Parents

G. P. Vanier's learning support program offers tools, supports and an alternative space for students who need them. Many students access these supports for a variety of reasons, including difficulties with organization, focus, and a range of learning difficulties in reading, writing and math.  Learning support teachers are available to work with students to work with them where they are at, help them identify what they need, and support them with working towards self-advocacy and independence. 

FAQ's

Q: My child is struggling in his or her classes. What should I do?

A: There are a number of factors that can contribute to difficulty with classes. Start off by trying to get a sense of what specifically is hard for your child. They are the experts, so their input is important too, as is reaching out to their teachers. Here are some important considerations, but please don't hesitate to reach out to your learning support team (Toril Turner, Jana Baker or Monica Strimbold) to discuss you concerns as well!

• Attendance: Students need to be in their classes to do well. If their attendance is below 90%, this is likely a significant contributing factor. 

• Sleep: Is your child getting a minimum of 8-10 hours of sleep each night? Based on current research, we strongly encourage families to support their children with making sure that technology is away and that they are dedicating a minimum of 8 hours to sleep each night. This can make a world of difference to your child's ability to function at school.

• Homework routine: Many students just need extra time, and a quiet space to get their assignments done. Getting into this habit early on can really help set students up for success early on. Most teachers post their assignments on MyEdBC, and often on personal websites, so students have tools to check what they need to do online.

• Organization: Helping your child with organization is another way to help them experience success in school. Some key strategies includes making sure they have a binder and dividers for each class, and that they take time to organize their binder. You would be amazed by how many students shove all their their handouts and assignments into the bottom of their bags! Learning to use tools like agendas, calendars, checklists and other planners can also be helpful.

• Focus: We live in a fast paced world, with many things competing for our attention. Some students struggle more with focus and paying attention than others, and it is really hard to be in class and complete your assignments when you are struggling to pay attention. Your learning support teacher can help to provide you with strategies that can help students to focus, but if this is a concern, it may also be helpful to consult with your doctor to get support for building a fuller understanding of what is happening for your child.

• Vision and hearing: Make sure your child isn't struggling with vision or hearing. If you have concerns, have them assessed to make sure they are getting the information they need while at school. 

• Motivation: Aside from difficulty with mental health, the biggest barriers to motivation tend to be when students don't know what they want to work towards, or when they don't believe they are capable or have the skills to success. Helping to make sure our students have a goal that help drive their efforts and making sure they know they have the supports and tools necessary to be successful is a great starting point. 

• Stress and mental health: If you are concerned about your child's mental health the Comox Valley Foundry is a great resource. They can help to connect your child with the right supports. Your counselling team here at G. P. Vanier can also provide support and information about what might be helpful. 

• Learning difficulties: If your child is struggling with learning difficulties, learning support teachers can help with assessment to get a better understanding of their needs, as well as help with advocating for the right supports in their classes. 

Q: How can I keep track of how my child is doing at school?

1. MyEdBC!

2. Communication with teachers

Q: What happens when my child is struggling with their learning, and seems to be falling behind their classmates?

• Support blocks, Access support

• Assessment

• Designation

Q: What are some tools for supporting my child at home? 

o   Reading

o   Writing

o   Math

o   Technology

Q: What if my child is struggling with focus or motivation? 

We are observing an increase in the number of students who are struggling with focusing and motivation while at school. This can be a massive barrier to learning. If you can't focus, you can't learn!

The first step is getting a better sense for what is going on for them. Are there difficulties with sleep or nutrition? Is stress or mental health a contributing factor? How much is the student struggling? This can be a good conversation to have with your family doctor, who can help you to get a better understanding of what is going on.

Some students have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) which is a common condition that can be treated in multiple ways, including medication, working with a therapist or ADHD coach, and managing with exercise and nutrition. It can be very powerful for students with ADHD to get a diagnosis and understand their learning profile and what works best for them. 

Supports that we have found really helpful for supporting students who struggle with focus and motivation:

Lifestyle factors:

-Regular exercise

-Good sleep routine

-Support with regulating screen time (Technology is designed to keep our attention! It can be very hard to focus on the boring day to day stuff if we spend most of our time on consuming stimulating shows, social media and video games).

-Well balanced diet.

Tools for completing the things they need done:

-Routine, routine, routine! And support with practicing the routine until it becomes second nature.

-Focus on one thing at a time

-Support with breaking bigger tasks down into steps

-Create a sense of urgency (can you complete _________ in the next 5 minutes).

-Use immediate incentives (once you are fully ready for school you can go on Snapchat for 15 minutes) *more longterm incentives tend to be less effective for kids with focusing difficulties,

And finally, there are many great books, videos and resources to learn how best to support success for students with difficulties with focus and motivation. If you can, spend some time understanding what is going on for your child, and empower them to know what is going on for themselves!

Helpful video for understanding ADHD HERE.

The Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada also has some great info for getting started HERE.

I also strongly recommend the book ADHD 2.0 (Hallowell & Ratey, 2021).