There are many ways you can extend your children’s learning through support, encouragement and practice at home.

Homework strategies

Here are some tips for turning homework time into a productive, positive experience. Once your children are in intermediate grades or higher, they will need to develop good study skills. We offer some study tips for your child to follow. An experienced teacher gives suggestions for hassle-free homework activities parents can do with their children, which helps them practice skills and make learning connections.

Confidence and self-esteem

Self-esteem and confidence are very important factors in children’s progress at school. A child who is generally confident and who has high self-esteem is more likely to ask questions, participate actively, express their ideas, and take on new challenges. They are also better able to learn from mistakes, handle constructive criticism and to generally push themselves harder in learning. Conversely when a child’s self-esteem is low they are more likely to be negative, withdraw and experience failure more often. Here are some suggestions to help your child grow in confidence and higher self-esteem.

Gender stereotyping

Parents and teachers are very aware that girls traditionally excel in the humanities, while boys tend to do better in the sciences. In recent years, girls have begun to catch up and, indeed, to surpass boys in many aspects of school performance, including exam results, graduation rates, scholarships, and post-secondary enrolment.
What is “boy culture”? Is it different today from the good old days? What can we, as teachers, parents, and community do to raise well-rounded individuals who contribute to society? The BCTF presentation on Raising Confident Boys (and Girls) is available for parents.
The Federation commissioned an extensive research project into these crucial issues of gender stereotyping in schools and society. The result is G.I. Joe meets Barbie, software engineer meets caregiver: Males and females in B.C.’s public schools and beyond.

Special Education

Children learn in different ways and at different rates. Many children need extra support to be successful at school. Special education is a broad term used to include a wide range of additional services for kids. For information and resources, click here.

Safety at School

Teachers and parents are working together to ensure the health and well-being of all children. Schools are really safe places for children to be, and they are the heart of the community. Let’s make sure they stay that way. For information about bullying, click here.

Learning Games and Activities

Our reading webpage offers more tips and suggested materials.