Summer months bring summer heat that may make us want to spend some time indoors. This newsletter offers indoor learning activities you can do with your child or let them try on their own. Learning can be fun, and parents are the ones who ignite that passion at home. Since adults are often short on time, we include ideas here to make them easy to locate and use. Included are ideas to help children at every level to support reading, writing, and even math. We hope this newsletter will support your efforts to support your emergent bilingual child’s education.

We value your input, so please add topics you’re interested in learning about to our survey.

Sincerely,

Emergent Bilingual Support Division

Registration for early childhood education, including prekindergarten and Head Start, is open across the state. The State of Texas provides free prekindergarten for eligible children who are:

• at least three years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year (if a three-year-old program is available), or

• four years of age on or before September 1. Some schools offer tuition-based programs for children who are ineligible for free prekindergarten.

Contact your local school district or campus to find out what is available. Enter your address at this site to find the school nearest to you, then reach out to get started.

Internships are a great way for your high-schooler to experience the type of work they are interested in. Bilingual students will see how their language skills can enhance the opportunities available to them. Below are two resources available to share with your child.

• The TXEL portal has a page dedicated to searching and preparing for internships. The page includes links to internship searches along with tips on writing a resume and other assistance programs.

• The Texas Intern Network Portal shares the benefits of internships and can help your child prepare for and select an internship. The site allows employers to post internships where your child can search and apply for those they are interested in. Your child can join the networking group to receive updates on events, opportunities, and networking conversations.

A Google search for bilingual internships found over 75 openings across Texas! What a great way to encourage your child to continue to develop and maintain multiple language skills.

Reading Partners

Target: Reading and comprehension

Recommended Grade Levels: All

The Reading Partners site provides ideas on how to help your child with reading at home.

Reading Partners is linked in the TXEL portal under “Additional Information,” under “Education on Literacy at Home.” There are many resources available on this site. Below are the steps to getting started with this resource.

1. Open Reading Partners

2. Scroll down to “Topic” section and select “Read Aloud Tips.”

3. Click on “Reading Reminders: Before, during, and after reading.”

4. Use the tip sheet to help your child develop strategies before, during, and after reading.

These tips can be used at any reading level to make reading more meaningful and improve comprehension. Be sure to use Google Translate to read the pages in your preferred language. Many resources are available in multiple languages as well.

Stuart Stories

Target Skills: Reading comprehension, writing

Recommended Grade Levels: 3-12

This is a free collection of stories for children aged 7 and up.

1. Open At Home Activities on TXEL.org and select “Stuart Stories.”

2. Have your child select a story they would like to read. They can use Google Translate to work in another language.

3. Have your child read the story, then write their own solution on a piece of paper or online.

4. Read and discuss the solution with your child.

This activity will strengthen your child’s comprehension and writing skills.

Dave's ESL Cafe

Target Skills: Reading, writing

Recommended Grade Levels: 6-12

This site provides lessons and quizzes on English language usage.

Learn and practice using English in a safe environment.

1. Open At Home Activities on TXEL.org.

2. Have your child select “English Online Resources.”

3. Click on “Dave’s ESL Cafe.”

4. Click on “Resources” and select “Grammar Lessons.”

5. Your child can start at the top of the list and read through the lessons.

6. Once your child feels ready to practice, have them click on “Resources” again and select “Quizzes.”

This is a great way to support your child’s reading and writing journey at home or on the go!

Don’t forget to visit txel.org/SupportingChild for more interactive educational websites.

This quarter, we are sharing activities that will help your child prepare for the TELPAS in February. These activities focus on listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and should be easy enough for your child to do with little guidance.

At-home learning provides some ideas on how to incorporate learning at home. We know there are many others, so if you have any suggestions, share them on our survey.

Your child can make a museum at home with a little imagination and their own treasures or toys. Help your child sort the items and explain each group. Then have your child arrange the collections in themed displays using shoe boxes, jars, or egg cartons. Help your child label their treasures and build their language skills by giving tours of their personal museum to family and friends.

Designate a small writing space with different colored paper, markers, pens, and dry-erase boards. You can add a lamp, a calendar, and anything you think your child will enjoy, like stickers or stamps.

Use the writing center for writing grocery lists and drawing pictures to show how it can be used. Then invite your child to do the same. You can fold 2 sheets of paper in half and staple them together so your child can write a book with a title, cover, and pictures. They can read it to the family after dinner.

Older children can choose to write about something they are interested in. Try starting a story with a sentence or two, and let them add sentences to build a family story.

Tests, tests, tests. As your child prepares for college or career, they will be faced with basic skills tests on topics they might not have reviewed in over three years. A great way to review those topics is to take a Skills Check on TexQuest. Many districts are subscribed and can share login information with your child. Check with your school librarian!

Once your child is logged in, have them select “Middle” or “High” school, then open “Learning Express.” Students can select whichever test they are preparing for or review skills they need help with. They can take a reading, writing, and math skills check. If your child is preparing for the ACT or SAT, those are available, too! Below is a link to a video with instructions on how to create an account.

Did you know that time spent on digital devices like phones, tablets, or computers can increase a person’s stress level? That’s why it’s recommended to reduce your time on social media and devices to minimize potential stress and increase socializing with your family and friends. Small changes can help others recognize the benefits of taking a break from devices, too! Go for a walk with your family or play a board game to help your family relax together.

Visit the TXEL portal and explore options for you and your family.

Learning that continues through the summer months will help your child when fall comes around. Try one activity per week and find which ones your child enjoys most. Writing may be the most difficult, but it is like all other skills–the more you practice, the better you get.

Encourage your child to express themselves through writing or drawing. It can be a fun way to start a family collection. Older children may not want to share their writing, but honoring their privacy will encourage them to continue to practice. Let your child know you are interested when they are ready to share. You’ll be surprised how soon they will share their writing with you.

Don’t forget to fill out a quick survey to share any information or suggestions you might have for the next newsletter. We value your input!

All of our Newsletters can be found on the Newsletters page on the TXEL.org website. Click through the past editions to find additional information and resources designed for you and your child.

Stay informed about the resources and support available by subscribing to TEA’s Txel.org web portal.

Click on the Subscribe Today!

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