'When I was at school...' is an opening line many young people are probably familiar with as parents begin reminiscing about their own school days. But for families at Knightswood Secondary School in Glasgow, a new parental project is reminding everyone just how innovative school is nowadays and how important it is to get involved.
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Launched in 2008, Knightswood's 'Homework Workshops' have quickly gathered momentum. The workshops are designed to enhance parental involvement and develop online resources to better support home study. Ably assisted by senior pupils, the workshops encourage parents and carers to develop a very practical understanding and appreciation of their children's learning.
Fun and funky approach
Parents are invited into the school to sit down with their children and work together on a choice of homework study areas. This traditional approach is augmented with what teacher Kathy Smith describes as a 'fun and funky' approach, where families let their imagination run wild and use mind maps to help with homework. Parents are also encouraged to use ICT and become more at ease with the internet. The school's own website is explored through the workshops and families are pointed towards useful educational content on external websites like BBC online.
The workshops are a collaboration between principal teachers, the school's management team, parents and pupils and already they have harnessed the support of everyone involved. S6 pupil Kimberley explains, 'Parental involvement helps us because they understand what we need help with and we'll be able to go to them if we've got any problems. We get a better relationship with our parents when they know the kind of things we're going through in school.'
Changing perceptions
Teacher Neil Farmer says involving parents with homework is particularly vital at secondary school level, as pupils are starting to change their perceptions of the world. 'They're not the small children in primary school who just accept things at face value. We need the parents, the teachers, the children's peers and everybody around them to understand homework is extremely important.'
Parent Elizabeth's youngest child is studying Standard Grades at the school. She says the workshops have kept her up to date. 'What I did when I was in fourth year is nothing compared to what they’re doing now! The workshops are really useful to me, as well as to my children, and they show me how I can facilitate helping them with their homework. It's also educating me a bit more because I'm learning new things.'
Laura also has a child at Knightswood and adds, 'It builds up the parent's confidence and that can be passed on to the child to build their confidence as well.'
Workshops have been rolled out across other year groups and work is well under way towards developing the school's website and encouraging families to support learning at home. The creative juices are flowing and the school has a five-year plan which outlines other ways to get parents and carers more involved. There's even talk of a family basketball club and ICT classes for parents. Clearly at Knightswood there's no looking back.
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