How to foster a love of education

[Glassofwine]

I caught the tail end of a discussion on the radio yesterday. An 'expert' said that it's not that middle class children are more intelligent and therefore do better at school, but that they are more likely to come from a family who value education. That if you can get the message to your child that schooling is important and to be enjoyed then they are more likely to do well.

This is nothing new, of course, but it did get me thinking. How do you get your children to love school? I have two dd's at school and my ds starts next year, my oldest (7) goes reluctantly and dd2 (4) loves it. I'd love to change dd1's attitude and keep dd2 loving it and not to be influenced by her older sisters negitativity.

What do you all do?

I think the point might be to get your children to love learning rather than school.

Agree with Hallgerda.

Love of learning is more important than love of schooling.

x post!

yes, sorry perhaps I didn't word it correctly. Still looking for some tips though.

Letting the children see you read for fun and enjoy learning new things - Japanese cooking, IT, dog grooming, anything - is important. Also sounding positive about learning - I know I'm guilty of moaning about assignments when I'm on courses. Going on trips that make learning fun. I learnt new things about Shakespeare while dd was doing a Y6 project when we went to the Globe for eg. Start lots of sentences with "I wonder...." and encourage suggestions.

Thanks Sweedishmum - sounds good, I've been doing lots of encouraging, using positive phrases for school and learning - just wondered what everyone else does

I think that it is both (assuming that you are not home ed'ing).

It is important to view school in a positive light, hence reinforcing that school shouldn't be missed for days off, holidays etc. That homework is asked about and checked. That you take an interest in what happened during the day (although lunchtime and playtime seem to be the only things of interest). That you work together learning to read, learn number bonds and times tables. That you indicate that you have a healthy respect for the teachers.

If they're unhappy then you need to find out why and see what (if anything) can be done. It shouldn't be a place where they're going reluctantly or unhappily. (And if I couldn't change that then I would change schools or home ed).

A love of learning is also important - taking time to read together, to talk together, to make up stories and explore together.

PSH - This is all stuff that dh and I do automatically - I just wondered if I should be doing more. Perhaps not, I'm just doing the classic parent thing of worrying that I'm not being perfect.

I agree that you need to get your children to love learning rather than school; but hopefully a lot of learning will go on at school, and to that end:

Never ever criticise your children's teachers or school in their hearing. Collaborate with the school in pantomime praise and approval of great achievements, and astounded shock and horror at misdemeanors.

Another vital thing is to read to your children, to listen to them read, for them to see you reading; to have lots of books in the house - and not view them as 'luxury' objects. Have set times set aside when they read, and do not have the temptation/option of other distractions (computers, tv, etc.)

I have 2 with a real love of learning (teachers have said as much) and I'll be blathered if I know why.

But they do see us reading and working with numbers a lot. We try to explain science-y things to them, make their reading and numeracy seem real (they help me measure out for baking, or they read their birthday cards out loud). Then they know they are using the skills they learned at school to do something fun at home.

I don't know if this makes a big difference, and don't want to upset anyone who can't do it, but I help out a lot at the school. Bits for the PTA, and parent volunter in the classroom. I think it might reinforce to them how important school is and how much I care about their school experience. it's not just somewhere they go away from me every day, i stay there too, sometimes.

Some immigrants do a lot better at school than others because the parents see the UK state education as a huge privilege and opportunity, not a second is to be wasted - a great chance. If you can make them think - wow you're lucky to get that education... that helps. Plus all the very good other things on this thread. And being curious yourself about things. My daughters are always laughing about the various things I email them which I find interesting.

Glassofwine, it sounds as if you are doing all the right things. I certainly would not blame yourself for your DD1's attitude, or even be that worried about it. I spent 13 years hating different schools for different reasons (No, of course I haven't admitted that to my children ) and went on to higher education.

My three have very different personalities and attitudes. While I do try to encourage a love of learning, different approaches seem to work best for different children. DS2 has seen through the "pantomime praise" described by roisin from a very early age, so there has been absolutely no point in trying that line with him. I've had to defend DS1 against the "authorities" a few times too often for the "school is always right" line to stick. DS3 has had an extensive inattentive phase (which he is now growing out of), over which I've needed to work on his strengths (i.e. persuade him he actually has some) and fight off over-zealous people trying to spot problems he hasn't got.

You need to work with the children you have, their interests, what motivates them and the way they prefer to learn. And accept the possibility that they may wish to follow a different path from the one you'd prefer.