As the school year gets underway, Brock University is launching a free community workshop series to help families and caregivers support children’s at-home learning.

Building Learning Bridges is presented by the Faculty of Education’s Brock Learning Lab (BLL), which offers affordable math and literacy tutoring for kindergarten to Grade 12 students across Niagara.

The interactive workshops will provide foundational information on literacy and numeracy instruction as well as take-home resources for families looking to bolster at-home learning.

Master of Education student and BLL Tutor Supervisor Isabella Favero said inviting families to bring their children to the workshops will allow them to “have a meaningful opportunity to engage in interactive activities under the guidance of facilitators.”

Catherine Susin, Educational Studies Sessional Instructor and BLL Program Coordinator said the workshops will be delivered by Ontario Certificated Teachers and Brock graduate students “who are experts in their field with experience providing individual and large group support to learners in need.”

The series will also offer specialized sessions for Brock Teacher Education students in October with a focus on developing professional teaching practices and exploring topics such as classroom management and inclusive teaching strategies.

Assistant Professor of Educational Studies and BLL Acting Director Yvonne Messenger said the new workshop series and established tutoring services provide valuable opportunities for Brock and wider community.

“So much learning is happening through all aspects of the Brock Learning Lab this year. We have undergraduate Brock students and local volunteers tutoring in local schools and in the Lab. We also have numerous opportunities for families to come together and learn at workshops — it’s a wonderful, busy place,” she said.

Messenger said the chance for Brock students to hone their teaching skills as BLL tutors and literacy and math mentors allows them to make a difference in the education of learners while enhancing their own professional knowledge and skills.

In the Literacy Support Program, learners work one-on-one with tutors who use research-based teaching approaches that help children improve their reading and writing skills through targeted instruction.

In the Math Support Program, personalized, one-on-one math instruction emphasizes the conceptual understandings of mathematics and problem-based applications.

“Working with children who find literacy and math challenging is one of the best learning experiences that an education student or beginning teacher can have because tutoring requires us to try new approaches, constantly reflect on our teaching practice, and refine our skills while we learn alongside our student,” Messenger said.

For Susin, it’s “the dual impact” that makes BLL unique.

“Learners receive personalized support in literacy and/or mathematics, and tutors gain confidence and competence as educators. Behind every tutoring session, there’s a framework of planning, coaching and reflection. Our job is to provide tutors with the tools and encouragement they need to make every lesson count,” she said.

Families interested in accessing BLL tutoring services and the new workshop series can visit the BLL website for upcoming program registration dates. Information on the workshops for Teacher Education students will be shared on ExperienceBU closer to the events.