Parents & Whaanau

How to Help at Home

One of the best ways is to speak with your child in your home language(s).
Keeping your own language alive is a wonderful treasure and it helps children to learn English more easily.

Reading
Ask your child if they have brought a book home to read and listen to them. This will usually be an easy/familiar book for them but if for some reason the book is hard, read it with them.

• Talk about the pictures, and the words/ideas that come to mind
• Let your child try unknown words before you ask them to ‘have a go’, and tell them what it is
• Always say something positive about your child’s efforts, what they remember and their ‘tries’
• Let your child’s teacher know if reading books are not coming home, too easy/hard, or not helping
• Older students bring home Library books

Maths

• Ask ‘what do you notice, what do you wonder’ to develop curiosity, and encourage your child to talk about what, how, and why they think something
• If your child brings home homework, let them tell you how they work it out.  There are lots of different ways to solve problems, and talking about solutions/options is good 
• Help your child to learn and recall some basic number facts quickly/accurately. You can do this anywhere e.g., while driving in the car, walking somewhere
• Play games like Snakes and Ladders, Chess and Ludo.  A deck of cards and dice can be used for many math games too

Writing

• Encourage your child to write…. calendar notes, lists, cards, a diary/Journal, letters

What Else?

• Children learn from being outside and visiting new places e.g.,  free places – Maangere Mountain, local Library, gardens, walks (around Maangere waterfronts), biking (Maangere bike tracks), beach, parks
• Visit the museum – free, take your library card or a power bill to show you live in Auckland.  Go to the beach, for a walk or climb up Maunga across Auckland

Online learning

• Check which sites your child is visiting.  You can block sites – see Netsafe for parents/caregivers link
• Check if they are posting photos or texting online – remind your child to stay safe and tell you if they don’t like something they see online
• Check age restrictions on sites, media, AI

Websites of interest

• Netsafe – ideas for keeping your children safe online. You can also call 0508 638723
• Storyline online – famous actors read aloud to children
• Sunshineonline.co.nz – Click to read stories online
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• NZ Curriculum MoE Tāhūrangi – information and ideas
• Ministry of Education – information for parents via the MoE ‘Parent Portal’

Bully-Free NZ

Please click here – a guide for parents/ aiga/ whaanau