Angie Wilcock Parent Information Sessions

A powerful message- ‘Parental interest in their child’s education is the single most powerful predictor of achievement by age 16’ (BECTA Study 2009)

Starting secondary school is an important milestone for young people and their families. The key to a successful transition from primary to secondary school includes positive support from parents, carers, teachers and school communities. One of the Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network’s (CCLLEN’s) strategic goals is to Increase and Improve Parent and Family Engagement, especially at Years 7, 8 and 9 with education, training and pathways planning.’ The CCLLEN organised for highly regarded education consultant Angie Wilcock from High Hopes Educational Services to deliver 3 workshops for district parents and carers. The objective of the workshops was to help parents to be able to support and assist their children to successfully make the transition from primary school through to secondary school. The sessions were aimed at Grade 5/6 and Year 7 parents and guardians in particular.

Angie Wilcock has a down to earth, friendly, enthusiastic and engaging manner. She has appeared on ‘Mornings with Kerrie-Anne’, worked with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Dr Andrew Fuller. Angie is a published author with a strong background in teaching, as well as being a Mum of two sons. Her field of expertise leads her to work with teachers, parents and students across Australia in the area of transition to secondary school. Parents are provided with a powerful message that they can play an important role in their child’s education and can make a difference.

Three well attended evening regional workshops were held - on Monday August 1^st at BRIT Echuca Campus, on Tuesday August 2^nd at the Kyabram Community Learning Centre and at the Kerang CFA Meeting room on Wednesday August 3^rd.

Angie offered practical advice on how to work with adolescents as they move from primary school to secondary school. This was put in the context of other adolescent developmental changes occurring because of growth, hormonal changes, puberty and brain development.

Angie talked about the structure of secondary schools as opposed to primary schools. For example: more & new subjects, more & different teachers, moving between classrooms, new curricular , new study modes, new concepts of homework, new lines of communication and new ‘rules’.

Various learning styles typically demonstrated by young people, namely – auditory, visual and kinaesthetic, were discussed and ideas were given on how parents could recognise and address and work with these learning styles.

Some of the ‘golden tips’ for parents that were discussed included:

• Make sure your child has a balanced life between work, play and rest.
• Develop a routine for work and play- and try to keep to it!
• Don’t overload your child’s week with too many commitments after school- make choices.
• Prioritise tasks, for example, organise your work into ‘Urgent’, ‘Soon’ and ‘Later’, (NOT in order of preference) and provide a role model to your child.
• Encourage the use of planners and diaries
• Encourage your child to make a start on an assignment as soon as you they receive it. Don’t DO your child’s assignment but make sure they understand what THEY have to do. Help them with the process
• ‘Chunking’- encourage your child to break down projects and assignments into smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Limit distractions for your children when they are working or studying. Ensure they have some personal space to do homework.
• If they must have music while studying try to ensure it is relaxing music- NOT loud and distracting.
• Promote a positive attitude to school and school work

Angie invited participants to visit her website www.highhopes.com.au for further information.

As part of feedback on the sessions participants were invited write down further thoughts, suggestions or comments with regard to how parents and families could be assisted to become more engaged in their children’s education. The message was basically – ‘we want more of the information and inspiration gained from these sessions’. Keeping the communication lines personally open between schools and parents was also a common theme. The CCLLEN will look to work towards facilitating this with parents and school communities.

One parent’s feedback comments, in particular, summed up the sentiments about the workshops:

‘I think one of the most important messages is that we as parents do have an important role to play in our children's secondary education (indeed an essential one). Empowering parents to recognise their role their child's education was a 'take home' message from the presentation to me. I enjoyed Angie’s genuine approach, stories of her experiences as a parent, and comments based on her considerable teaching experience. I am looking forward to sitting down and reading in more detail the information given.’