For many parents and guardians, beginning a home learning journey with SelfDesign comes with moments of uncertainty. You might find yourself wondering if you’re doing enough or questioning whether you’re missing something important. These feelings are a normal part of the experience for many SelfDesign families.
SelfDesign is built around the idea that parents and guardians are not meant to do this alone. Through relationships, reflection and access to meaningful support, parents and guardians are invited to grow into confident, connected learning partners, with guidance available every step of the way.
SelfDesign supports parents through:
-
- Ongoing partnership with Learning Consultants through Observing for Learning
- Clear expectations through Program Agreements
- Educational supports and specialists for diverse learning needs
Learning consultants and Observing for Learning
Every SelfDesign family works with a learning consultant (LC). LCs are BC‑certified educators who partner with parents/guardians and learners throughout the year, and often the same LC will support a family throughout a child’s entire learning journey.
Learning consultants see parents as the experts on their own children. Their role is to listen, reflect and support families as they notice interests, shape goals, choose activities and create personalized learning plans.
A key part of this relationship is Observing for Learning. Each week, parents/guardians (if children are in younger grades) and learners in higher grades reflect on learning that has taken place in everyday life and share these observations with their LC. This process helps families recognize learning beyond lessons or assignments and supports learners in understanding how they learn.
“Learning consultants see the parent as the expert—as the person who knows the child best—and they seek to support the personalized goals created together with the family,” explains Cheryl, a SelfDesign parent whose three children attend SelfDesign.
“Having an educator there to guide us means I never feel completely on my own. The learning consultant relationship is really the core support for the learning path. If you’re a new SelfDesign parent having personal doubts, tell your learning consultant how you feel. They’ve got the answers and guidance that you need.”
Cheryl also shares how Observing for Learning changed how she sees her children.
“Essentially, I get to journal about what my children are learning,” she says. “I get to share it with our educator, and she reflects back the things I don’t see about the learning that’s taking place every day. It reignites this spark inside me to see it for myself.”
Learn more about how learning consultants provide families with consistent support and guidance here.
Program Agreements
Parents and guardians play an active role in supporting learning, communicating with their learning consultant, and shaping learning plans alongside their child.
To help families feel clear rather than overwhelmed, SelfDesign’s Program Agreements outline shared responsibilities related to learning, communication, participation, safety and support.
The agreements provide structure while leaving room for flexibility, trust and relationship‑based learning.
Educational supports and specialists
SelfDesign families have access to a wide range of supports beyond their Learning Consultant. SelfDesign also offers supports that honour diverse needs and identities, including supports for learners with disabilities and diverse abilities, and Indigenous Education. Supports are there for families who are new, families who are growing their understanding of the program and families who may be struggling but don’t yet realize what’s available.
Learning Resources and Services, the Learning Experience Library, and HomeLearners Network offer ideas, inspiration and connection. In‑person camps, peer‑to‑peer opportunities, and group activities help learners build relationships while helping parents feel less isolated.
Educational specialists include:
Learning and support specialists
-
- Inclusive Education Learning Consultants (for children with disabilities or diverse abilities
- Secondary Learning Specialists (Grades 10–12)
Learning Resources and Services providers
-
- Educational assistants
- Behaviour interventionists
- Academic tutors
- Occupational therapists
- Speech‑language pathologists
- Counselling psychologists
- Art therapists
- Music therapists
Community and program specialists
-
- Indigenous education facilitators
- HomeLearners Network Guides
- Peer‑to‑peer workshop and program leaders
SelfDesign parent and Interim President and CEO, Nikki Kenyon, reflects on her son’s reading journey.
“All he wanted was for me to read Harry Potter to him, all the time,” Nikki recalls. “And while I loved reading with him, at some point, I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing if he could read it on his own? We read all the time, he was engaged with stories, but the pieces just weren’t coming together for him.”
After connecting with SelfDesign support staff, Nikki was encouraged to have her son assessed. He was found to have a learning disability and was supported with a specialized tutor and a tailored home program.
“Within six months, he was reading, and within two months after that, he was reading Harry Potter by himself. I had moments where I thought, ‘Maybe I can’t do this. Maybe I’ve been fooling myself.’ But really, I just needed the right support. He just needed the right support.”
Her son later graduated from high school and achieved his goal of doing well in English 12.
Learn more about how SelfDesign’s team of professionals can support your child’s journey here.
Parent as learning partner
Over time, many families find that the SelfDesign learning flows more easily, and relationships deepen. Learning starts to feel fun, not like a chore.
With flexible, accessible supports and real people to lean on, parents and guardians are encouraged to trust themselves and reach out when something feels hard. If you’re ever feeling unsure, your Learning Consultant can help you find the right supports for your family.
No parent or guardian has all the answers, nor are they expected to. The key is to stay connected to your child and communicative with your learning team. When you and your family feel properly supported, the learning can unfold naturally!
