What is most important for your child to learn?

[PrimaryTeacher2018]

The school I am working in is looking at redesigning what we are about. We don't want our children to be drilled with Maths and English, to miss out on the other important, and somewhat more creative, subjects and skills. However, we would love to make these decisions by considering what parents/carers/relatives think would make the biggest impact on children.

What is the most important thing a child can learn in school? What things would hold them back most in life if they haven't been exposed them in school?

Thinking to a primary school you are currently engaged with: what are the children missing out on? If you could suggest one or two things for the school to implement what would they be?

Thanks!

All the stuff and experiences that can't be covered at home: social skills and interacting with lots of different people, performing in front of an audience etc

One if the problems is that at ds's school they tell them to be resilient. Resilience is something that is fostered, nurtured, encouraged etc by the attitude of those around you. Being told off for not being resilient does not make you more resilient.

I would say children should be read to more at school - whole books enjoyed by the class over a long period rather than an extract to be tested on. I remember looking forward each day to the teacher reading part of a story then having to wait for the next instalment. When I taught mainstream my class was exactly the same. We would fit in a couple of pages whenever we could and they loved it. This is what encourages a love of stories, develops vocabulary and grammar and aids listening skills.

Writing should be about creating stories without the pressure of grammar, handwriting and spelling. Those should be completely separate. Constantly be criticised for their writing and having to rewrite it only knocks confidence and a love of writing.

Morality, social interaction, kindness and gratitude. Things which are supposed to be learnt at home but sadly lacking in some families imo.

Someone once said to me 'always be kind and if you can't be kind be fair' it stuck with me and was probably the most important thing I want my children to learn

One thing (a huge and difficult to resolve problem) is disparity between cultural capital in different schools- having worked in prep schools and v deprived primaries. I think all foundation subjects v important to give understanding of the world we live in and a love of culture- and sense of ownership/belonging. I also think art and design are under-used for general development, eg manual Dexterity, making other subjects enjoyable in cross curricular links etc.

Learning to take risks and how to fail.
Curiosity.
Critical thinking.

Social skills

Independent problem solving

Applying skills learnt at school in real life situations

Choices over learning new skills/knowledge- cooking, creative arts, horticulture etc.

What will hold them back most in life is not having decent maths and English skills, and passing their GCSEs in both subjects.

There will be examples of people not held back, but to access even L3 apprenticeships these days needs those qualifications.

You can have all the other stuff you want, but primary schools need to get the basic core skills right.

Resilience, so many children aren't.
Independence, again, so many children aren't.
Kindness
The ability to concentrate on A task and stick with it when difficulties occur (see resilience )
A love for reading/being read to.
Confidence to question things.
More resilience!

Oh and budgeting

Teen they can learn skills later, it's much easier to learn to read at seven than at 4. DS1 was rubbish at maths in primary. Literally operating at Y1 when he was Y5. In secondary school he suddenly twigged and got a B at GCSE.

We want strong academics. The rest are easy to do at home

As an adult I can teach myself almost anything. We have reference materials, computers to do basic calculations, you tube for visual instructions. It's a hell of a lot harder to learn social skills, develop coordination and physical fitness, etc.

It is easier to get it later for maths than English. If they leave primary with poor literacy it impacts pretty much everything at secondary. I don't mind much if a school switches things round so reading starts age 7 but if they don't turn out 11year olds with core maths and literacy they are failing them imo. (Given that no primary operates as an island)

The reality is though that a lot of the necessities for future life are no longer taught at home...

I want him to learn to think for himself, to hear the facts and decide what to do with them.
I want him to learn to get along with others, to compromise without getting walked over, to disagree without falling out.
I want him to learn how he learns best and to persevere when things are difficult.

Maths and mistakes = learning.

Love of learning
Critical thinking
Social Skills

And for important subjects:

Arts
Grammar and punctuation
A foreign language
Local history

I really like it when my dc comes home and proudly present me with new knowledge. It could be any subject. If the teachers are enthusiastic and making learning something very positive and exciting, that's what you really need. Can be a new book, instrument or new art technique. Young children trust teachers, and pick up on their enthusiasm, no matter what
the subject is.

Kindness / tolerance / morality.

That curiosity is good, and opens the door to new experiences i.e. learning through doing.

Resilience, something that seems to be lacking in those now entering the workplace (IMO).

Numeracy. I don't care if they cannot apply Pythagorus, but they need to know if they've been short-changed.

An appreciation for music, art, dance etc. Then it becomes their choice whether to follow this as they get older.

I love DS' school. He's in reception and they spend a good amount of time learning about communication, respect and kindness. Little things like sitting in pairs, asking questions and looking the other person in the eye to demonstrate you are listening. Interpersonal skills.

PPs have already said them but mine would be:-
Social skills
First aid / emergency management (in age appropriate ways - can be very very basic)
Resilience

Don’t destroy a love of reading. Both my children are good readers but like reading so much less when they are forced to read mind numbingly boring books which they are told they must read every night.

Not what you asked but FGS please make homework optional. I hate it for primary school but if it’s optional parents can do it if they want.

Reading, just reading fluency to start and then learning to be critical, check sources etc.

Celebrate equality and diversity and when it is OK to discriminate.

Independent study not just from the internet.

Some spontaneous learning. If it's the day after a snow day then talking about what the children did can lead on to science (temp of snow, shape of snowflakes, best trajectory of snow balls muffled sounds) art and even music.

How to transfer skills,if you can divide in maths can you change a recipe for 4 into a recipe for 2? What about mixing paints?

Local history and geography.

Visits to the local museum, art gallery and theatre so the children know they exist and that they can go to a performance or an expibition.

I teach mainly 16+ and this is what I would love every child to have before they get to me.

Yes to critical thinking! Especially these days when anyone can out something on the internet as if it’s true.

Being able to think for themselves