Have you ever wondered why peaches are fuzzy? How heavy the sun is? What happens when you mix all different colors of paint together? Chances are, if you’re a parent, you’ve fielded a few questions like this from your son or daughter. At Teton Literacy, we believe that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Parent engagement and support is essential in order for children to reach their academic potential and be successful in school and their community. Learning is more successful when it is connected to and supported at home with family.
Luckily, you don’t have to know the answer to any of the above questions to help your child become a better student. All you have to do is indulge their sense of wonder and help them ask more questions. Learning how to investigate a question of interest and work to find the answer is one of the most important skills your child can learn on their path to lifelong academic success. Your support could be as simple as saying: “Look at that beautiful flower! I wonder why it has so many leaves. Let’s find out!”
After you identify a question, head to the library together or look on some trusted websites to find the answer! If you’re in need of a jumping off point, here’s a website we like: www.wonderopolis.org
Beyond this, here are some more ways you can create a home environment that is supportive of your child’s academics:
Luckily, you don’t have to know the answer to any of the above questions to help your child become a better student. All you have to do is indulge their sense of wonder and help them ask more questions. Learning how to investigate a question of interest and work to find the answer is one of the most important skills your child can learn on their path to lifelong academic success. Your support could be as simple as saying: “Look at that beautiful flower! I wonder why it has so many leaves. Let’s find out!”
After you identify a question, head to the library together or look on some trusted websites to find the answer! If you’re in need of a jumping off point, here’s a website we like: www.wonderopolis.org
Beyond this, here are some more ways you can create a home environment that is supportive of your child’s academics:
- Read together every day! If your child sees you reading, she’s more likely to aspire to become a reader just like you.
- Tell stories. Not only is this fun to do as a family, it strengthens oral language skills (essential for reading success) and promotes a strong sense of identity.
- Cook together, build together, DO something together. The literacy skills involved in following a recipe or reading instructions to build a swingset are numerous. Everyday activities are a great jumping off point for diving into the inquiry process. Make ordinary tasks an opportunity to learn!
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