6pm so its warmed for their bath
• When siblings are frustrated consider their own choices

We could try

• Give them a blank timetable for the evening and let them fill it up in the order they want
• Let them try making their own day schedule for the weekend and help them follow their plans

Thinking Skills

What we do already

• Ask them what they are thinking and how we can solve the problem together
• Tell me what you know
• Allow them to ask the same question even if they’ve asked it many times before

We could try

• Be more patient in giving them time to respond to repeated questions.

Social Skills

What we do already

• Let children play and solve conflicts independently
• Allow children to decide what to play and collaborate on the types of games they play
• Play sports together to learn how to be a team and follow the norms of the game
• When their have play-dates or visit relatives try to observe and support them as they grow in their character and social skills

We could try

• Use Kelsos Choice to help solve conflict
• Encourage them to be confident
• Not interrupting the play immediately and give them a chance to solve the conflict
• Encourage them to understand people in different situations.

Research Skills

What we do already

• Use the iPad to research general knowledge questions such as why are fries called French Fries
• When my child asks a question I try not to answer but ask them how they can find out
• I research with them
• Research new recipes together
• When we review learning from school on SeeSaw we explore further online

We could try

• Teach them to be responsible and careful with technology
• Teach me - Show me

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