NOTE: From time to time, we'll post events, activities and presentations taking place at our school, online or around our neighborhood that may benefit Dickens Parents & Guardians and their Children.
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Vaping: 19% of Vancouver youth reported ever vaping (vs 26% in Province). 12% vaped daily within the past month. 1st vaped at age 14 or younger. Concerns in older students (high schools) are often around students vaping in the bathroom and creating an environment that feels unsafe to non-vaping students.
Youth most often go to family for reliable information about vaping, especially younger age groups. Resources below. Tl;dr: be curious, not judgmental. Let your child know you are on their side: blame big tobacco and not your child.
Tips for starting a conversation with your child from BC health and Canadian lung association (pdf):
Podcast on Science of vaping and dangers.
Is your child struggling in math? Do they claim to not be good at math? Children in VSB are falling behind in math skills at all levels, and proficiency in math is declining. The deficit gets worse in higher grades. This is a problem: Math mastery (numeracy) is a better predictor of later student success than reading (literacy).
The good news is that 1) all kids can memorize math facts, and 2) it is never too late. Kids with learning disabilities may need to focus on a smaller number of facts at a time and practice more.
What can parents do? Help kids memorize math facts. It is never too late. Aim for 4 minutes per day of practice.
help kids practice standard algorithms for arithmetic.
Advocate for your child. do not wait. Gaps in elementary will make it harder (not impossible) later.
Some resources:
What can parents do? Help kids memorize math facts. It is never too late. Aim for 4 minutes per day of practice.
help kids practice standard algorithms for arithmetic.
Advocate for your child. do not wait. Gaps in elementary will make it harder (not impossible) later.
Some resources:
- Facts on Fire: https://brianponcy.wixsite.
com/my-site-2/m-i-n-d-2-0- facts-on-fire - Jump math is a good resource for kids that are struggling. https://jumpmath.org/ca/
- Policy brief: https://cdhowe.org/
publication/getting-math- instruction-right-strategies- for-improving-achievement-in- canada/ - https://www.annastokke.com/
More details:
The PAC attended a presentation to better understand what declining numeracy means, why it is occurring, and what parents can do. Presentation by Anna Stokke, mathematician at U Winnipeg and advocate for K-8 math learning. Similar presentation from Anna Stokke: https://www.youtube.com/live/
Math is hierarchical: each skill builds upon those already learned. This is sometimes referred to as the math ladder. This means that to do fractions, you need number facts, multiplication, and addition. To do algebra, you need fractions. When foundational skills are missing, it is difficult to catch up and difficult to learn the next skill. Kids that are struggling almost always need more practice with fundamental math skills. Memorization is key, and memorization is the key to developing understanding.
Some key facts to keep in mind:
It is NEVER true that kids are not good at math, or can't do math. When kids are struggling it is because they are missing something on the 'math ladder'. In elementary school, these skills are mastery of math facts and knowing simple and efficient methods.
Math facts: automatic recall of single digit operations (addition and subrtraction up to 18; multiplication tables up to 81; single digit division to reverse multiplication up to 81). Mastery is defined as being able to solve 40-60 math problems per minute.
Why is memorization important? Because memorization moves math facts out of working memory and into automatic recall, freeing up working memory to learn more complex problems. Memorizing the math facts are the foundations to success in fractions, decimals, algebra and beyond. This is why kids that struggle with math facts fall behind later: they spend more time and energy on basic calculations.
Math is hierarchical: each skill builds upon those already learned. This is sometimes referred to as the math ladder. This means that to do fractions, you need number facts, multiplication, and addition. To do algebra, you need fractions. When foundational skills are missing, it is difficult to catch up and difficult to learn the next skill. Kids that are struggling almost always need more practice with fundamental math skills. Memorization is key, and memorization is the key to developing understanding.
Some key facts to keep in mind:
It is NEVER true that kids are not good at math, or can't do math. When kids are struggling it is because they are missing something on the 'math ladder'. In elementary school, these skills are mastery of math facts and knowing simple and efficient methods.
Math facts: automatic recall of single digit operations (addition and subrtraction up to 18; multiplication tables up to 81; single digit division to reverse multiplication up to 81). Mastery is defined as being able to solve 40-60 math problems per minute.
Why is memorization important? Because memorization moves math facts out of working memory and into automatic recall, freeing up working memory to learn more complex problems. Memorizing the math facts are the foundations to success in fractions, decimals, algebra and beyond. This is why kids that struggle with math facts fall behind later: they spend more time and energy on basic calculations.
A representative from the McCreary Centre Society gave a presentation to the VSB District PAC meeting describing the outcomes of their adolescent health survey of overall youth health in Vancouver, with a specific focus on vaping.
Vaping: 19% of Vancouver youth reported ever vaping (vs 26% in Province). 12% vaped daily within the past month. 1st vaped at age 14 or younger. Concerns in older students (high schools) are often around students vaping in the bathroom and creating an environment that feels unsafe to non-vaping students.
Youth most often go to family for reliable information about vaping, especially younger age groups. Resources below. Tl;dr: be curious, not judgmental. Let your child know you are on their side: blame big tobacco and not your child.
Tips for starting a conversation with your child from BC health and Canadian lung association (pdf):
Podcast on Science of vaping and dangers.
McCreary Centre Society is a not-for-profit committed to improving BC youth health. They collaboratively conduct research with the folks that the research is about and will impact (with BC youth aged 12-18). Collaborative research can empower youth and foster trust. Understanding youth perspectives leads to better ability to suggest and implement meaningful changes.
The Adolescent health survey finds that overall youth health in Vancouver (ages 12-19) is getting worse. For example, in 2023 only 63 % rated their mental health as excellent. This number has declined from 75% in 2018 and 81% in 2013. Related to this, youth are reporting less connection to peers, friends, and family. Eating habits are getting worse, with fewer fruits and veggies and higher rates of sweets and energy drinks.
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