Monthly Archives: April 2012

Support learning at home

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The research makes it really clear – kids do better at school when their families are involved in their education. There are lots of ways you can communicate and collaborate with school if your child has to spend some time recovering at home because of a health condition.

 

What does the research say?
Research tells us effective partnerships between families and schools leads to better education results. Positive family involvement with the school can help:
- increase retention rates
- reduce absenteeism
- reduce disruptive behaviours
- improve social skills.

Ask about specific learning support
Schools have access to various support services to help them support students with a health condition. Ask the principal of your child’s school how these services work at the school and in your home.

Read more at How can I work with my child’s school to support learning at home?

 

Sharing the art of story-telling

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Patients and families at The Royal Children’s Hospital were treated to a star appearance by an Australian literary idol last week.

Much-loved children’s author and illustrator Alison Lester began her national tour at the RCH as the inaugural Australian Children’s Laureate, an honour that is awarded to an Australian author and/or illustrator of children’s literature who is making a significant contribution to the children’s literature canon of this country.

Alison Lester is as much of a celebrity to Aussie mums and dads as she is to children—ask nearly any Australian parent of a toddler or teen and they will tell you they know of Alison’s charming work that includes best-selling titles such as ‘Clive Eats Alligators’, ‘Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo’ and the award-winning ‘Are We There Yet?’.

Alison shared some of her favourite illustration techniques with patients in the Day Medical clinic and presented a hands-on watercolour painting workshop with budding artists on the Kelpie ward.

After the workshop, a crowd of young fans sank into comfy beanbags on Main Street to hear Alison read from some of her most popular books.

“I was a little bit nervous about coming here today,” said Alison.

“I wanted to do a really good job because there’s no-one who really wants to be unwell and in hospital, but I was really happy that it turned out to be such a beautiful day,” she said.

In the weeks leading up to Alison’s visit, RCH teachers immersed hospital wards and clinics in a celebration of Alison Lester books and children produced reviews, collages, rhymes and multimedia works inspired by Alison’s books. Some of this work can now be seen in the Children’s Galleries on ward corridors.

Alison’s visit was a highlight of The Royal Children’s Hospital’s celebration of National Year of Reading. The RCH signed up as a partner of the 2012 National Year of Reading, joining state, public and school libraries, and community groups around the country in an initiative that promotes reading and literacy.

 

Tutor finding tips

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Many families think about getting a private tutor to help their children with schoolwork during or after treatment for a health condition.

There are many factors to consider when employing a tutor for your child. Some of these include:
- purpose or learning outcomes
- experience of the tutor
- safety; has your tutor been checked?
- timing
- location; is it your local library or post school?
- cost.

Finding a tutor

A great place to start is your child’s school. Ask the teachers if there’s someone they’d recommend or a particular company with a good reputation.

Also, University students can often register as tutors through their university website. These sites can be a good starting point for tips about finding and employing a tutor. For example, take a look at:
- The University of Melbourne
- Monash University.

Seeking financial help

You may be able to access some financial support to help you cover the cost of paying for a private tutor. Find out if your child is eligible by looking through the employing a tutor for my child page.

For more detailed information and links visit employing a tutor for my child page or contact us for advice.