Grandparents in Education

Grandparents can be a very valuable asset, especially if they live near their 
grandchildren.  They can give the children a sense of stability, of belonging 
to a family and having a place in the scheme of things.

Many children in the present age are under pressure at school and, if they 
have learning problems may hope for help at home, but this can be very hard 
for the mother to provide if she has a full-time job.  If grandma/granny is 
available she can make a big difference to their confidence as a successful 
learner.  This mutual help is called generational learning.

I have been very privileged in that I have been able to help my grandson
whom we found to be dyslexic.  Regular help is the key to success.  You may 
wish to help in this way but you are not sure where to begin.  If you start 
to learn about dyslexia you may follow a structured programme which will work 
for some children.  Step by step learning is the secret.

Granddads can show kids how to do all sorts of practical things like making 
presents and other craft skills and they may share their life experiences 
with them.  Most children love hearing STORIES and are curious about earlier
times and when this is given a personal slant it is even better.

They can explore other times and places, make pictures, books and photo 
albums.  There are so many things to SHARE and ENJOY.  The children can be 
taught that all people learn in different ways Some learn by remembering what 
they SEE, some by what they HEAR, some with rhythm, rhyme, pitch and singing. 

Finger tracing helps some children.  REPETITION helps most people.  These 
different ways of learning are called MULTISENSORY LEARNING.

In more detail, help can be given with READING, HANDWRITING and SPELLING.  
CREATIVE WRITING involves stories, essays and projects.  With HANDWRITING it
is best to check if the school has an overall scheme that is used throughout
the school because to change to another style may confuse the child but, if 
he is dyspraxic, the Rosemary Sassoon handwriting book is a valuable help.  

I have not included all the other things we do with our grandchildren, like 
baking, sewing, games and discussing the programmes we watch on T.V. (Useful
as a preparation for the study of character at an older level.)

A splendid opportunity to share learning with the kids is the chance to learn 
about Computers.  
Children have I.T. lessons at school as well as having them at home so they 
are often far in advance of us in computer skills.  
The children I work with are delighted to teach Granny how to improve her I.T. 
knowledge.  

I have prepared a Resource List on the next page, including 
computer books.  They are all books that I have used myself.

RESOURCE LIST.

READING. 
Helping Children With Reading And Spelling.

By Rea Reason and Rene Boot. (Routledge)

Reading Made Easy. 
By Kathleen Patterson.  (Egon Press)

SPELLING

Spelling Made Easy
By Violet Brand.(Egon Press).  
This book teaches in word families and 
is very easy to follow.


HANDWRITING.

HANDWRITING- THE WAY TO TEACH IT.
By Rosemary Sassoon. (Leopard Learning)  

ALPHA TO OMEGA
By Beve Hornsby.

Very detailed and particularly useful for older students.

DYSLEXIA.

UNDERSTANDING DYSLEXIA.
By Beve Hornsby.
This is one to BUY and REFER to throughout the learning period.

(VITAL-more details in my Resource List)

My own simple spelling programme and information sheets are available if 
desired. 
This programme contains spelling rhymes which the children repeat 
and REMEMBER
The value of REPETITION (REHEARSAL in the U.S.A.) cannot be overestimated. 
Also known as OVER LEARNING.

COMPUTERS.

The books by Usborne (Books at Home) are all very good.  Ask for the computer 
catalogue sheet.  Make sure that the book you want has the same system as 
your computer or your grandchild's computer e.g. Windows 95 or Windows 98 
(the Windows 3.1 system is not so popular now but often the principles are 
the same no matter which one is used).  "Computers for Beginners" is very 
good if you are not familiar with them at all.  Of course if you are a 
"computer nerd" (an expert) you won't need the books.  

I have found their "Computer Dictionary" a great help.  
The pictures make everything much easier to understand.

Magazines are helpful (if you can manage to get through them!).  Sandra 
recommends PC Guide (monthly-£4.99) and I get Computer Active 

(fortnightly-£1.20).