Parents and Families Newsletter
Back-to-School 2025
Bilingual Education Program Models
ManyThings.org
English Video Lessons
Bilingual Education Program Models
As a parent of an emergent bilingual child, it is helpful to understand the six approved bilingual education program models in the state of Texas.
All language support services for emergent bilingual students are considered bilingual education. The four bilingual program models are Dual Language Immersion (DLI) One-Way, DLI Two-Way, Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Late-Exit, and TBE Early Exit. The two English as a Second Language (ESL) program models are ESL Pull-out/Push-In and ESL Content-Based.
Be sure to discuss the programs offered at the school your child attends. To find the school near you, use this school locator tool by entering your address.
To learn more about bilingual and ESL program models, select a video on the Program Services page at TXEL.org.
Target Skills: Language
Recommended Grade Levels: K-5
Rockalingua is a music-based Spanish learning program you can use with your child to practice their language skills. You can register for a trial account and select your child’s grade level. Your child can select an activity to try as you support their learning.
Target Skills: English
Recommended Grade Levels: 6-9
Videos to improve English skills.
This website has FREE English video lessons for practicing English language basics and advanced grammar skills. When you get to this site, you can click “All Lessons” and let your child select the topic they’re interested in. For example, there is a lesson on contractions that will help with pronouncing and spelling common contractions.
Target Skills: Reading
Recommended Grade Levels: 9-12
ManyThings.org offers a wide range of free resources for high school students. One way for your child to get started is to click on “Reading with Audio” and select “About Animals.” Each story includes the printed text and a recorded reading. Your child can select one of interest and read for enjoyment. If they prefer reading about historical events, your child can open “American History” and find the same printed text with recorded audio.
If you’re looking for ways to support your child’s learning at home, we’ve compiled a few here for you. You can find more resources on the Supporting My Child page.
Basic Skills
As the school year starts, a few things your child should know by heart or have written down when they arrive on the first day include: their full name, parents’ full names, home address, and parents’ phone numbers. One way to teach your child this information is to make a game of it. Write the information on a sheet of paper and cut each section apart (Full Name, Parents’ Names, Home Address, Parents’ Phone Numbers). Have your child draw one piece of paper from the pile and read it with you 3 times. Repeat it a couple of times a day, and your child will be able to recite the information to you without your help!
Memory Games
Matching memory games are fun educational activities for all ages and can be played at home. Place a few cards face down on a table and have your child flip two random cards. If they match, your child can keep the pair. If they don’t, they are put back in place. All the players take turns, and the person with the most pairs wins!
Read Together
A nightly routine that includes reading can help your child become a better reader and help ensure they get enough rest. Pull a book off the shelf or from the library and read for a few minutes with your child nightly. This can help give your child quality time with you and improve their reading skills. You can check out a book from the library or find one online. Storyline Online has a great selection! You can even read different books and talk about them with each other. Start off with a short time like 5 minutes and add a couple of minutes daily.
Read more at-home learning tips on the Supporting my Child page on the TXEL.org website. Scroll down to the Education on Literacy at Home section and click on Scholastic. Find more tips under “Skill Builders.”
If your child is in high school, now is the time to prepare for the next steps. Internships are a great way to decide if a career is right for you. You can show your child the internship resources in our Internship, Workforce & Military Section of the portal. The Texas Workforce Commission has a Texas Intern Network where students can register and look for internships in their field of interest. The network also offers career development tips and strengthens relationships in their field.
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Supporting Emergent Bilingual Students in Texas
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 emergent bilingual students.
Contact us at: https://www.txel.org/contact/
Email: EmergentBilingualSupport@tea.texas.gov
Visit: www.tea.texas.gov