Bringing out the teacher in parents.

By : Dr. Ramiza Darmi

While there is no substitute to the face-to-face classroom environment, parents need to accept the new “normal” of learning and thereby adapt to the home-based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) programme during the current movement control order period.

Unlike teachers, parents have no formal qualification as educators, making it hard for them to grasp their new roles as substitute teachers for their children, especially young ones. But with interest and a little bit of patience, they can learn as they go along and perhaps even enhance their knowledge on how to teach their children.

Setting up a support group comprising parents and teachers to share information and tips would also be a good idea.

PdPR does not mean teaching and learning online throughout the school hours because teachers would have shared the timetable with parents. While the lessons are being conducted online, parents should sit with their children to guide and support them.

Parents must be aware that young children are still slow learning and completing any tasks without the presence of their teachers. They have yet to learn about motivation and self-discipline to study on their own.

Teachers would have outlined the daily learning objectives, but in the PdPR set-up, these may not be achieved in a day. In fact, it might take a few days just to achieve one objective.

No doubt, teachers are wary of parents who will complain about their teaching approach and capabilities. As such, it is crucial for both parties to communicate with one another.

I would like to emphasise the importance of the 3Rs in education-reading, writing and arithmetic. Under PdPR, parents are encouraged to find time to support their children in learning these basic skills every day.

Parents could, for example, read to their children. Get books suitable for their age, sit in a cosy corner or before bedtime and read to them for at least 30 minutes. Allow them to ask questions and share their imagination, and do not worry about which language to use. The point is to develop literacy and language skills.

For writing, get children to trace the letters in the alphabet first and then gradually move to spelling words and doing short sentences.

Prents can play spelling tests and dictation with their children. Give them the red-and-blue lined exercise books to practice their writing. Online learning may help our children to be fast at the keyboard but we also need them to be good at handwriting.

To develop skills in arithmetic, parents can be more creative in getting their children to master the subject.

Let us make PdPR a memorable experience for our children. As Albert Einsten once said: “Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it”

Date of Input: 02/02/2021 | Updated: 02/02/2021 | noor.aisyah