Students learn in many different ways, and your child is no exception. You might have noticed that some thrive through hands-on, visual, project-based, or kinesthetic approaches; the possibilities are endless for each student! That is why finding practical ways to encourage and inspire them to take control of their education is essential for successful lifelong learning.
Children are never too young to start taking ownership of their education because even if they can’t choose what to learn, you can start giving them options in how they learn it. At Schola, it is our mission to help students discover, connect and enroll in their ideal learning environment to create a bright future. But encouraging students to take ownership of their learning goes beyond the classroom.
Get to know three ways in which you can better support your child’s interests and help develop a sense of autonomy, choice, and responsibility in their own educational journey:
1. Pick Their Brains Regularly
The new semester just started, which means it is the perfect time to encourage students to set goals for themselves. There is no need to go overboard with goals; instead, you can guide them to choose one for each class and hold them accountable. For example, if you have a young child, their goal might be to learn how to spell their name in writing class by the end of the school year, or if your child is older, it might be increasing their math grades or even doing some community service. Allowing students to set their own goals and standards will go a long way! Remember to ask open-ended questions regularly to understand better where your child is at in their learning and social development.
2. Help Them Stand Back Up
It’s a fact that students will fail sometimes; it’s an intrinsic part of the learning process. But by creating an environment at home where it is safe to make mistakes and learn from them, you will be empowering your child to stand back up and try even harder next time. Allow your child to self-evaluate by reflecting on their performance and its outcome. It will help them strengthen their accountability for their actions and improve their overall learning engagement in and out of school.
3. Make Learning Fun
Learning doesn’t need to stop at the end of the school day; by creating opportunities to choose what toys to play with, books to read, or hobbies to explore, they will start shaping their own education. Remember that learning becomes more meaningful when we have ownership, are able to ask questions, and make decisions. By making the learning process fun, based on their unique interests, you will be helping cultivate their strengths and guiding them to become active lifelong learners.
Giving your students a chance and a choice makes all the difference! It can inspire them to work hard, be proud of their accomplishments, and embrace the satisfaction of learning for themselves. Student choice goes all the way from selecting how to learn and engage with specific subjects to picking out their ideal educational environment. If you think your child will benefit from a different educational approach, take ScholaMatch™ and discover the most suitable schools in your area based on what matters most.
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