Help For Parents

English is obviously one of the most important subjects your child will study whilst at Callington Community College. Reading, writing and speaking and listening underpin every other subject, and the grade your child achieves in English can open doors to a wide range of further and higher education possibilities. So, what can parents do to effectively support students, whilst ensuring that this does not undermine the development of the students as independent learners? Below are a few practical suggestions that you might wish to consider:

READING

It is no surprise that there is a direct correlation between the amount and the frequency with which students read and the GCSE grades they go on to achieve in English. One of the simplest and most straightforward ways in which students can be supported is by encouraging a continued appetite for reading just about anything. Regardless of personal preferences, just about any published material will be helpful in developing reading skills: books, short stories, magazine articles, websites and newspapers. The crucial thing is that students spend a sustained amount of time on a regular basis simply reading (rather than just "browsing"!). This could be anything from 15 minutes a couple of times of week to up to an hour a day.

If students could be helped to develop a regular reading routine and are able to have access to a quiet place in which to read then it is more likely to develop or remain as a habit. The multi-media demands on our attention in the modern world do make it harder for some students to simply do nothing but sit and read, but students should understand that reading does not need to exclude time spent on games or social networking sites!

WRITING

Students should be encouraged in any writing they undertake outside of school: diaries, poetry, short stories. Their own enthusiasm will be one of the most important factors in helping them improve their writing.

As teachers we would not try to comment on every aspect of writing when marking a piece of work - pointing out every single error is incredibly demoralising for students! Far more helpful is to encourage students by focusing on what is good and then suggest one or two manageable areas for improvement. Spelling, whilst not unimportant, is actually far less important than using a wide and interesting vocabulary and having the ability to structure writing effectively with a range of sentences.

Any opportunity to write for a real audience in a real situation should be taken - although parents may wish to proofread the finished article before using it! This could include both formal and informal letters; letters supporting job applications; articles for local publications.

SPEAKING AND LISTENING

It's easy to forget that this area still forms a major part of the GCSE assessment in English, and the skills students develop in this area will serve them well in just about any job and social situation.

Students should be encouraged to express their opinions, but always pressed as to why they think this. Parents could engage their children in constructive discussions and arguments; perhaps using the typical areas of teenage conflict to provoke students to develop their debating and discussion skills. At the same time students will always need reminding that listening is equally important - although one of the best ways to teach this is by example.

The ability to work as part of a group is essential and parents might consider how they could delegate responsibility to their children for organising various aspects of family life. An older sibling who has to manage younger members of the family, resolving conflicts and arbitrating disputes will gain an invaluable experience.