If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's learning please email: mericinfo@dpcdsb.org
Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations
You may notice more references to the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, which guide the work and programming in Catholic Education across the province. The overall goals of Catholic Education are to foster and develop students to become:
- A Discerning Believer
- An Effective Communicator
- A Reflective, Creative and Holistic Thinker
- A Self-Directed, Responsible and Lifelong Learner
- A Collaborative Contributor
- A Caring Family Member
- A Responsible Citizen
These overall expectations apply to all students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Having our students become discerning believers is how they will carry the strength and guidance of God with them throughout their lives.
Supporting Numeracy and Literacy at Home
Doing Mathematics with Your Child: A Parent Guide
Reading and Writing with Your Child: A Parent Guide
Math is about Creativity and Making Sense
The key to understanding math is making sense of it. Many student believe math is a set of formulas that have to be remembered but this belief is associated low achievement. Math is a very creative subject that is about visualizing patterns and creating solution paths that others can see, discuss and critique. When working through math at home ask your child:
- Why does that make sense? Ask whether their answers are correct or incorrect.
- Encourage visual mathematics. Ask your child to draw their solutions and think about how they see math.
Mistakes are valuable and they grow your brain. Math is a growth subject which takes time to learn and it is all about effort. Research shows that when students make mistakes, synapses fire and brains grow. When your child makes a mistake say "your brain just grew!"
Speak Using Your First Language
Parents who continue to speak with their children in their first language at home do not slow down their children's learning of English. On the contrary, children need to be able to relax into a language they are comfortable speaking when they get home. Parents are being most helpful when they encourage their children to talk with them in that language about the world around them and about what they are learning in school." Supporting English Language Learners in Kindergarten – A Practical Guide for Ontario Educators, 2008, pg 26.
Getting Students Hooked on Reading
Tapping into student interests is a great way to encourage your child to read. Good reading habits become established when students want to read. Notice what interests your child. If a child likes a book, it is highly likely they will enjoy other books by the same author. Graphic novels and non-fiction books are a preferred by many children. If your child is a resistant reader consider trying different text forms such as these.