Bricker by Bricker - The Parents and Education Partnership

This is the final episode in this four-year-old podcast series which has addressed many different aspects of the home/school partnership. In the series finale, Jamie and Carol highlight key messaging ...

Many highly respected educators have stressed that the inevitable achievement gaps will have to be addressed upon the return to in-person learning. There needs to be a comprehensive plan that outlines...

Digital literacy is all about having the ability to access, use, create and share information and content from a range of on-line sources. Today’s students are far more proficient at accessing this in...

Financial literacy will allow our children to make sound decisions regarding money for the rest of their lives. In 2020, the Ontario government introduced the new financial literacy curriculum for stu...

In January, Jamie and Carol discussed how the pandemic has erected barriers which have made home/school communication difficult for parents. In this podcast, they continue this conversation, looking a...

As we begin another new year, the pandemic continues to have a hold on our children’s school experiences. This disruption also has an impact on parents and their ability to communicate with their chil...

As parents continue to establish and re-establish connections with their child’s school and teachers, it’s important to establish ongoing, and respectful communication between both parties. In today’s...

It is well documented that a strong home-school partnership correlates to overall student success. This partnership, in many cases, was hindered by the pandemic and the transition of many students to ...

On October 10th, we celebrate World Mental Health Day. As children are returning to school and countries are still trying to manage the pandemic, this day has never been more important. In today’s pod...

As another school year commences, it is more important than ever that families and students re-establish their connections with the school, their teachers and classmates. In today’s podcast, Jamie and...

It’s the beginning of August and a time when parents begin to plan for their child’s return to school. As families and educators await the Ontario government’s school plan, Jamie and Carol focus on th...

Another school year has come to a close however, this year, the closure was very different for many students and families. As they move into the summer, families need to take an opportunity to focus o...

This past school year has been tumultuous for parents, children and all educational stakeholders. Now the end of the school year is here and the decision has been made to keep Ontario schools closed i...

This past school year has been very disruptive for students, parents and educational staff and many parents are frustrated with the interruptions to their children’s learning. In today’s podcast, Jami...

Ontario implemented a new Math curriculum this past fall with a focus on improving math scores for students, providing opportunities for students to solve every day math problems and increasing studen...

Many of us remember reading Dr. Seuss as children and March 2nd is Dr. Seuss Day. So, it’s a great time to celebrate a timeless author and discuss how reading Dr. Seuss can help develop a child’s earl...

The pandemic has highlighted many inequities and disconnects within education but it has also provided Ministries of Education with some valuable lessons. Some of the changes that have occurred in edu...

Family Literacy Day is coming up on January 27th and is a great opportunity for families to celebrate literacy in their homes.  In today’s podcast, Jamie and Carol discuss the importance of liter...

2020 was quite a year for families and the impact the pandemic had on our children’s education has been concerning for many.  In today’s podcast, Jamie and Carol look back at 2020 to discuss what...

At the beginning of December, Jamie and Carol were joined by Addiction Therapist and children’s author, Joshua Andrus to discuss how children have been using technology during this pandemic. In today’...

Throughout this pandemic, children have turned to technology for their learning, their recreation and their social interactions. They are spending more time than ever on technology and what impact is ...

As the cold weather becomes a reality, we are seeing an increasing number of Covid cases and positivity rates. What impact is this having on our schools and the safety of all stakeholders? In today’s ...

We are almost a quarter of the way through the 20-21 school year and many changes and disruptions have occurred for our children’s learning.  In today’s podcast, Jamie and Carol look back over th...

In their last podcast, Jamie and Carol were joined by special guest, Heather Murray. Heather is a parent of 4 children and in this podcast, Heather continues to discuss the challenges of returning to ...

A month has passed since students began their return to school whether it was in person or virtually.  To share insights from a parent’s perspective, Heather Murray joins Jamie and Carol to discu...

As we return to school this fall, families have had to make challenging decisions about returning to school in person or returning virtually.  In today’s podcast, Jamie and Carol continue their c...

There is no question that this pandemic has had a major impact on people’s physical and mental health and returning to school is just another stressor for many parents and families.  In today’s p...

Recently, guidelines for the return to school in Ontario have been presented by the government. These guidelines provide stringent cleaning measures, social distancing recommendations, screening proce...

As we begin our last month before students return to school, many parents are anxious about what this school year will look like and the safety measures that will be put in place to protect their chil...

Continuing their virtual tour of Canada and the wonderful authentic learning opportunities families can share, Jamie and Carol explore Quebec, the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Join them as they discuss...

There are lots of learning opportunities for families to celebrate over the course of the summer months as they travel to various regions in our country and beyond. And, this summer, what better way t...

Summer time is a great opportunity for families to explore our wonderful country, whether it be through camping, hiking, boating, trips to the trailer or longer travel vacations.  However, this s...

For many families, virtual learning has been a challenge to say the least!  Parents have been juggling their own work commitments and family commitments, the availability of devices, and trying t...

Jamie and Carol continue their discussion about Project Based Learning with Instructional Methods Advisor, Heather Buskirk. In this episode, they look at how Project Based Learning is approached and a...

Project-based learning (PBL) is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extending period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and comple...

For many students, their learning at home experience is now being supported online by their classroom teacher(s).  However, what can families continue to do to supplement this learning?  In ...

During this unprecedented time, parents are feeling the pressure to provide for their children’s educational needs. In this podcast, Jamie and Carol will address some of the anxieties parents are feel...

In the previous episode, Trevor MacKenzie, educator, author, international speaker and consultant for Inquiry Learning, joined Jamie and Carol to discuss Inquiry Learning and the positive impact it ha...

Supporting parents with gaining a deeper understanding of current educational pedagogy has been the focus of this year’s podcasts. In this episode, Trevor MacKenzie joins Jamie and Carol from Victoria...

When we look at our children’s report cards, we often focus primarily on the grades they receive. However, Jamie and Carol advocate for the importance of a child’s learning skills or his/her executive...

Continuing their conversation about current teaching practices and inquiry learning, Jamie and Carol focus today’s discussion on Play Based Learning for younger students and Project Based Learning for...

In today’s classrooms, students play a significant role in the learning process. They are encouraged to explore material, ask questions and share ideas. Join Jamie and Carol as they provide an overvie...

As we enter a new year and new decade, there are many uncertainties for parents, students and educators.  Our educational system needs to evolve to meet the needs of our students both today and i...

As we come to the end of 2019 and get ready for a new decade, Jamie and Carol share their wish list for education. Wish list items include: school safety, programming and equity, school attendance, ho...

Report cards have been sent home and parents have participated in the annual Parent Teacher Interview but what does all this information really mean?  In today’s podcast, Jamie and Carol discuss ...

It’s time once again for the annual Parent-Teacher interview and knowing how to optimize this time with your child’s classroom teacher is paramount. In today’s podcast, Jamie and Carol provide parents...

Last May, Jamie and Carol discussed the changes being proposed to Ontario’s Math Curriculum and the government’s initiative to go “Back to the Basics”.  In this episode, Jamie and Carol continue ...

As families work to once again balance school, work and family times, the inclusion of homework can be a daunting task.  In today’s podcast, Jamie and Carol discuss the pros and cons of homework ...

The week of October 7 – 11 is Media Literacy Week in Canada and the theme this year is Break the Fake. To highlight Media Literacy Week, Jamie and Carol define media and media literacy and discuss why...

Parent involvement is an essential aspect of a child’s involvement in and success at school and a parent’s involvement is affected by his/her parenting style. In this episode, Jamie and Carol discuss ...