- Create a cohesive family atmosphere.
- Develop long term teacher-student relationships. - Maintain a supportive learning environment where students can feel competent and successful. - Encourage students to be helpful and sensitive towards others. - Use a strength based model which builds self-esteem and positive self-concepts. - Ensure students feel safe and free to learn. |
- Attend to the development of social skills, character development and artistic expression as well as academic skills to enhance life success and quality of life.
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- Short term outcomes include greater learning, subject retention and critical thinking.
- Academically, students see a wider spectrum of learning as they work with other students ahead of them and behind them in the learning process. - Children are both learners and teachers. |
- Be responsive to individual students.
- Adapt your school to the child instead of the child to your school. - Show Respect for different learning styles and pace. - Respond to the child's unique characteristics. - Continually monitor growth and achievement. |
- Focus on cooperation rather than competition in the classroom
- Co-operative learning benefits the development of social skills, leadership, communication and conflict management skills. - Long term outcomes include greater employ-ability and career success because quality of life depends largely on social skills. - Socially skilled people tend to be more psychologically healthy. |
- Ensure the parental voice is encouraged in the school and opportunities for volunteering are provided.
- Community involvement should be encouraged. - Open communication between school and home should be valued and encouraged (this ensures parents know that teachers are approachable when there are concerns). - Include parents in what the student's day looks like and what instructional strategies are used in the classroom. - Evaluate progress in meetings that include the parent and the child. |