A parent’s instinct is remarkable! Even when school says everything is fine, the parental antennae can detect when their child is not doing their best. What triggered the message that you are picking up?
Loss of enthusiasm for school?
Signs of boredom?
Loss of interest in learning?
Homework causing problems – or not being done properly?
Reluctance to discuss the school day – beyond the regular teen “whatever” response?
Feedback along the “same old, same old” lines?
Results seem fine – but there seems to be little effort going in?
A general feeling of complacency?
More than the normal anxiety, possibly triggered by our current situation?
Appearances can be deceptive
If you visited the classroom and you would probably witness an environment where pupils were getting on with something and their teacher, and the teaching assistants, were busy offering support where it is needed. Hopefully, everything looks good, if a little different. Those who are hitting problems are receiving careful support, which is all very positive and praiseworthy. Nothing to worry about there then!
It’s easy to slip under the radar
Perhaps it’s worth thinking about the picture more closely, especially if your child is able and cruising but not making much effort. Of course, you are pleased that they are coping well, but should you be? Is there evidence that they are wasting lots of potential learning time? All children are potentially suffering from recently lost time. Are there even some signs that lack of challenge and free time is tempting them to push the (non-academic) boundaries? Starting to be naughty? Is your child coasting?
What’s really going on?
Let’s turn that class visit on its head. What was probably happening was that those who were able had become invisible, unless they misbehaved. Were they really fulfilling their potential or were they just marking time, under the radar?
For some children this is their reality. They are well “trained” and generally behave themselves. After all, you brought them up well! But are they, as a result, under achieving, especially in these challenging times?
It’s the reality of our education system
No! This is not a pop at teachers – far from it! I have worked in enough classes of 30+ to know that it is really tough to be truly aware of every child’s individual needs all the time. I was optimising all the children’s learning if I ensured that everyone had the chance to try; to get on without disturbance – and that was without any extra challenges.
It was often only when it came to parent meetings or report writing, that it would sometimes hit me that I was not completely in touch with an individual’s capabilities and their learning. That some individuals were being sold short. That they could be excelling and pushing forward to future excellence. I hope I usually picked it up before their behaviour deteriorated and they developed behavioural problems – or were downright naughty!
The truth is, it’s unrealistic with our current education system and large class sizes to think that your daughter or son will always be receiving all the opportunities that they could use to develop their abilities to the full. Perhaps even more so now that the COVID 19 pandemic has put added pressure on our schools with teachers off in large numbers self-isolating and children aware of stress everywhere.
How can you help?
With all the pressures on time that are crowding in at home, what can you do to maximise the chances for your children to develop their full potential?
This is where MagiKats comes in. With a maths or English programme that has been put together just for them, to extend their strengths and sort out any weaknesses, they can thrive. Wherever they are working their subject skills will grow, along with their confidence and their social skills as they work with their mentors in our small, carefully selected groups.
The “something is not quite right” feeling can be replaced by the satisfaction of watching a happy, thriving, successful offspring to whom you are giving the chance to achieve their full potential.
You will be involved in their learning not least through weekly tracking sheets, brief reports every few weeks and careful parent meetings that are always available. Your main role will be to be their personal cheer leader and to be there at MagiKats Prize Giving as they receive their certificates and medals.
The best result will be your happy, fulfilled child and a radar system that can stop bleeping!
by Jan Lomas, Curriculum Director for MagiKats (and ex teacher)
