The Family Learning Connection

What are you doing at home to be more engaged with your child? We would love to hear the fun traditions, habits, procedures, and more you are doing! Some ideas you could share include:

• homework procedures,
• conversation starters,
• traditions that teach your child about kindness, giving, acceptance, or more,
• fun games you play with your child,
• how you get your kids engaged in reading, math, or other subjects, and/or
• ways you communicate with your child’s teachers or school.

Go to www.r16.us/pfenewsletter to share with us!

• Zoo or Aquarium: Plan a visit to the zoo or an aquarium. You can see and learn about animals.
• Science Centers: Explore places with hands-on science activities and space shows.
• Family Fun at Home: Have a series of family game nights. Play board games, card games, or video games. It's a great way to spend time together and have lots of fun.
• Arts and Crafts: Get creative with arts and crafts activities. You can make art at home, create a family scrapbook, or try art workshops in your community.
• Movie Nights: Set up movie nights during spring break. Watch your favorite movies and make it cozy with popcorn, blankets, and pillows.
• Library Fun: Many local libraries have cool spring break programs like story time, crafts, and learning activities. Check with your library to see what's going on.

• Visit Museums: Texas has great museums. You can explore history, science, and art museums to learn new things and have fun.
• Local History: Learn about your local history by visiting special places in your community.
• Attend Fun Events: Look for local events like music festivals, art shows, and theater performances happening during spring break.

Picnics and Parks: Texas has many lovely parks. You can plan a family picnic, go for a nature walk, or just have fun outside at your local park.

Camping Adventures: If you like the idea of camping, Texas has lots of places to camp. You can experience the outdoors and sleep under the stars.

Biking and Trails: Take your bikes for a spin on some beautiful trails. Whether you're in the Hill Country or by the Texas coast, there are trails for different skill levels.

Remember, the most important thing is to have a wonderful time with your family during spring break. It's a time to bond, explore, and make memories.

Helping your kids plan for college and future careers can be difficult to do by yourself. However, this is important for their success. In this article, we'll share simple tips to make this process easier for you and your child.

First, let's talk about understanding what your child loves to do. Ask them about their hobbies and what they enjoy learning about. This will help them figure out what they want to do in the future. College and career planning is about finding the right path based on their interests and dreams.

Post-Secondary education can be expensive, but there are ways to make it more affordable. Scholarships are like rewards for your child's hard work or talents. They can get them for being good at school, sports, or other things. Financial help, like grants and loans, can also help pay for college or certification programs. Start looking for these early to save money.

When it's time, your child will need to apply to post-secondary institutes. These could include colleges, universities, trade schools, or internships. This means picking the right ones, filling out applications, and writing essays. You can help by making sure they gather the needed documents and meet deadlines. It's also essential to talk to them about their dreams and goals.

Remember, post-secondary education is just one step towards a bright future. Talk to your child about what they want to do as a job. Encourage them to try internships, part-time jobs, or volunteering in areas they like. Real-life experience is a great way to learn and prepare for their future career.

In order to attend a post-secondary entity such as college, trade schools, certificate programs, and/or the military, students will often be required to submit testing scores. A few of these tests are explained below as well as what parents can do to help their child with these tests.

he TSIA2 is the revised version of the TSI and TSIA. It is a series of placement tests for students to determine if they are ready for college-level courses.

What Parents Can Do:

• Talk to your child’s school for more information such as testing dates, exemptions, and how to prepare.
• Help your child practice if they need it.
• Talk to your child's teachers to see how they are doing in school.

The ACT is a test for older kids, usually in high school. It checks how skilled they are in English, math, reading, and science. Many colleges look at ACT scores when kids apply.

What Parents Can Do:

• Help your child sign up for the ACT when the time is right.
• Think about ACT classes to get ready for the test.
• Look at colleges and what they want from the ACT.

The SAT is another test for high school kids, but it's not as common as the ACT in Texas. It checks a child’s ability in reading, writing, and math. Some colleges accept SAT scores too.

What Parents Can Do:

• Check which test the colleges your child wants to apply to prefer.
• Help your child practice with SAT materials.
• Make sure they take the test early enough for college deadlines.

This list is not extensive. Other tests could include local assessments such as unit tests, mid-terms, and finals as well as College Level Examination Programs (CLEP), the ASVAB for military, or STAAR tests. Remember, these tests are just one part of school life. What's most important is that your child gets a well-rounded education. That means doing well in school but also having fun with hobbies and activities.

Section 1116 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) states schools that receive Title I, Part A funding must involve families in making important decisions about the required parent and family engagement program.

First off, ESSA says schools have to ask for your thoughts when they are making or changing documents about family engagement. These documents include the School PFE Policy and the School-Parent Compact, both of which outline aspects such as how parents can help their kids with schoolwork or how the school will communicate with families. Your input is valuable, so do not hesitate to share your ideas with your school.

Additionally, ESSA requires schools to come up with activities and training for parents, and they need your input to make sure these are enjoyable and helpful. These events can be a great way for parents to get involved in their child's education, so it's important that they are things families actually want to do. If you have any ideas or want to learn more about what your school is planning, make sure to contact your child’s school.

Furthermore, ESSA wants to make sure all families can participate in discussions and decision-making. This means schools should provide ways for families who speak different languages or need additional assistance to be involved. Your school should make sure everyone's voice is heard and valued.

Lastly, it is important for schools to check if the things they are doing to involve families are actually working. This means asking families if they like the things the school is doing and if it is helping them be more involved in their child's education. If something is not working, schools can make changes to improve it, but they need your feedback to know what is working and what is not.

In conclusion, Section 1116 of ESSA is all about making sure schools and families work together to support student success. If you want to learn more about how your school is meeting these requirements or have ideas to share, do not hesitate to contact them. Your engagement is key to helping your child and other children in the school community thrive!

As the sun starts shining, it's time to think about your child's summer break. One awesome way to make their summer great is by signing them up for local summer camps that match their interests.

Summer camps are cool because they're not like regular school. Your child can learn new things, have fun, and make friends while doing activities they love. There are camps for sports, arts, nature, and science. There's something for everyone. There are often scholarships, sponsorships, or fundraising opportunities available to help pay for camps.

Look Online: Start by searching for summer camps in your area on the internet. Check out the websites of local schools, community centers, and organizations. They often have information about the camps they offer. Look for camps that match what your child likes.

Ask Around: Talk to other parents, teachers, and friends to see if they know of any great camps. They might have good recommendations.

Check with Schools: Some schools work with summer camps. You can ask your child's school if they have information about any camps they recommend. Local high schools and colleges can have great information as well.

Summer camps let kids learn and have a blast while making new friends and memories. By finding a camp that fits your child's interests and signing them up, you're setting them up for a summer filled with fun and growth.

Each year, the Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative hosts a conference for parents as well as educators. Title I, Part A funds can be used for parents to attend. Talk to your district about how this can be done to send parents. The 2024 PFE Statewide Conference will be held in Houston, Texas on October 16-18, 2024.

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ACT. (n.d.). ACT. Retrieved from ACT.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. (n.d.). What is the ASVAB? Retrieved from Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

Career Exploration Program. (n.d.). The ASVAB Test. Retrieved from ASVAB- Career Exploration Program.

College Board. (n.d.). Help Center: Parents. Retrieved from SAT Suite of Assessments.

Gateway Region YMCA. (n.d.). 15 Benefits of Summer Camp for Your Kids. Retrieved from Gateway Region YMCA.

Harris, N. (n.d.). 35 Spring Break Activities and Ideas for Kids at Home. Retrieved from Parents.

Ivy Kids Early Learning Center. (n.d.). 9 Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids Busy During Spring Break. Retrieved from Ivy Kids Early Learning Center.

San Diego Family. (n.d.). Top Five Reasons Kids Should Go to Camp. Retrieved from San Diego Family.

Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). ACT. Retrieved from Texas Education Agency.

Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). STAAR. Retrieved from Texas Assessment.

Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). STAAR Resources. Retrieved from Texas Education Agency.

Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). The TSIA (Texas Success Initiative Assessment). Retrieved from Texas Education Agency.

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.