Parents and Families Newsletter

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Boletín informativo para Padres y Familias.

Welcome to another great and helpful newsletter that connects you to educational resources and links to information that are intended to increase the language proficiency and academic success of your child.

First, please fill out a quick survey to share any information or suggestions you might have for the next newsletter. We value your input!

Take a few minutes to watch this helpful video that will guide you through understanding how to navigate the parents and families page.

Stay informed about the resources and support available by subscribing to the site by clicking on the Subscribe Today button.

Save the Date for next year’s Parent and Family Engagement event! If you are interested in helping to plan next year's Parents & Families event, please email, titleiii.initiative@esc20.info or take a moment to fill out this short survey by September 30, 2021.

If you are selected to assist with this planning event, you may serve on a different planning committee such as coordinating the parents and families conference schedule and entertainment for the parent sessions.

In Texas the term, “Emergent Bilingual Students” was recently passed by the Senate Bill 2066 replacing the term “Limited English Proficient” with “Emergent Bilingual” in Texas Education Code (TEC) effective September 1, 2021. You may continue to hear the use of the term English learner. Reach out to your child’s teacher or school if you have questions about this term.

Does your child struggle to complete their homework due to the lack of high-speed internet?

TEA Connect Texas and your local school district have partnered up to provide free home - based broadband internet access to students throughout Texas. Visit the TEA Connect Texas page to learn more about the steps involved to reserve your free internet.

Visit SSES.tea.texas.gov to learn more about Supplemental Special Education Services and how eligible families of student with significant and complex disabilities can qualify for up to $1,500 per child to purchase special educational resources and services. In addition, watch this video to learn more.

Free Virtual Parent Sessions November 17-18, 2021 5:00- 6:30 p.m.

This year’s Association for Migrant Educators of Texas (AMET) state conference is pleased to be able to provide 2 virtual (online), evening learning/sharing sessions, during the conference, at no cost to Migratory Parents. To learn more about the parent session, visit the AMET Parent Sessions web page.

Attend this great event from the comfort of your home to learn about ways to support your child’s academic and mental health needs. Visit statewideparents.com to register.

Topics to be discussed:

• Tips to help with homework

• Managing their behavior with loving discipline

• Bullying and cyberbullying

• Internet and school safety

On the Community Partners page, you can access information about Adult Education Services such as accessing courses, testing services, and other resources.

Some school districts in Texas offer Adult ESL classes for parents of English learners. Check with your school district to see if classes are offered in your area.

In addition, you can quickly locate adult education providers in your area by visiting this web page, https://www.txel.org/tcallmap/.

As a parent/guardian of an emergent bilingual student, you have rights regarding your child's education access and programming. Visit the Supporting My Child web page to access the Parents/Guardian Rights Guidance document.

With the start of back to school, you may have learned about some of the following programs and services within your school and community. Feel free to reach out to your child’s school or the district to learn about some of these TEA resources.

Interested in partnering with your child's teacher to support their learning? Visit the TEA Back to School Parent Conferencing Tool web page, to learn more.

Visit this TEA webpage to access documents that have been created such as general resources for families on the topics listed here:

● Dyslexia

● Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

● Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

● Section 504

Parents and families can learn more about G/T programs throughout the state, by visiting the Gifted/Talented resources for families and educators.

This TEA page includes information and resources that may be useful in implementing a variety of mental health and student supports in communities affected by natural disasters.

Turn screen time into a learning opportunity. Check out PBSLearningMedia.org for interactive lessons and educational videos for all ages.

With school starting back up, students may be adjusting to their schedule and daily routines. Parents and guardians may also have questions they would like to ask their child’s school. Visit childmind.org to learn more about some questions that parents of emergent bilingual students may have.

Also, to help prepare your child for back-to-school success consider these ideas:

● Communicate with your child’s teacher to introduce yourself and share any information about your child’s educational needs.

● Help your child get organized with their school supplies and daily class and homework assignments.

● Settle into daily routines and transitions that will help your child understand the predictable structure that is in place both at home and school.

Some at-home activities to engage with your child and family include:

Reading a story together- Make story time interactive and engage your child in conversation. You can have your child act out part of the story or take turns reading aloud.

Going to the park together- Get outdoors for a walk, jog, or to play some sports is a great activity for you and your child’s physical and mental health. Throughout your outdoor activity, take the opportunity to talk with your child about topics of interest to them. Your child can also write about their favorite outdoor activity they enjoy doing as a family.

Doing some gardening- Teach your child to enjoy nature by showing them how to plant some seedlings, water the garden, or do some weeding. Your child can write about the process for the gardening activity of their choice.

For a list of other activities, read this article 20 Activities for parent-child bonding.

As you and your family settle into creating new routines, remember to take some time for yourself and have fun, breath, and relax. Consider some of these tips from the Mental Health First Aid curriculum to practice self-care as a family.

● Eat healthy by adding fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains to your meals.

● Spend quality time together engaging in activities that everyone enjoys.

● Talk about how you're feeling as a family and allow your child to share any questions or concerns they may have.

Other ways to support your child’s mental health can be found on the unicefusa.org web site.

Also, watch this video to learn more about managing stress.

Remember, with the start of the new school year, your child may be experiencing many feelings. Reassure your child that they are prepared and discuss things they are looking forward to.

TXEL.org is a web portal that provides information and resources that are relevant, accessible, and impactful to support educational leaders, teachers, parents and families, and community partners to ensure the academic success of the State’s English learners.

Contact us at :https://www.txel.org/contact/

Email: EnglishLearnerSupport@tea.texas.gov
Website: https://tea.texas.gov
Phone: 512-463-9414