When the going gets tough …….

As we head towards the mid  point of the term, the reality of attending school everyday is settling in for many of our Early Years students. It is not unusual to have some feelings of discomfort around the learning journey at this point in time. However, rather than rushing to solve all the problems for your child in the effort to create a smooth pathway for them, be brave enough to embrace the struggle. The students have been talking about the Learning Pit, and that deep learning DOES require hard work. In order to have our students reach high expectations, struggle and challenge must be embraced. Multiple wheelchair marathon winner Kurt Fearnly spoke of this in his address to one of the Words Out West audiences this week. He encouraged the struggle, and suggested we give ourselves permission not to struggle alone, but to struggle when everyone around can see you and help you. We talked about the similarities between his words and our own exploration of the learning pit. Knowing how to get ourselves out of the pit is the key. This week, make a point of asking your child what they do when they are in “the pit” and what strategies they can use when they get stuck. If you need a prompt, ask them to tell you about the 5 B’s. I hope you get some interesting conversation in your child’s responses!

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years