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Are you currently living in Canada?
Excited young kindergarten student on her first day at school in Canada. She is smiling and wearing a uniform and backpack is ready for the back-to-school experience.

In Canada, September is synonymous with back to school. Though it’s technically still summer, this month is all about back-to-school shopping, getting ready, and adjusting to a new school year. Parents become heavily invested in this yearly tradition of preparing for the first day at school. Updating wardrobes, preparing meals and snacks, shifting work schedules, and setting up before- and after-school care are just some of the activities to complete!

Whether it’s the first time your child goes off to school or whether they are simply starting a new year, it can be a few stressful and emotional weeks. And, of course, if your child is starting school in a new country, parents can expect a bumpy transition until your child—and family —has a chance to adjust.

My Back-to-School Experience in Canada

For me, it was difficult in the beginning. Though my parents were involved and excited about me starting school, they didn’t really know much about the Canadian education system or speak the language, much less know North American trends for 10-year-old girls.

The newcomer back-to-school experience, as I like to call it, is a unique one in that both kids and parents go through it and survive it together. What helped my parents adjust was meeting my teachers ahead of time and connecting with other newcomer parents. This allowed them to create a support system and familiarize themselves with school practices and rules. They also had friends with kids and used them as resources as well.

Personally, I was less worried about the structure and rules of school and more concerned with overcoming that feeling of being a fish out of water. Wearing bright homemade sweaters and eating what children deemed as ‘strange’ food did not get me far at first. It took me three months to make friends, adjust from going to school for half-days in Argentina to full days in Canada, and learn English with the help of teachers and staff.

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But slowly, the more I reached out to people who wanted to know me and help me, the more I began to form a community. This played such a big part in my adjusting period. With each friendship I made, I felt a little more confident; with each test I passed, I felt a little more secure.

Tips to Achieving Success

School success was another big part of adjusting to a new environment. Once I saw my grades and language skills improving, things started to turn around and school became exciting again. Over time, I even struck up the nerve to join a few after-school activities that helped me feel more part of the community.

https://www.prepareforcanada.com/after-you-arrive/living-in-canada/educating-newcomer-parents-to-canada-about-bullying

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Looking back now, what I learned from my own experience is that the secret to surviving the newcomer back-to-school experience is time. A new school year always comes with a few roadblocks and surprises, but getting through that first year is always the toughest. Still, encourage your children to endure it because with time, that bumpy transition will smooth out and their anxieties will subside.

Educating parents about bullying

Bullying can happen to anyone. For me, it happened at school when I first moved to Canada. It was verbal bullying – name-calling, sarcastic remarks, and taunting, mostly. I never told anyone because I didn’t know the term ‘bullying’, or how to recognize it.

According to Bullying Canada, bullying is when someone hurts or scares someone else on purpose. It is one-sided and pointed; it can be verbal, social, or physical; it can happen face-to-face, in cyberspace, or both; and it can be a one-time incident or recurring.

Types of bullying:

Verbal: includes name-calling, negative cultural or racial references, threats, taunting, and inappropriate sexual comments.

Social: includes leaving someone out on purpose, telling people not to be friends with someone, humiliating them in public, and telling rumours about them.

Physical: includes hitting, kicking, punching, spitting, shoving, chasing, poking, and stealing someone’s belongings.

Cyber Bullying includes using various online platforms (text, email, social media, the Internet) to tease someone, spread rumours about them, intimidate them, or put them down.

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https://www.prepareforcanada.com/before-you-arrive/settling-in-canada/schooling-in-canada-a-look-at-the-education-system

Steps new Canadian parents can take to identify, prevent, and stop bullying:

Signs to recognize if your child is bullied:

Your child:

Effects on children can include:

Bullying can happen to children as young as five years old and should be taken seriously. It is a major power issue that can escalate. So, both children and parents must make an effort to stop it before it begins. For more information, visit www.bullyingcanada.ca.

Help your children to identify bullying and communicate openly. Encourage your child to speak up if they are being bullied or if they know someone who is. Anyone can be a target.

For more information, tools, and free webinars about living in Canada visit our Settling in Canada resource page. We’ll help you to settle in Canada successfully!

schooling in Canada a group of culturally diverse school children running in to a school

Moving to Canada with young children? Then you’ll want to read this overview of schooling in Canada to help your children adapt to school smoothly. Canada has one of the best school systems in the world to help your children grow and prosper. This is important for newcomers who often want to provide their children with more opportunities and access to education in Canada. Learn more about schooling in Canada including the systems, education levels, and process to register your children in school.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 

Nelson Mandela

Schooling in Canada is Ranked in the Top 5

The Best Countries for Education global survey shows that Canada ranks #4. The survey measured the following three country attributes:

Top Five Countries:

#1 United States

#2 United Kingdom

#3 Germany

#4 Canada

#5 France.

As the report identifies “Today’s young people will, in the coming years, be governing the world. Their thoughts and actions will be shaped by what they know and experience, making education, in many ways, one of the best predictors of a nation’s future success.”

An Overview of Schooling in Canada

Each province and territory in Canada develops curriculum and policy. And, because of this, both may be slightly different across the country. Still, schooling in Canada has many common elements such as the school systems, levels of education, and enrollment process.

In Canada, there are three school systems:

  1. Public schools

2. Private schools

3. Homeschooling.

You can choose which school system your child will attend. To learn more about the provincial school systems follow the links in the Provincial and Territorial Ministries of Education section below.

1. Public Schools in Canada:

The government funds public schools in Canada, and most children attend public schools. So you don’t have to pay for your child to attend public school. However, you pay for school supplies and extracurricular activities such as field trips.

District school boards manage how public schools operate and are responsible for activities such as hiring teachers and opening new schools.

Over 95% of Canadians choose public school education for their children.

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS – INTERNATIONAL

2. Private Schools in Canada:

If you choose to send your children to a private school you will have to pay tuition and other fees. The government usually does not fund private schools, so these schools can be costly to attend. However, private schools may provide a focus that public schools don’t provide and that you are willing to pay for.  For example, private schools in Canada may focus on a specific area such as:

3. Homeschooling in Canada:

Homeschooling is acceptable in every province in Canada. If you want to teach your children at home, you will have to meet certain legal requirements. Each province has requirements, so you have to research laws to ensure you meet the regulations.

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Schooling in Canada: Education Levels

Four levels within the school system follow this structure:

Pre-school:

Pre-school programs are like daycare programs for children aged two to four. You don’t have to send your children to preschool. However, preschool can help your child build language skills if they don’t speak English or French (Canada’s official languages). As well, preschool can help young children develop social and emotional skills to help them adjust to schooling in Canada. Most preschools in Canada are private, so you will have to pay a cost.

Each school has a catchment area, (an area that defines which school your child will attend). Usually, children attend a school closest to their home and within the school’s catchment area.

Kindergarten:

Most children attend kindergarten at age five. You can register your child at the school closest to your home. Children must attend kindergarten in most provinces. Kindergarten is free.

Young girl attending kindergarten in school in Canada

Elementary Schools in Canada: Grade One to Eight

Children attend elementary school (also known as primary school) in September the year they turn five. But, if you arrive after September you must enroll your child as soon as you arrive. For example, if you arrive in Canada in October, you must register your child in October. You can contact the School Board (see links below for provincial ministries of education) when you arrive.

Children attend elementary school from grades one to eight. Some school districts may have a middle school for grades six to eight. But, that depends on the structure of the school district.

Generally, school curriculums cover these subjects:

  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Math
  • Geography
  • History
  • Science
  • French (may be required in some schools)
  • Art
  • Music
  • Physical education

High Schools in Canada: Grade Nine to Twelve

After children complete elementary school, they attend high school from grades nine to twelve. The high school system prepares students to attend either:

The government does not fund post-secondary schooling in Canada. And, many parents save for years so that their children can attend post-secondary education. Investing in a Registered Education Savings Plan is a common way for parents to save for higher education in Canada. In high school, students can meet with Guidance Counsellors who can help your child: 

How to Register Your Child for Schooling in Canada:

Settlement agencies can help you to register your children in school. And you can read more about free services in Canada to help newcomers settle.

You’ll need these documents to register your child in a school in Canada:

When to Register Your Child in School

You have to enroll your children in school as soon as you arrive in Canada.  The school year starts in September and ends in June. But, if you arrive in Canada after the school year begins, your child can still attend school.

Canada guarantees an education to all children, including those with disabilities. Depending on the child’s needs, children with disabilities will either attend:

Assessing Math and English Language Skills

Newcomer students may have to complete a math and English language skills assessment. The assessment will identify:

The results will help teachers understand what your child already knows. And if you have questions about your child’s placement level, you can talk to their teacher about their results. It’s helpful if you can provide your child’s previous report card or other school information for the assessment.

English as a Second Language (ESL) in Schools

Children who don’t have strong language skills that match the grade level can access programs to help them learn English. ESL classes are often regularly scheduled courses, or in place of English taught to those who already speak the language.

Provincial and Territory Ministries of Education

For more information, check out the Ministry of Education for the province where you plan to settle.

Alberta
Ministry of Education

British Columbia
Ministry of Education

Manitoba
Ministry of Education

New Brunswick
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Education

Northwest Territories
Department of Education, Culture and Employment

Nova Scotia
Department of Education

Nunavut
Department of Education

Ontario
Ministry of Education

Prince Edward Island
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Quebec
Éducation, Loisir et Sport Québec

Saskatchewan
Ministry of Education

Yukon
Department of Education

For more information, tools, and free webinars about living in Canada visit our Settling in Canada resource page. We’ll help you to settle in Canada successfully!

Choosing a private tutor

Newcomer families to Canada often seek out extra afterschool help for their children so they can succeed in their new academic curriculum. As a parent, this may be the first time you are considering hiring a private tutor for your child. This article will help you not only with the process of finding a tutor, but the process of selecting a tutor.

The most likely school subjects that parents will hire private tutors for are:

Your child may need more support completing long writing assignments for Language Arts, history, and social studies especially. Canadian schools are particular about using proper citations and submitting bibliographies in English. The tutor should help your child develop their research skills.

Some parents may be open to trial sessions with several different tutors before settling on one that will be long-term. A long-term private tutor will typically work with a student for one to three years. After that, the student will move up the academic ladder. At that point, it may be necessary to find a different tutor more suited for the student’s age group.

Parents must consider many factors when seeking a good tutor. This person will become your child’s instructor, mentor, and friend. And, you will have to work closely with the tutor to provide your child with the absolute best education. Here are five important factors to consider:

1. Tutoring Centres Versus Freelance Tutors

Afterschool tutoring centres such as Oxford Learning and Kumon are popping up everywhere in Canada. There is a great demand for them. They have the advantage of being a social centre where students can interact with each other, and parents can converse while their children are in class. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this advantage does not currently apply to most of these centres. Most classes offered by these centres are now conducted online.

Another major disadvantage of tutoring centres is that they often ask parents to pay for several sessions rather than by the lesson. For example, you may have to pay for ten sessions in advance.

If you prefer to pay by the lesson, it’s more convenient to find a freelance tutor on a site like Kijiji or through word-of-mouth. This way, you can negotiate the time and the hourly wage directly with the tutor rather than through the centre. 

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2. Locality and Availability of the Private Tutor 

Parents should consider local tutors unless the hourly wage you pay covers extra expenses a tutor may incur such as:

Keep in mind that after-school tutors are often graduate students or teachers looking to earn extra income outside of their regular working hours. So their availability may change. Or, they may occasionally need to cancel due to conflicts with their regular jobs or other commitments.

Parents must remain flexible. However, the tutor is responsible for giving ample warning if they cannot attend a session. A private tutor who frequently cancels sessions is not reliable enough to provide your child with consistent support. In this case, it’s wise to explore hiring a different tutor. 

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3. Experience and Credentials 

Parents should seek out tutors that have experience working with their child’s age group. Here is one mistake parents often make: they focus too much on a tutor’s academic background and degrees. As a teacher myself, I can confirm that a person’s store of knowledge isn’t enough to qualify them as an effective instructor.

Any educator must also be prepared to face the unique challenges of working with young students who are impatient, frustrated, shy, unconfident, easily distracted, etc. They must know how to properly handle certain situations, such as when a child feels overwhelmed by their schoolwork and starts getting upset. I recommend parents consider tutors who have also done childcare jobs in the past, such as babysitting and camp counselling. Intelligence combined with life experiences and common sense produces the best tutors. 

4. Personality and Teaching Style

Some private tutors are upbeat and fun. They make every lesson a game for the student. Some private tutors are strict and no-nonsense. They will focus more on instilling discipline in the student, to prepare for the tough, competitive future ahead of them. And, some tutors fall somewhere in between. To find the right tutor for your child, do trial one-hour sessions with several different tutors. After each session, ask your child the following questions: 

Take notes and keep track of your child’s responses. After trying out several tutors, choose the one who best connected with your child and complemented your child’s personality. Make sure your child is involved in the selection process. 

Choosing a private tutor

5. Off-Hours Work and Respecting Boundaries of Private Tutors 

As previously stated, many private tutors do after-school teaching for extra income, on top of another job. So it’s important that parents respect this. Avoid making demands on the tutors that are outside of the tutor’s work margin. For example, parents should not call or email their child’s tutor late at night to ask them questions about their child’s homework or progress. Tutors who feel that their student’s parents do not respect their personal boundaries will end the working relationship. Your child could lose a good tutor this way. So always be mindful of your level of courtesy towards their hired instructors. 

Parents want their children to receive the best educational help. And, they also want their child’s homework and study time to be as productive as possible. This contributes to your child leading a balanced and less stressful life. Choosing the right tutor to achieve these goals is a major decision that takes consideration, experimentation, and open-mindedness. Combining these three elements, you’ll find the right private tutor for your child.

For more information, tools, and free webinars about living in Canada visit our Settling in Canada resource page. We’ll help you to settle in Canada successfully!

Popular book series

These popular book series will prepare your children to meet the requirements of Canada’s Language Arts curriculum. Canada is famous for its excellent education system, and it produces generation after generation of eager bookworms.

These five well-known and well-loved book series will get your child, and yourself started on a grand learning adventure. 

As an English and English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher who works primarily with children, one of the first questions parents always ask me is, “What should my child be reading at home?” Experience has taught me to have good booklists ready to give to parents, so they can head to the library with their kids right away.

Newcomer students must develop a habit of reading. There is a strong focus in Canadian classrooms on critical and analytical thinking skills. And the best and most sure-fire way to develop these skills is to read first-rate books. 

Children’s Book Reading Tips

Sometimes it’s a challenge to get your child interested in reading. As a parent, you must get involved in your child’s reading process.

By practicing at home, your child will be able to talk about their reading experiences in class. Their teacher will be very impressed! 

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Reading these popular book series will also bring your children closer to their classmates, as it is likely that their classmates are indulging in these books too. Talking about books is a great starting point for new friendships!

1. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Parents often hesitate about this series. It’s understandable. The jokes can be gross and immature, and often the plots do not make sense. But for a young reader, Pilkey’s silly humour and outrageous storylines can often be just the thing to draw them into the world of books.

They can move on to more serious literature later. But, for now, let them read Captain Underpants. The series follows George Beard and Harold Hutchins, two creative best friends who make comic books together. A string of events results in one of their comic book heroes, Captain Underpants, becoming real, and the boys have many exciting adventures with their superpowered creation. 

DreamWorks has made this book series into a film. Netflix has also produced a funny cartoon series. Use these as a reward. For example, if your child reads all twelve of the books, then they can watch the movie and the cartoon. 

Book Series

2. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Here is another popular book series that Netflix has faithfully adapted. A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the—obviously—unfortunate trials and tribulations of the three Baudelaire children.

The Baudelaires, heirs to an enormous fortune, are being pursued wherever they go by the greedy and monstrous Count Olaf, who is determined to get his hands on them, and their money, at any cost. This series has a wide range of intriguing—and outright bizarre—characters, settings, and plotlines. Your child will be hooked fast. 

3. Goosebumps by R. L. Stine

The series tagline says it all: “Readers beware, you’re in for a scare!” And there are over sixty different “scares” for a horror-loving reader to choose from. It is recommended that your child should be at least ten years old before they start reading these books, which sometimes have frightening and disturbing content. But once they get started, they won’t be able to stop. They will be pulled into a thrilling world of ghosts, monsters, evil ventriloquist dolls, haunted amusement parks, and even time travel! R.L. Stine has written something for everyone. 

Parents should be aware of the fact that these books do not always have happy endings. These types of books are known as “cautionary tales,” and are meant to teach children tough life lessons. The child protagonists in the books often make terrible mistakes and face gruesome consequences. Discuss these consequences with your child, to see what they’ve learned from these stories.

4. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 

Perfect for a fantasy lover, C.S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia transports readers into a magical world of evil witches, talking animals, dragons, sea voyagers, and Aslan, the wise lion king who oversees it all. This popular book series is also perfect for introducing your child to the concept of “world-building” in fiction. C.S. Lewis is famous for his skill in creating an entirely make-believe world, populated by make-believe people and creatures. 

However, this make-believe world has some very real problems, such as family conflicts, battles for political power, war, freedom, famine, death, and the passage of time. So parents should prepare to have some mature conversations with their children about the topics in the books. 

Book Series

5. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 

This book series has recently had a big resurge in popularity, thanks to its successful Netflix adaptation “Anne.” This tale of a brave, talkative, and intelligent orphan girl who is adopted into a rural Prince Edward Island community is a beloved Canadian classic.

The selling point of this series is the protagonist herself, Anne Shirley. Anne is whip-smart, resourceful, optimistic, and devoted to her family and friends. She is also ambitious and looks to the future, instead of dwelling on her difficult past. She is not only one of Canada’s biggest cultural icons, but also a role model for children in troubled times. Her story is still relatable, even more than a century after it was published. 

This series uses more complicated and advanced language. At this point, your child should already be an intermediate reader and have the skills to look up and absorb new words. Make yourself available to help your child take on new ideas, but also applaud their efforts to do research on their own. 

Book series for children

Reading is essential to developing a child’s mind, and with a steady reading schedule, and lots of praise, your child will become an accomplished reader. And maybe, one day, they will be an accomplished writer too, with their own bestselling book series!