
Spring is here and students of all ages are starting the countdown to the end of classes.
While summer break is a healthy time for children to reset, it also represents a long stretch of time away from the classroom. Many parents want to be proactive leading up to and during the holidays to ensure a smooth transition to the next grade level in September.
Before the school year ends is the perfect time to schedule a chat with your child's teacher about academic and social progress. The ideal outcome is to provide direction on where to focus student efforts for the remaining months.
Last year in our spring newsletter, we shared eight questions to ask your child's teacher. Now, we have 8 more suggestions to add to your list.
1. How does my son/daughter view himself/herself as a learner in the class?
2. What are my child's greatest academic strengths?
3. Where is there room for growth and improvement?
4. Do you have any feedback about my child's overall social development?
5. Can you recommend any games or apps to support my child in learning at home?
6. How is my child doing in the class in relation to peers?
7. Is there any area that you feel my child may struggle with next year that we should begin to focus on now?
8. How can I help my child in preparation for the next grade level?
We hope these questions act as a helpful guide in starting a meaningful chat with your son or daughter's teacher. The benefit is that you will have a clear academic picture if your child needs extra support in advance of the final report card (with no surprises). Equipped with this knowledge, you can proactively plan how you'll incorporate learning into the summer holiday.
Related Articles View All
How Poetry Supports Youth Mental Health: Student Author Charlotte Collins and "The Art of Moving On"
Poetry can be a powerful outlet for self-expression and healing, especially for young people navigating the challenges of growing up. In her debut collection "The Art of Moving On", Toronto student author Charlotte Collins transforms her experiences with depression, bullying, and grief into poems that illuminate resilience, identity, and hope.
Costco Connection: Control the Clock with Back-to-School Tips from Teachers on Call’s Joanne Sallay
In the August 2025 Costco Connection, Teachers on Call CEO Joanne Sallay shares practical back-to-school tips to help students build time management and executive functioning skills for success in school and life.
Big Hearts for Little Hearts: How McMaster Children’s Hospital and Communities Unite to Transform Pediatric Cardiac Care in Hamilton and Beyond!
McMaster Children’s Hospital’s Big Hearts for Little Hearts campaign is raising $3M+ to transform pediatric cardiac care. With support from CPKC, MacKids, and communities across Ontario, the initiative will create an Integrated Cardiac Health Initiative to support children with heart conditions from before birth through adolescence.