Curriculum Corner
Welcome back to all our families. It was wonderful to see both new and returning students arriving at school for the first day of the 2021 School Year. The 'Curriculum Corner' is a section of the newsletter which provides details of our school-wide pedagogies and practices that occur at Craigslea State School. This section also provides strategies and ideas to support your child's learning.
SETTLING INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
While you might be ready to see their backpacks heading out the door, not all kids are feeling excited about their days of freedom and flexibility coming to an end. There will of course be many looking forward to reuniting with friends and getting back into school activities, others however may be feeling nervous about change - new teacher, new classes, even a new school - or adjusting to new expectations around routines, both in the home and the classroom.
A mixture of nerves and excitement is completely normal. Most children will settle within the first few weeks, others, may take a little longer to find their feet. If you're worried about an extended adjustment period, there are some ways you can help your family feel more settled.
Here are tips for a happy household as children head back to school:
Prepare, Plan and Organise
- Planning ahead helps things to run smoothly! Create simple afternoon and morning routines so that everyone knows exactly what needs to be done and in what order. Ensure your children know where to meet you in the afternoon!
Develop a relationship with your child's teacher
- If you have any questions/concerns contact your child's teacher by email, phone or arrange a meeting. Teachers are busy people with lots of children and jobs to attend to, so obviously be mindful of that. It is worth taking the time to build a relationship with your child's new teacher.
Make extra time for connection
- Keep communication open if you are worried that your child may still be struggling after the initial adjustment period. Make extra time alone, without distractions, where you can connect with your child, check in with them and really listen.
Sarah Abdy
Head of Curriculum