‘Parent Helping’ Helping Children To Learn

Being a helperAt school:• Working with small groups of students under

the guidance of the teacher.• Providing a good role model for learning.• Understanding that students learn at different

rates and in different ways.• Providing support and guidance but not ‘doing’.• Celebrating every achievement.

Please respect privacy and confidentiality.

Your Questions

• Write down all the questions you have about being a parent helper.

• Add questions as we go.

• If we have not answered the questions, we will address them at the end of the session.

What to learnStudents’ learning is based on the

Victorian Essential Learning Standards:

•Physical, Personal and Social Learning • Health and Physical Education; Interpersonal

Development; Personal Learning; Civics and Citizenship.

•Discipline-based Learning • The Arts; English; Humanities – Economics,

Geography, History; Languages Other Than English (LOTE); Mathematics; Science.

•Interdisciplinary Learning• Communication; Design, Creativity and

Technology; Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Thinking Processes.

Structure of LessonsMost literacy and maths lessons include:

•Tuning in or whole class focus – an opportunity for the whole class to focus on a particular skill.

•Individual or small group tasks – the teacher will work with a small group to focus on their needs. The other students will work independently or in small groups on tasks that reinforce the whole class focus.

•Reflection Time – an opportunity for students to talk about their learning and reflect with others.

Helping in ReadingWhole Class. Independent /

Small group.Reflection Time.

•Reading with small groups. •Reading with individuals.•Testing ‘common words’ in Blue Folders. •Administrative tasks – Laminating, cutting etc.

•Reading with small groups. •Reading with individuals.•Conducting an oral language task. •Working with a group of students on a set task. •Roving. •Collecting data (notes).

•Reading with small groups. •Reading with individuals.•Administrative tasks – Laminating, cutting etc. •Helping students to pack up their task.

Activity: Talk to the person next to you about how you could help students in Reading?

Watch ‘Reading With Your Child’ video.

Ways to help with reading:• Prepare / Pause / Prompt / Praise / Probe.

• Ensure you and the student remain ‘on task’.

It is not what we can tell the child about the book or what questions we ask, but what the child can tell us about the book and

what questions the child asks.

Examples of activities you may be asked to do.

Oral Language / Retell / Comprehension / Thrass / Follow Up / Cut up sentences

Good Reading Questions

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

What might this book be about?

Why do you think that?

What pictures might we see in this book?

What words might we see in this book?

Do you know anything about____?

What is your reading goal?

What is the picture telling you?

What is the first sound?

Does that sound right?

Does that make sense?

Can you try that again?

What do you think will happen next?

How do you think the book might end?

Can you tell me what happened in

the story?

Why do you think ______ happened?

Did you enjoy that book?

What new word did you read in this

book?

How did you go with your reading goal?

Would you change the book if you

wrote it?

Helping in WritingWhole Class. Independent /

Small group.Reflection Time.

•Alphabet ID games and activities with individuals.•Handwriting and letter formation activities. •Testing letter formation. •Administrative tasks – Laminating, cutting etc.

•Roving conversations about what students are writing. •Promotion of independent writers. •Working with a group of students on a set task. •Scribing students work underneath in their books. •Collecting data (notes).

•Listening to individuals read their writing. •Working with students to complete their writing. Administrative tasks – Laminating, cutting etc. •Helping students to pack up their task.

Activity: Talk to the people around you about how you could help a student to spell a word they don’t know?

Watch ‘Spelling’ video.

Ways to help with Writing•Encourage independent writing.

•Celebrate all attempts at writing. •Ensure you and the student remain ‘on task’.•Sound it out. What sound did you hear first? Can you find it on the THRASS chart? •Have a try.•Ask a friend.•Do you know another word that sounds the same?•Circle the word (or part) you think is wrong.•Have another try.•Look in your own writing or around the room for charts, lists and on the word wall.

Good Writing QuestionsBefore

WritingDuring Writing

After Writing

What are you going to write about?

What ideas do you have so far?

What are you going to start with?

Do you have a Thrass chart?

What is your writing goal?

What comes next?

Can you tell me more?

Does that look right?

What is the first sound?

Does that sound right?

Does that make sense?

Could you make that more

interesting?

Can you tell me what happened in

the story?

Can you read your writing to me?

What kind of writing did you do today?

How did you go with your writing goal?

What do you think you need to work on

next?

Remember: Writing in Prep is all about having a go and developing writing strategies.

Helping in MathsWhole Class. Independent /

Small group.Reflection Time.

•Preparing materials. •Working with individuals or small groups. •Taking notes. •Administrative tasks – Laminating, cutting etc.

•Roving to assist students with their tasks. •Working with groups of students to complete set tasks.•Collecting data (notes).

•Working with students to complete their task.•Administrative tasks – Laminating, cutting etc. •Helping students to pack up materials.

Activity: Talk to the people around you about what maths was like for you at school?

Watch ‘Counting’ video.

Good Maths QuestionsWhat are you thinking?

Why did that happen?

What is the pattern?

How could you work it out?

How did you work that out?

Could you do it another way?

What is your guess?

Does that look right?

Could that be the answer?

What do you know about…?

Tell me about… Show me…

What do you now know that you didn’t know

before?

How are these (ideas) the same?

When could you use…?

Keep in Mind• Learning should be fun and challenging.

• Encourage students to have a go.

• Praise achievements, however small.

• Encourage students to talk about their learning.

• Remember that asking questions is as important as finding the correct answers.

• We learn by making mistakes and taking risks.

Every child can learn!

• The teacher will ensure that you know exactly what they would like you to do when you arrive.

• You are there to help ‘the class’, not just your child.

• If you are unsure of a task, ask for clarification.

• Don’t sit on the floor with your child as a cuddle with Mum or Dad is a fantastic distraction from what is being taught.

• When working with individual students of small groups, keep in mind that you are there to help, but they still need to do the work.

Things to remember...

School Web Site:• http://www.bellaireps.vic.edu.au/

Prep Blog:• http://bellairepreps.global2.vic.edu.a

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Staying Connected...

What questions do you still have about being a

parent helper?

Ask away!

Back to your Questions.

Having parents who are willing to give up their time to come in and help out with our classroom programs means we are

able to provide the best possible opportunities to each and every child in

our classes.

PS – If you would like to help out in the library also, leave your name at the office for Krista!

Most Importantly...