What is a parent guide?
A parent guide is a booklet that presents a complete topic of study from the provincial program of studies. School House Canada has broken the program of studies into identifiable objectives and designed lessons and activities for each grade level and topic. To ensure the quality of the resources, each of our parent guides follows the same format and focuses on the Five Pillars of Instruction™. They are:
- Part A: Pre-testing with clearly defined objectives
- Part B: Independent learning opportunities
- Part C: Ample practice and continuous learning
- Part D: Post-test and summative evaluation
- Part E: Real-world application
Part A
Pretest
To determine the base level of a student’s knowledge, a pre-test is given to the student. This is the point where instruction begins.
Part B
Independent Work
To encourage and develop independent learning skills, students are encouraged to try to learn on their own.
Part C
Practice ACTIVITIES
Once a student has understood the process, he or she is given ample opportunity to practice to achieve mastery.
Part D
post-test
When the student has achieved proficiency in the skill, a final test is given to validate mastery of the objective.
Part E
application
Knowledge is only useful when it can be applied to the real world, so students are required to apply their new skills.
The Parent Guide Program
School House Canada offers three kinds of programs for our students: teacher-directed, one-on-one instruction; online instruction; and parent-guided, supervised instruction. For the first two options, we can provide your child with one-on-one instruction in 60, 90- or 120-minute sessions. One-on-one tutoring sessions cost $60 per hour. For parents who would like a different option, School House Canada provides parent guides
Parent Involvement
By using a parent guide, parents can ensure their child receives the same kind of instruction that they would receive with a School House tutor. The Parent Guide is a blueprint that follows our proprietary teaching method, the Five Pillars of Instruction™, and provides a step-by-step process for learning new skills and concepts. By following each step outlined in the guide, the student can complete the same course as students enrolled in our one-on-one program, with minimal costs to the parents. The only difference between one-on-one tutoring and using a parent guide is that the child would be under the direct supervision of the parent instead of the tutor. This is an excellent opportunity for the parents to take an active part in their child’s education by monitoring activities, passively overseeing the completion of lessons, and participating in the development of their child’s program plan.
Student Involvement
In addition to mastering the core program, one of the goals of the Five Pillars of Instruction™ is to provide opportunities for students to learn and use the independent learning skills presented throughout the program so they ultimately become responsible for their own learning. Consequently, the student is the primary driver of the program, and the parent is there only to encourage, support, and assist the student if he or she reaches a frustration level.
