The benefits of Open week
Open week allows the parents to observe their children to see how they are progressing in English, however it’s more than that.
It’s no secret that parents who support their children will often do much better at school and one of the ways you can do that is to show interest in their class and allow them to show you how they are progressing.
There are a few different ways in which a student will react to having their parents watch.
Eager to show their parent what they can do
Shy about what they can and cannot do
Unsure of themselves while looking to their parents for answers and support
Refusing to allow their parent to watch
Young and inexperienced children are more likely to fall into one of the first three categories but as they get older, students will often feel uncomfortable having someone watch them.
There are many possible reasons for this.
They are embarrassed
They feel like they are being judged
They want have something that is theirs alone
They are becoming more independent
They are more intrinsically motivated than extrinsically and therefore find observation an unwanted distraction
For most of these, just the fact that the parent is nearby and wanting to watch (even if they aren’t watching) is enough support.
A few things that parents can do during observation week are showing interest in watching and giving positive feedback. Remember that all children have different learning curves and do not compare your child with other children in either a positive or negative way. Rather, give them praise for things they’ve done which were previously difficult or unattainable. Try to refrain from criticizing any faults or mishaps they might have. It’s okay to acknowledge them, but not to “feel” disappointed.
When watching, please refrain from “helping” your child with an answer. Feigning confusion and ignorance might be best in some cases. This will allow your child to not rely on you for answers which will make them think for themselves.
Depending on the class and the time, I will often engage with the parents and ask them to join in with a game. Please feel free to join in when you can. You do not need to worry about knowing answers (especially with higher level students) or knowing too much (with lower level students). Children enjoy playing games with their parents and they love to play against them.
Greenwood English