How can I make the most of Podules?

Consistency breeds confidence:

Following the Podule Lesson Plans provides a familiar routine that will help keep your child interested. It also develops their confidence as they learn to anticipate what is expected of them and what they can expect to happen when lessons are held on a regular daily or weekly basis.

Developing your child's concentration.

Some children may have trouble sitting for even a brief period of time. A child will often respond to your saying "Just stay with me a little bit longer while we . . ." Use statements such as this to re-challenge and refocus your child to the activity at hand.

Another approach for helping your child to concentrate is to give them a specific responsibility within the lesson, such as being a leader of the activity.

Flexibility and variety meets needs.

Be flexible and adapt to your child's needs and abilities by adjusting activities or time allocated per activity. Variety can be achieved by using different Activity Cards for each lesson and/or by developing other activities and Extension Ideas further during the following days or weeks. You may also know, or can create, other activities that will support the Learning Objective.

Give it all a try:

Even if you're not particularly knowledgeable in a subject i.e. music, science or sport etc., do not let this stop you from teaching the content. You have the all the ideas and tools you need provided within the Podule to teach your child effectively. Thorough preparation will also help to overcome any uncertainty.

Share the new found knowledge:

Have your child share their new found knowledge with family and friends. When your child can demonstrate or use their new learning in context, there is a greater chance of them retaining that knowledge. Sharing also gives children a sense of ownership of their new knowledge and that what they have learned is valued.

Revisit and Extend:

Podules content can be used over and over again. Go back and do any of the activities you didn't do the first time or do the same activities at a more complex level. The various degrees of difficulty indicated by the Difficulty Dots on the activity cards will allow you to revisit the lessons, weeks or months later to reinforce prior learning.

Repetition is the key to retention:

Having conversations and repeating activities throughout the week, based on the lesson focus, will help your child to retain information and prepare for the next lesson. Playing the songs at home and in the car and playing the videos at other times, reinforces learning of key concepts. Children thrive on repetition. Even if you are tired of the activity, your child may not be.

Tot Talk for all ages:

Using the vocabulary outlined in Tot Talk provides the basis for further learning and language development. Encourage your child to be inquisitive and to ask questions. Even if your child is at a stage where they cannot communicate verbally, you should still engage in conversation with them.

Keep it fun and stay positive:

It is important that learning is associated with having fun. Try to avoid becoming frustrated or critical during lessons or your child will start associating learning time as a negative experience and that can inhibit their educational development.

Creating a personal portfolio:

A written and photographic record of your child's Podule experiences can provide a powerful tool for reflection. Take pictures and videos, write stories of things that happen and compile them in a personal portfolio. So, have your camera and writing pad ready to record the fun experiences you have each week.