Expressions in English

Help at Home

This page is for parents.  Many times I hear the comment, “He/she says they don’t have any homework.”  While I try to avoid giving too much extra work to my students, those who sometimes fall behind in class should be using some time at home to work on current assignments, or updating their Reading and Viewing Journal.  Please check the Assignments and Homework pages for more info.
Those who are up to date with assignments should spend some time reading, or viewing relevant texts that can be used for their Reading and Viewing Journal each week.  Extra entries in the Journal are encouraged as it helps to develop the quality of their critical responses.

Obviously, parents who model good reading and writing habits will set a good example to their children.  If your child is a reluctant reader, try easier texts first, such as magazines on topics they are really interested in.  Try to spend some time talking with them about what they are reading.

As for viewing, many parents are surprised when I ask students to watch television or movies.  These texts are a big part of their lives.  My job as their English teacher is to educate them about these text forms and to develop their critical awareness.  It is important for them to recognise the constructive nature of all texts and to evaluate them with open eyes.

I ask students not to “veg out” in front of the television, but rather, watch actively and critically.  You can encourage this by discussing the content with them, or pointing out some of the elements of construction, like special effects or the use of suspense and so on.

The important thing is that for your child to succeed at school, we need your help.  The power of positive parenting is amazing.  Many students with literacy difficulties need lots of encouragement and positive comments.  They may start with a magazine, but it is only a starting point.  They will have many more challenges to face.  They can face these more easily if they have a strong self-belief and that comes from our words of encouragement.

If you would like specific help with an area of concern, such as poor spelling, I will be adding links such as this one to an online free spelling tutor game. 

Meanwhile, remember you can always contact me using the link on the right hand navbar.