News from the Middle Leader

Hi Everyone,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

How can I extend my child?

A question I've often been asked as a teacher is: How can I extend my child? For some students, learning and success with schoolwork comes easily. They may not have to stretch their minds as much as their peers during the school day. Extending students is not about more work or looking at the year level above and covering that content, it is about providing opportunities that light a fire. We want our children to be curious and we want to help foster a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

One of our school dispositions is to be curious. Being inquisitive and asking questions can create powerful extension opportunities for students. Sadly, according to Guy Claxton (The Learning Power Approach, 2018). In the first month of primary school, the number of questions children ask each day drops by about 90%. If we gave children an opportunity at school and at home to ask more questions, be inquisitive and wonder, I think children would become the owners of their own learning – what a way for students to be extended!

Some ideas for encouraging curiosity and questioning:

• Create a book where the family can record questions they have thought about through the day.
• Around the table. Each person shares their wondering and the family can talk about it. Eg. I wonder why leaves are green?
• Have a random object presented to your child/ren and encourage them to ask as many questions about that object as they can.

May we all stay a little more curious and ask more questions in our own lives!

Warm Regards

Nicki Prentice