It’s National Family Day, and spending time together can be the perfect chance to reinforce bonds with your student while supporting their educational experience at home. Keeping your whole family a part of the learning experience is one of the best ways to keep your student constantly engaged and elevating.
According to Youth.gov, students whose families are more involved in their education are less likely to drop out once in high school, are more likely to finish school on time, and have higher grades. Here are some of the ways you can keep your whole family engaged and continuously support your student through their educational journey.
Get Involved at School
Families can also make a difference at school by showing their support at school events, volunteer opportunities, and by keeping regular communication between parents and teachers or school staff.
Building a connection between your student’s school and home life is crucial to keep them on a constant path of growth and recognizing the importance of school in their everyday life. Family members can create a connection with the school, teachers, and other school staff by attending parent-teacher conferences, joining parent-led organizations, and volunteering for school events like dances or fundraisers. This can also establish parents as a stable and reliable source of support on the teacher’s end.
Go on a Family Vacation
Taking the family on a new journey can open the door for unexpected or unique learning experiences. Learn more about a new place, check out local experiences or cuisine outside of the norm, and give your student access to learning beyond their everyday life.
Taking a journey into new territory doesn’t have to mean going far. Staycations are also an option. Visit a local park or check out a library in a new neighborhood. The goal is to get your family engaged with something new or unfamiliar to spark questions, imagination, and cravings for more information.
Plan Nights Together at Home
Maybe finding time to take the family out isn’t so easy. You can still create memorable and engaging experiences right at home for everyone to enjoy. Schedule movie nights, game nights, or other times to get together and create memories while learning and having fun.
Get creative with your time together and leverage it to introduce untraditional lessons your student can take with them back to school. On our blog, we show you even more ways you can keep your student engaged when they’re at home.
Establish Open Lines of Communication and Support
An important part of learning is having a safe space where students can feel confident, heard, and supported. This takes effective communication from every angle, starting at home. Talk to your student about what they’re learning, and work with them through their challenges to give them the confidence to keep looking for learning opportunities everywhere.
When your student learns how to communicate effectively and engage in conversation that leads down the learning path, they can use their new skills in the classroom to build relationships, communicate their needs, and get the most of their classroom learning.
Learning is not linear, and there is no one way for your student to get the most of their educational experience. From the home to the classroom, there are ways you can be a part of their educational journey and guide them toward even greater classroom success.
