Queen's Glen Elementary Support

11/05/2023

11/04/2023

Why is it so important to involve children in learning not just in a receptive way, but as directors themselves? When we are permitted to explore important topics in a self-directed way, we show greater interest, greater ownership, and greater motivation. Providing children with opportunities to practice key skills is only part of a larger picture: we need to give them the room necessary to use those skills in ways that they find personally appealing.

11/01/2023

Happy November!

Yes, we're already here! As we advance toward the colder months, make sure to continue to use outdoor time as an opportunity for education. Fallen leaves can be used for art pieces, salt-dough "fossils," and tree identification. Art projects can lead into investigations of the colour wheel, the spectrum of light, and use of prisms, for example. Creating imprints in dough can become a discussion of the mineralization of ancient bones. Tree identification through leaves can provide a basis for discussions of the water cycle, tree life cycles, and more. It's amazing what you can learn just be being outside, which is one reason that we incorporate a strong outdoor component in our elementary programming.

As always, we're here to answer your questions!

10/28/2023

Curious about how to add extra dimension to your homeschooling or classroom-based lessons? Perhaps you want to add depth to the material that your child receives as homework. Fall just happens to be an ideal time to take a multisensory approach to learning: there are so many rich colours, textures, scents, and sounds to explore. Sometimes, all it takes is getting outside with a scarf, a sweater, and a sense of curiosity. Asking your children to talk to you about connections that they see between what they're learning and what they observe in nature can be an excellent starting point.

10/26/2023

We are gearing up for more content over the next few weeks and we're excited to share everything with you!
Grab a cup of something warm and stay posted for upcoming events!

09/28/2023

One of the questions that we’re frequently asked is, “Will my child be confused if we teach him/her a second language early on?”

The resounding answer is no! There are many benefits associated with learning a second language in early childhood, some of which even extend into other subject areas. This is one of many reasons that we emphasize second-language learning in our elementary program.

According to a growing body of research, for example, the words that different languages use for numbers can effect how easily we learn basic concepts like fractions.

To learn more, please head over to:

Language can influence how quickly kids learn to count – but does it make a difference in the long run?

09/28/2023

A question that we hear frequently from parents is, “Will my child be confused if we teach him/her a second language too early?”

The resounding answer is no!

There are numerous benefits associated with learning a second language early on. Believe it or not, these benefits extend even into other subject areas. This is one of many reasons that we emphasize second-language learning in our elementary program.

According to a growing body of research, for example, the words that different languages use for numbers can affect how easily we learn to count and understand basic concepts such as fractions.

Learn more here:

Language can influence how quickly kids learn to count – but does it make a difference in the long run?

09/26/2023

As the weather begins to cool down, we’re preparing for a fresh round of outings and field trips!

We’re fortunate to have a wonderful team of passionate, dedicated teachers who enrich all of our trips with subject-specific activities that tie theory to practice in a meaningful, real-world way.

Go beyond a simple visit! Make learning a hands-on opportunity with us.

09/08/2023

Dedicated read-aloud time is crucial for younger children because they are "wired" for language learning in the early years. Reading to and with children is an indispensable part of any elementary program, and is an important part of our educational philosophy.

09/07/2023

Our focus this week, as many children head back into academic routines - whether at brick-and-mortar schools, in their own homes, or while world-schooling - is on the power and importance of literacy. How can we support literacy as educators and parents? How can we promote an understanding that literacy is foundational to all academic pursuits?

As always, our approach is evidence-based.

For example, we emphasize activities such as read-aloud and the promotion of phonemic awareness. We explore the necessary "messiness" of hand-printing in young learners, which - more than typing - helps them to develop the musculature in their hands required for fine-motor control.
To learn more about our "back-to-basics" approach to early education - most certainly including literacy - contact us here! We're happy to chat.

09/05/2023

Reading out loud to children is a fundamental literacy-building activity. It introduces children to a range of necessary skills in a way that is natural and nurturing. When you read aloud to your children and/or students, you reinforce concepts that are vital for emerging and sustained reading competence:

*directionality of print
*the role of author and illustrator
*sound-symbol correspondence and pronunciation
*the ebb and flow of intonation
*story arcs
*character development
*literary devices
*and more!

Reading aloud is a foundational activity at all levels of education, and an important aspect of any elementary program, ours included.

If you're interested in learning more about the link between reading aloud and later literacy, see Jim Trelease's beloved "The Read-Aloud Handbook."

08/12/2023

We had a wonderful time at our first open house last weekend!

Students participated in a hands-on workshop about capillary action. We started off by enacting the movement of water molecules - from the front door of the school all the way to the classroom!

We concocted containers of rainbow water with food colouring, experimenting to see if additional drops of colour would increase the rate of absorption in paper coffee filters. We later used those colourful filters to create an art piece for home. We finished off with a visual representation of capillary action at work in the real world.

It's amazing how much thorough and thoughtful discussion is fostered by small class sizes, hands-on material, and real-world application!

If you're interested in upcoming workshops, please reach out to us and stay up-to-date with our social media pages.