Toolkit for First Nations Parents and Families

The Toolkit for First Nations Parents and Families has been created by the FNESC and First Nations Schools Association to support the importance of parental involvement in education.

The current edition is a draft for review and feedback.

2 MB

CONTENTS

1.0. Appreciating the importance of parental involvement in education

1.1 The Valuable Role of Parents in Student Success
1.2 The Value of Parents’ Support for Schools

2.0. Understanding parents’ rights, the structure of the school system, how to build positive relationships with school staff for the benefit of students, and what to do if difficulties arise

2.1 The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
2.2 Parents’ Education Rights and Responsibilities
2.3 The Rights of Families to Racist-Free Educational Opportunities
2.4 Families’ Privacy Rights
2.5 Roles and Responsibilities of Education Personnel
2.6 Suggestions for Meeting With School Staff
2.7 Questions To Ask At Parent Teacher Interviews
2.8 What To Do If You Have a Concern About Your Child’s Education
2.9 What To Know About Choosing Courses

3.0. Supporting students who have exceptionalities and special learning needs

3.1 The Rights of Students Who Have Exceptionalities
3.2 Supporting Students Who Have Exceptionalities
3.3 Identifying Students Who Have Exceptionalities
3.4 What is an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?
3.5 What is Meaningful Consultation?
3.6 Helping Students Who Have Exceptionalities Build Self-Esteem, Resiliency, and Independence

4.0. Creating healthy and supportive learning environments at home

4.1 The Importance of Regular School Attendance
4.2 Helping Your Child Feel Connected to School
4.3 Helping All Children Build Friendships
4.4 The Link Between Sleep and Success in School
4.5 Who Knew? Eating Together Can Help With School Success
4.6 Routines Can Help Kids Get to School On Time
4.7 What Parents Should Know About Bullying
4.8 The Benefits of Extra-Curricular Activities
4.9 Helping Your Children Become Career Ready
4.10 Reframing Our Thinking
4.11 The Value of Optimism
4.12 Helping Young Children With Everyday Anxiety
4.13 What To Know About Vaping
4.14 Should I Be Concerned About Energy Drinks?
4.15 How to Talk to Your Children About Drug and Alcohol
4.16 Helping Children Deal With Traumatic News or Events
4.17 Talking With Children and Teens About Body Image
4.18 Does Your Child, or a Child You Know, Need Support? The Kids Help Phone is Available
4.19 Addressing Concerns about Violence and Gangs
4.20 Building Your Children’s Early Literacy Skills

5.0. Addressing technology use and online activities to keep children and teens safe and healthy

5.1 Using Social Media in Healthy, Positive Ways
5.2 Tips for Creating a Family Technology Use Plan
5.3 Keeping Up With Technology Issues
5.4 Helping Students Understand: What Goes Online Stays Online, and Everyone Can See It
5.5 Play Safe: Tips for Online Gaming
5.6 What is AI, and Why is Everyone Talking About It?
5.7 What is Meant by the Term Digital Literacy?
5.8 Signs Your Child or Teen May be Overusing Technology
5.9 Let’s Talk About “Fake News”
5.10 Using Screen Time in Positive Ways

See also the companion document, Implementation Guide for the Toolkit for First Nations Parents and Families (Draft). It includes short, reproducible sections that can be shared with parents as separate papers, or adapted for newsletter and presentations.

We welcome your feedback on our resources.