The Family Learning Connection
1st Quarter Volume 21
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Learn with Us
Fall Extracurricular Activities
Parent-Teacher Communication
Parents can get to know their children's teachers by going to events and parent-teacher conferences where they can talk one-on-one. Volunteering for classroom activities or school events gives another chance for parents to talk with teachers. Also, parents can schedule meetings or talk regularly by emails to stay updated on their child's education. For more tips, visit: https://r16.us/Communicationtips
Back to School
Going back to school can be an adjustment. For tips on how to make this transition smoother, visit http://r16.us/backtoschooltips
Screen Time and Youth Mental Health
Did you know studies have shown a link to children and young adults who spend time on digital technology are more likely to develop mental health problems such as depression and anxiety? To read more about one of these studies, visit: http://r16.us/kids&technology
Reading at Home
You can support your child’s reading by making literacy activities part of your daily routine. Reading together, playing word games, and talking about stories help build reading skills and make learning fun. Encouraging your child to read in both your home language and another language can boost their confidence and literacy development.
Math Fun at Home
You can help your child enjoy math by creating a math-friendly home. Set up a special workspace, gather math tools, and use everyday items for learning. Playing math games and doing math activities together will make learning fun and boost your child's confidence. To learn more, visit: http://r16.us/mathfunathome
Did You Know?
There are over 2,000 holidays celebrated throughout the world each year? To learn how to celebrate a few that occur in the fall, visit: http://r16.us/fallholidays
Promising Practices Around the State
The Promising Practices Award recognizes schools and groups of schools that have shown great parent, family, and community engagement. This award focuses on schools or districts that involve stakeholders in the planning, carrying out, and evaluation of programs or events that have an environment where parents and teachers work together. This year, the following schools and/or districts were selected for this award, and they will present at the 2024 PFE Conference in Houston, Texas on October 16-18:
Aldine ISD
The Office of Family and Community Engagement saw the need to share COVID-19 information with families, so they started virtual sessions to make sure everyone stayed informed.
As things got better, they found that many parents didn't know how to get involved in their children's education. In October 2021, they started the Family and Community University (FCUniversity).
FCUniversity focuses on "Empowering Families to Look Forward." Parents gained new skills, some even got jobs, and a few became U.S. citizens.
Lufkin ISD
o meet the diverse needs of their families, Lufkin ISD developed a multi-tiered approach providing universal, targeted, and intensive support. Events include Parent Cafe Family Chats, Discover with Me Math activities, and the FIT (Family Instructional Time) program.
GED, ESL, and Citizenship classes are coordinated with the Angelina College Adult Learning Center. Carrying out the events involves organizing monthly activities based on family and community feedback.
Parents, site coordinators, district personnel, and community partners review activities monthly, and an end-of-year meeting helps plan for the next year.
Spring Forest Middle School
Moving to high school is a big change for students and their families. To help with this, Spring Forest Middle School created the "High School Ready" workshops. These workshops prepare families for the challenges of high school, making the transition smoother and less stressful.
The "High School Ready" program includes a series of workshops featuring high school principals, counselors, and club leaders. They provide parents with important information on academics, social adjustments, and extracurricular activities. This program helps families feel ready and confident as they move into the high school years.
The views expressed are not necessarily those of Region 16 Education Service Center, the Title I, Part A Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative, or the Texas Education Agency. All individual or corporate views are solely those of the individual or corporation.