State Assessment Data Available Soon
STAAR and TELPAS Report Cards will be arriving home soon. To learn more on how to understand your child’s score, visit the Texas Assessment Family Portal. You will need a six-digit access code that can be found on the report card. If you are unable to locate the access code, you can reach out to your child’s school for the access code.
Click on the images below to access the portal for the different assessments.
Increased Academic Achievement
Emergent bilingual students switch between two different language systems which means that their brains are more active and flexible. This flexibility helps them to be more abstract thinkers which helps them to solve problems and develop strong critical thinking skills. Your child may be able to focus on key material better and remember important information because they are able to block out unnecessary information due to their biliteracy.
Increased academic achievement sets them up for long-term success as adults. An article by Workforce Essentials found that people who speak more than one language earn 5% to 20% more on average than those who don’t. Bilingual skills are in high demand and not many people have them, so employers offer higher salaries to attract and keep bilingual employees.
Watch this video to learn about some simple ways you can help your child maintain and strengthen their bilingualism. It is available in 8 languages!
Libby. The library reading app
Target Skills: Reading
Recommended Grade Levels: K-12
Check out library books online and read them on your device.
With today’s technology, reading books has never been easier. The Libby app allows you to sign in with your local library card and check out digital books for free.
Target Skills: Reading, Writing, Math
Recommended Grade Levels: 9-12
Free test prep site to help your child increase their SAT scores
Give your child a head start on the SAT by allowing them to look at practice questions, videos, lessons, and hints. Click on the Let’s go button and select the section of the test that your child would like to practice. There are mini tutorials and then official practice questions your child can take to help them see what they should focus on next.
There is also a section for parents so you can learn more about what you can do to support your child with tips, timelines, and questions you can ask at home.
There may be opportunities to support your child’s learning at home. The following activities are some ideas you can try. For more resources, go to the Supporting My Child page, then click on “Student Activities” on TXEL.org.
Word Play
One skill that benefits student reading and writing is learning to segment sounds. Play a game of syllable clapping with your child to help them separate words by syllable. Say a word and clap for each syllable. Repeat the word and have your child do the same. As you go through the day, have your child practice with words that come up in discussion.
Storytelling
Going on a road trip this summer or spending time with extended family is a great time to share stories. Sharing stories like these with your child can help with reading skills while also strengthening family history, culture and language. Tell your child a short story then have your child repeat the events in the story to you in the order that they happen. If your child has difficulty, repeat the story and talk about the order of events.
Fun Summer Reads
Summer is a great time to read a fun book just for pleasure. When your child has a good experience with reading a book that they enjoy or makes them laugh, this not only helps them become better readers, it can also help set regular reading habits. Pick a book together with your child and read outside at the park or in the back yard in a tent. The laughs that you share together will foster great bonds between you both.
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.”
A resume is needed when your child is applying for college, junior college, technical training, or the military. If your child needs a resume but doesn’t know where to start, visit the Post-Secondary Readiness section in the Student Resources section of the TXEL.org website. Click on Resume Assistance to find resources on what to include in the resume and different formats available.
When building a resume, make sure to include major points such as work experience, skills, leadership positions, awards received, and volunteer experiences. Keep these tips in mind:
Keep your resume short
Use a resume template that fits your experience
Use strong action verbs to make it more dynamic
Highlight relevant skills by tailoring your resume to mirror the job description you are applying for
Create social media profiles for your academic/work experience and link them in your resume
Ask someone to edit your resume to find any and all mistakes
The last focus area addressed by "Why Self-Care?” is to stay connected. Parents and caregivers have little free time, so it is important to schedule time to connect with close friends and family. The article explains that, while parents may connect with many people during their busy days, connecting with close, trusting friends ensures that the need for basic connections are met.
The emphasis is on honest, safe communication - a phone call, coffee visit, or even video chat can keep those connections strong. Modeling self-care for your child ensures that they will embrace healthy connections as well.
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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