As parents, it’s natural to want to help, but sometimes it is difficult to know how exactly to, or you’re short on time, or simply can’t find the right words to make math make sense. It can feel incredibly challenging to explain concepts from your child’s curriculum and at their level in an easy and…
A good lesson for children to learn early on is the power of saving. That $20 bill Grandma gave them can supplement their allowance, allowing for a bigger purchase in the future if they save it now. To help demonstrate the benefit of saving, brainstorm some ideas with your child about what they might want…
There are many reasons for a child to fall a bit behind in one school subject or another. Maybe your family moved and the new school does things differently, or maybe your child is operating on a different developmental clock than the curriculum. Whatever the reason, being behind other learners is never a happy situation…
The Maker Movement is a quickly growing culture that embraces the idea that learning is done best through doing. It includes do-it-yourself individuals and groups that create things, and its members are producers more than consumers, says Irm Diorio, executive director of a maker space. While some makers work in maker spaces, others tinker in…
It made me wonder if cursive was a thing of the past or something worth reviving. It’s certainly a highly debated topic in educational settings. The role of cursive is ambiguous at best and there are no clear answers. One thing we can all agree on is that the role of cursive in modern education…
Some features parents look for when they turn to the private system include a specific educational approach, such as Montessori or Waldorf; a particular religious or cultural setting; a strong academic setting or a program for children who are gifted; the ability to accommodate special needs; the flexibility to accommodate special scheduling required by art,…
If you’re looking for a helpful app to get started check out Mydoh, powered by RBC. It is a helpful tool to educate and show your children the comings and goings of their money while learning how to make smart money choices. It’s a money management app and Smart Cash Card (which includes a digital…
It’s August and the Back-to- School commercials have begun! The discussion about September is underway and you start to wonder how to prepare your child for the new school year. As a teacher and founder of the tutoring company Teachers to Go, I know that the summer can be a hectic time for parents, regardless if you are…
Humans are born curious. Our curiosity helps us make sense of the world and encourages us to learn through observation, play, and exploration AKA STEM activities. As we continue to grow, our curiosity and thirst for knowledge contribute to our ability to learn, build foundational skills and cultivate a love of learning that translates into…
100% volunteer-run charity, Ripple Foundation, announced Cora Arvidson, a seventh-grade student from Vancouver’s Sir William Osler Elementary School, as one of two winners of its 10th annual Kids Write 4 Kids creative challenge, a one-of-a-kind nationwide competition for students in grades four to eight. Cora’s winning poetry collection, Threads, is available in paperback and ebook…
etting a great mark, and forgetting everything you learned after a few days. The status quo is only focusing on getting great marks, but not looking ahead at how to prepare for a changing world. Here are 8 common successful life mistakes.
When my wife and I first met a family who spoke more than one language to their toddler, we were intrigued. Was that possible? Would it be healthy for our children?
We've been asked to start homeschooling again. It is short-term and hopefully only until January 10th. Here are 5 ways to help get through this chaos.
We were running errands when one of my teenagers shouted and pointed, “Look! It’s our old preschool!” Soon my other two teens were chiming in, “I loved it there!” and “That was my favorite school. Do you remember when…” And just like that, we were walking down a memory lane of craft projects, field trips,…
10 Strategies to Success The following are strategies that have proven successful in helping students reach (and exceed) their goals, regardless of the child’s circumstances!
enhances critical thinking for kids. And why are critical thinking skills important? Critical thinking gives your child the confidence to power through academic and general life challenges smoothly.
The pandemic has disrupted our lives in many ways. As a result, many parents, teachers, and students can’t wait to get back to “normal” school. Many that fall into this camp discuss the lack of community along with the lack of face-to-face interactions with teachers and peer groups when not learning in person. However other…
September is known as a very stressful month for parents and kids, so let’s make a plan to reduce the stressors and lower the anxiety in your home. Here are 10 tips to help your children get over it.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, designed for students in grades 11 and 12, is growing in popularity in high schools around the world, but the IB also offers programmes for younger students, the Middle Years Programme. The International Baccalaureate first introduced the Middle Years Programme in 1994 and has since been adopted by more than…
Most people will agree that the summer slide is real, and something that all parents and caregivers should try to avoid. This year is no different; in fact, this summer it is even more important than ever to ensure children retain the skills they learned throughout the school year, as the worries associated with COVID-19…
This Earth Day, it will be easier than ever to arm the next generation of youth climate activists with facts and give them hope with the new and free online Climate Restoration Course. This course, created by the Foundation for Climate Restoration (F4CR), is specially designed by teachers for students in grades 3-5. Start the…
We just learned about an incredible extracurricular program for high school students and wanted to share it with parents in Vancouver. The Knowledge Society (TKS) is a 10-month innovation program for students ages 13-17 who want to solve the world’s biggest problems. The program is modeled after curriculums from Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, and designed…
In September 2021, Pear Tree Elementary will expand the school to include a Middle School Wing for students up to Grade 9, as part of their longer-term expansion to offer up to grade 12 in the coming years.
Anyone can become a resourceful teacher. Although we may not all be professional teachers, with a little creativity, we can make use of everyday opportunities and common materials to create fun and educational experiences for our children. By doing so consistently, we can create and sustain an enriching home learning environment for our children. Here…
