Frequently Asked
Questions
If you are interested in joining Bright Minds:
- Send us an inquiry to speak with one of our administrators, request more information and set up a virtual assessment.
- Schedule and confirm an online assessment with one of our experienced math and/or literacy teachers.
- Go to our Registration Portal and create your family profile. Once your email address has been confirmed, you can log in to register for the courses of your choice.
- Receive important information via email to join classes and pick up your child’s class materials.
Bright Minds offers mathematics and English Literacy enrichment and remedial classes for children aged 5 and up. Students attend weekly classes and receive homework in materials unique to the Bright Minds program. Students have the option of attending in-person or online classes dependent on their skill level and class availability.
We offer optional online or in-person daily Flex tutoring sessions in order for students to receive extra support outside of their scheduled class times.
Bright Minds more than a tutoring program. Teaching and learning takes place in a small group environment which has students engaging in collaborative and creative activities.
In mathematics, we foster deep understanding by augmenting our curriculum with brainteasers, lateral thinking riddles, puzzles, questions from math competitions, and thinking games. The results are students who become creative thinkers and strong problem-solvers, and not just in mathematics.
We acknowledge each students’ ability to work at their own pace in order to stay challenged and engaged. We both allow and encourage each student to progress at a pace that is best suited to their abilities.
Yes we do. Parents have clearly expressed their preference for online class delivery, combined with the ability to attend in-person open study halls (also known as Flex tutoring sessions), as needed. Classes for older students will be delivered through Zoom, in order to allow for flexibility, greater access, and to minimize driving time for the parents.
However, for our youngest students in-person learning is also highly sought after. In 2023-24 parents will have the choice of online or in-person weekly classes.
Students may join us online daily for homework assistance in Flex, be it for school math or Bright Minds math or literacy homework. For students living in North West Calgary, we offer regular in-person flex sessions and access to our tutors.
Weekly online Chess and Math Competition Clubs are available for interested students at no extra cost.
We are offering the Bright Minds Chess Club for students at all levels of chess. This is an integral part of the program and does not cost any extra to attend. Our chess program also includes participation in chess competitions and tournaments.
We also offer regular Math Competition Club (MCC) sessions via zoom. Any student interested in honing their math competition skills by strengthening their analytical creativity and logical reasoning skills are encouraged to join us for our training sessions. There is never any pressure to participate in formal competitions but the opportunity is available to students that wish to compete. There is no extra cost to join MCC sessions.
New this past year interested Bright Minds students had the opportunity to participate in Spelling Bee competitions facilitated by our Literacy department.
Bright Minds students in Grades Kindergarten through Grade 5 also have the opportunity to sign up for our in-person summer camps which are a fun mix of both Math & Literacy related activities.
Serious fun is the Renert way of getting kids to love math. Serious fun is when challenge meets ability, and learning happens because activities are engaging, interesting, and fun.
For students in K-Grade 9, our innovative curriculum emphasizes mental arithmetic, deep mathematical understanding, and creative problem solving. We do not give kids grades or marks; we only assess to determine what your child’s needs are in order to provide appropriate support and challenges. We encourage students to explore mathematics as they learn it. Most of all, we have fun with mathematics – playing games, tackling challenging problems, and having deep and interesting discussions are a big part of what we do.
For Advanced students learning High School level math we shift the focus onto the provincial high school curriculum and offer full school year classes at a more relaxed pace. Want a preview of topics from next year’s math course, explore calculus and beyond? Our high school math program does all of that and more.
Bright Minds is for any student who is motivated, has a keen mind for learning, and is willing to practice daily to acquire a skill that will serve them for life.
Ongoing, daily, deliberate practice—whether it is music, sports, English Literacy or mathematics—is absolutely necessary to improve and master a skill.
Since the Bright Minds program sorts students into groups by level of understanding rather than by age or grade, we encourage parents of children of any age to inquire about the program.
We are currently working with students starting as young as 4-5 years old and up to students at the high school level.
We accept students from as early as 4 years old up to Grade 12 in the Bright Minds Math program. Bright Minds literacy is designed for K-Grade 6 level students. We do accept older students that need remedial help which is determined in an assessment prior to registration.
Yes! Starting in February 2023, we are opening morning online Math classes and math flex tutoring sessions for home school families. We hope to expand this to literacy in the 2023-24 school year pending demand. Please let us know if you are interested when you fill out your inquiry form.
When children hate English or math, it’s generally because they have not been challenged by it at the right level. This happens all too often in typical schools. If the work is too easy, it becomes tedious and boring. If the material is too hard, it is embarrassing and frustrating. At Bright Minds, we are dedicated to giving kids the right challenges and proper support, and we do it in a way that is engaging and fun.
We are sensitive to the needs of all students who come to us for help, and so, while we place students in groups based primarily on their ability, age and maturity level are also important factors.
Many of our students have come to us after years of difficulty with math and/or English in school. So, we can almost always find an appropriate peer group for your child.
We strongly believe that children should be placed with peers who are like-minded in terms of ability and skill-level. This is the key to getting the most out of the class time, and for students to have a good experience.
Since the Bright Minds program is unique, our assessments bare no reference to grades in school and are simply a tool to allow us to to place your child in a group that is best suited for them in terms of ability and the Bright Minds level they are working at. We do not give kids grades or marks; we only assess to determine what your child’s needs are in order to provide appropriate support and challenges.
We schedule separate online assessments for Math and for Literacy for children who wish to join both courses.
We do not charge separate fees for assessments as the sole purpose of our assessments are for placing students in appropriate Bright Minds classes. We consider the assessment fees to be included in the tuition upon registration in the program.
Students should come to their online assessments with a pencil, scrap or lined paper and an eraser.
We will provide all of the materials and workbooks your child will need after they have been assessed and placed in a class.
Assessments can take anywhere from 15-60 minutes depending on the age of the student. Parents should allow the student to perform the assessment independently but be nearby to receive instructions or discuss results afterward.
We do not offer any free trial sessions, and there are no drop-ins available. Real benefits come from long-term engagement.
Our classes typically have between 5 and 10 students. Larger classes will always have instructors and assistants working in tandem to ensure each student gets the attention they need. We cap our classes at 12 students but most are not at capacity as we are always opening new classes as demand increases.
We have many classes available at all levels and are almost always able to accommodate busy family schedules.
While students work best with others who are at their own level, it is not necessary that they be at exactly the same book to work well together. In fact, each of our classes accommodates a range of levels which means we often have several class options available to families joining the program.
Once your child’s assessment is complete we will offer several class options for you to choose from.
Most importantly students should come prepared to work, engage and participate in their classes. Students also need pencils, an eraser, a ruler, some scrap or lined paper and their Bright Minds workbooks for their online classes and Flex tutoring sessions.
If attending an in-person Flex tutoring session, students must come prepared to work in their Bright Minds workbooks, and bring pencils, erasers and scrap or lined paper. No food or drink other than a sealed water bottle are allowed in in-person Flex tutoring sessions.
When students miss a class, they are expected to catch up on all materials covered while they were away; as they would when they miss a class at school. Luckily, we offer plenty of support to keep students on track.
Parents are provided with teacher email addresses so you can let your child’s instructor know you will be away or if you wish to inquire what was missed in class. Flex tutoring sessions (available online for drop-in daily) are the best way to keep up with homework and seek support, whether you’ve missed classes or not!
All students registered in the Bright Minds program may attend any or all of the Flex tutoring sessions we offer.
Parents are also encouraged to contact their child’s instructors via email at any time to seek clarification or ask questions.
Our instructors are experts in English Literacy and mathematics. We do not have any generalist instructors in Bright minds. They typically hold university degrees in English, mathematics or science and are passionate about teaching their respective subjects. They are deeply knowledgeable and committed to the intellectual growth of their students.
We prepare students for and offer opportunities to participate in math competitions as we believe it is a great way to learn mathematics and to test their abilities. Competition preparation is one of the best ways to become good problem solver.
In 2023-24 we will continue to offer our Math Competition Club (MCC) regularly online. This is an additional session for students interested in honing their math competition skills and strengthening their analytical creativity. Participation in the BM MCC is included in your Bright Minds registration fees.
Tuition for the Bright Minds program includes everything Bright Minds has to offer: weekly classes, online and in-persion Flex tutoring sessions, direct instructor contact, Chess Club, Math Competition Club, and all assigned materials.
Outside of the weekly classes, all other activities are completely optional and students can take advantage of them as often as they like.
Our placement assessments are also included in the tuition fees.
Bright Minds is a full school-year program. Classes begin in September and run until Mid-June. We do not offer classes per month, term or semester. Real, measurable benefits come from long-term engagement.
We offer multiple-course discounts to families who register in more than one course or have siblings in the program. We also offer a full-payment discount to families that choose to pay their fees in full.
Early Bird discounts are available to families who register with us in the spring/early summer for the new school year.
Because we perform detailed assessments and track student progress throughout the year, we are able to enrol students all year long. Our fees are pro-rated for families who join us during the school year.
Please contact us to discuss our yearly fees and discounts that may be available.
Bright Minds is a full school-year program. Classes begin in September and run until Mid-June.
We do not have weekly classes during the summer months however, families that register for the new school year in spring and early summer will have access to online Flex tutoring sessions, new materials and other events we have running during the summer.
We have 3 weeks of summer camps planned for existing Bright Minds students in July & August of 2023! Register with us and you will receive information on our summer camp offerings. (Sorry but these camps are not open to the general public).
We offer full-day, week-long Math and Literacy summer camps to existing Bright Minds students who will be in Grades 1-6 in September of 2023. So, Bright Minds students currently in Kindergarten-Grade 5 may register. These camps are exclusive to Bright Minds students wether they have been with us for many years or newly registered (but they must be part of the Bright Minds community to participate).
We split the camp into half-day math activities and half-day literacy activities. We get outside as much as the weather will allow and provide fun and engaging activities targeted to keep their brains sharp and avoid the summer slide!
If you are new to Bright Minds, send us an inquiry so we can give you more information on how to sign up for our program and get access to our camps.
Cancelation Policy:
No refunds or partial refunds will be issued for payments already processed barring a major family circumstance (which would be considered on an individual basis).
That being said, we work hard to make sure your child has a great experience in our program. There are many things we can do to give them the best chance of success. Just a few of them include:
Yes! The majority of new families that join Bright Minds are from members of the Bright Minds community referring them and we love to say thank-you for spreading the word!
New families are encouraged to indicate the names of the parents that referred them to our program on their registration form so that we can send their friend/family member a $100 bonus! To be eligible, the referring family must be currently registered in Bright Minds. Bonuses are offered per family (not per student) referred to us.
It is not uncommon for families to receive several bonuses each year.
If you are interested in joining Bright Minds:
- Send us an inquiry to speak with one of our administrators, request more information and set up a virtual assessment.
- Schedule and confirm an online assessment with one of our experienced math and/or literacy teachers.
- Go to our Registration Portal and create your family profile. Once your email address has been confirmed, you can log in to register for the courses of your choice.
- Receive virtual meeting links and other important information via email to join classes and pick up your child’s class materials.