Family Engagement
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Description: Transitioning from summer to the new school year, your child may face challenges with adjusting to a new routine. These articles include some resources that may help you and your family continue to thrive. Child Won’t Follow a Routine or Schedule? Try These 5 Tips Download: Picture Schedules for Daily Routines Getting Ready for School Getting Ready for Bed Afterschool Routine Cleaning Up Room 8 Ways to Make School Morning Routines Easier Organization Printables: Resources for Families...
Description: A Four-Pronged Approach to Supporting Your Child’s Technology Use As a parent, you might be wondering what apps and games are age-appropriate for your child. How you can help your child enjoy technology and media in a safe way? FCPS recommends a four-pronged approach for supporting children. This approach will help your child become a smart, safe and balanced user of technology. Parents using the four-pronged approach will: Establish expectations by developing and enforcing media and...
Description: The Recorded Webinars include: Learning at Home in a Trauma Sensitive Environment webinar and discussion Our Shared Space –A Home and Virtual Classroom webinar and discussion Supporting Positive Behaviors during Learning at Home webinar/discussion A Conversation between Families & Educators: Strengthening Strategies for a Socially Distant Summer! webinar Planning the High School Transition to Post-Secondary Education webinar recording Getting Ready to Help Your Child Learn at Home...
Description: The goals of the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) are to assist states and programs in their implementation of sustainable systems for the implementation of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) within early intervention and early education programs with a focus on promoting the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to five, reducing the use of inappropriate discipline...
Description: Resources for Families and Students - Family participation is an essential feature of the development and implementation of high-quality educational programming for students with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that families, and students when appropriate, participate in the development, monitoring, and the implementation of individualized education program (IEP). Although this participation is a legal requirement, collaborative partnerships between...
Description: Virtual Meetings: Strategies, Tips and Resources - Circumstances may prohibit participants from attending special education meetings in person. In these situations, technology allows one or all of the individuals to participate through the Internet or telephone. Many types of meetings can occur virtually, including IEP meetings, mediations, resolution sessions, and due process hearings. While each of these types of meetings is unique, virtual meetings share common traits and considerations....
Description: English Learners (ELs) may face unique challenges and have distinct social emotional needs. School closures and social distancing could exacerbate the stresses of learning a new language and navigating a different culture as well as heighten inequities and disparities.
Description: Designed for family members, this 10 minute video explains the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) and offers concrete tips and strategies to engage with school partners more effectively. The video features family members and school staff from around Virginia, sharing their own lived experiences and suggestions for building stronger connections between families and educators to improve outcomes for all students. A fact sheet accompanies the video. A Fact Sheet to Accompany Family...
Description: Good mental health is critical to every child's success in school and life. This is particularly true for students with disabilities, who, according to recent research, are more likely to experience social isolation from peer and suffer from depression in adulthood. Students with disabilities may need additional support to process the news and adapt to the many changes we are all facing. Professional working with students with disabilities (SWD) need to proactively support both academic and...
Description: If you or a loved one are having a tough time affording groceries right now, know that you’re not alone! Help is available, and nonprofit VirginiaNavigator can guide you. Here are 3 things you can try. Find food assistance programs near you. On VirginiaNavigator.org, enter your ZIP code and search for “food.” Apply for SNAP benefits. The average monthly SNAP benefit for Virginia residents is $128 per person. Learn more about SNAP and find out if you qualify. No Kid Hungry will...
Description: A tremendous amount of social and emotional development takes place during the early years of a child’s life. The emotional well-being of young children is an important consideration for educators and caregivers supporting early learners (pre-K - grade 3) during this critical time.
Description: The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has put together a resource listing that will help you and your child to prioritize your mental wellness. In addition to keeping children physically safe during the pandemic, it is also important to care for their emotional health. The threat of COVID-19, long-term social distancing, and prolonged disruption to the school routine may create significant stress and impact children's mental well-being.
Description: Research indicates that military-connected children are at higher risk of physical, psychological, and behavioral health issues than their civilian counterparts and could be at potential risk for toxic stress. The COVID-19 pandemic has likely increased the potential for stress among military families, especially those whose service member(s) are on the front lines working to care for those who are ill.
Description: This guide highlights 5 key practices for teachers and families to support all students, including students with disabilities, at school and home. For each practice, the guide provides (a) tips for teachers to support students with disabilities during instruction; (b) tips for families that educators can share to support or enhance learning at home, especially during periods of remote instruction; and (c) free-access resources that include strategies shown to be effective by research (e.g.,...
Description: The resources are organized by the following topics: Early Childhood Education Resources Counseling Resources Online Learning Resources Math Education Resources Culturally and Diverse Learner Resources Health and Physical Education Resources
Description: This brief provides guidance to parents, family members, and caregivers about using the power of play to build resilience and support healing. Some of the ideas outlined in the brief include: Create opportunities for young children to communicate their fears and express their big feelings in constructive ways. Support children in releasing the extra energy charge that accumulates in their bodies after a stressful or traumatic experience. Teach infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children...
Description: The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) is an uncommon coalition of organizations committed to resource sharing and community-building that supports the efforts of the education community to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Description: Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Confident Parents Confident Kids: A site for parents actively supporting kids' social and emotional development Edutopia (George Lucas Educational Foundation) (Social and Emotional Learning Resources) Mindful Schools Reduce Student Anxiety (and Your Own) During Uncertain Times (Common Sense Media) Social Emotional Wellness Considerations for Parents and Caregivers Quick Guide & Video (Virginia Department of Education, VDOE)...
Description: The National School Climate Center promotes safe, supportive learning environments that nurture social and emotional, civic, and academic growth for all students.
Description: As we continue to work with the repercussions of the pandemic, many students, teachers, and families, are still reeling. A sense of anxiety—social or otherwise—is fairly pervasive as we continue to reintegrate. To help reduce students' anxiety and your own, we've put together some ideas and resources focused on news literacy, media balance, and healthy communication. We hope they're helpful as you continue to navigate these challenging times. Talk about it Focus on the facts Build...
Description: Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment with openness and curiosity. It has a variety of research-backed impacts, including reduction in stress, and improvements in job satisfaction, emotional regulation, and focus. In the Mindful Schools community – educators, parents, and school community members – many of us are exploring mindfulness because we’re excited to share mindfulness...
Description: Confident Parents Confident Kids - This site is focused on skills promotion and prevention, not on problems. Problems will be addressed but in a way that uses the situation as a “teachable moment” for the child and the whole family. In short, suggestions are meant to be used right away and easily to support you in optimizing your child’s social and emotional learning AND your family’s connectedness.
Description: The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is a trusted source for knowledge about high-quality, evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL). CASEL supports educators and policy leaders and enhances the experiences and outcomes for all PreK-12 students. Our work is critical at a time when educators, parents, students, and employers increasingly recognize the value of SEL. Together, we are united in our call for schools to educate the whole child, equipping...
Description: Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases. Blue Campaign works closely with DHS Components to create general awareness training and materials for law enforcement and others to increase detection of human trafficking, and to identify victims. Located within the Office of Partnership and Engagement, Blue...
Description: These Apps for Student Success cover the following topics: Productivity 30/30- Free from App Store - Task manager: simple, attractive, useful Campus Engagement Corq- Free from App Store & Google Play - Discover amazing events and groups around campus from your favorite mobile device. Mental Health and Wellness Happify- Happify brings you effective tools and programs to help you take control of your feelings and thoughts. Stress Management Headspace (Free trial available) - guided...
Description: NetSmartz is NCMEC's online safety education program. It provides age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children be safer online with the goal of helping children to become more aware of potential online risks and empowering them to help prevent victimization by making safer choices on- and offline.
Description: Raising and Working with Children and Youth in Foster Care or Living with Kin: Your Guide to Resources in Virginia Checklist for Kinship Caregivers - Are you raising or providing primary care for a child or youth of a relative or family friend? This checklist is for kinship caregivers who are enrolling students and working with schools. Checklist for Schools Working with Kinship Caregivers - Are you working with families of students living with extended family or relatives who are not...
Description: Federal Resources for Stakeholders Who is the audience for these resources? OSEP stakeholders include, but are not limited to, children with disabilities and their families, educators, local and State educational agency staff, researchers, and policymakers. What is in included in the Federal Resources for Stakeholders section? Tool Kits In this section you can access the archived "Tool Kit on Universal Design for Learning (UDL)," the "Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students with...
Description: CADRE's major emphasis is on encouraging the use of mediation, facilitation, and other collaborative processes as strategies for resolving disagreements between parents and schools about children's educational programs and support services. CADRE supports parents, educators, administrators, attorneys and advocates to benefit from the full continuum of dispute resolution options that can prevent and resolve conflict and ultimately lead to informed partnerships that focus on results for...
Description: This series of videos features six key elements to engage families in Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS). Designed for use by educators and families, the three videos highlight specific strategies for school teams to consider as they build momentum around family-school partnerships and strengthen skills to meaningfully engage families in multi-tiered systems. Produced by Formed Families Forward, family partner to the VTSS project, in conjunction with Atom Stream Communications, LLC.
Description: NAFSCE is the first membership association focused solely on advancing family, school, and community engagement (FSCE). NAFSCE endorses the family engagement definition developed in 2010 by the National Family, School and Community Engagement Working Group (now the NAFSCE Policy Council). Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools and other community agencies and organizations are committed to reaching out to engage families in meaningful ways and in which families are...
Description: The Parent and Educator Guide to School Climate Resources (Guide) is intended to provide parents, teachers, administrators, and other interested parties with a general understanding of school climate, school climate improvement activities, and the availability of additional resources. It should serve as a starting point from which the reader may choose to do further research; ultimately, it may result in the identification of practices or strategies a school, district or State may wish to...
Description: Educators, policymakers, researchers and families agree: a high-quality preschool program can build early literacy and math skills, as well as develop the social and emotional foundation that children need to persist in school. But young children—whether in Head Start, public pre-kindergarten or in a private program—only receive the full effect of these benefits if they show up for class regularly. How do you go about improving attendance in the preschool years? It starts with...
Description: 9 Steps to Respite Care for Grandfamilies will help you have a better understanding of the resources that are available, what you can expect and how to select a high-quality service that best meets the needs of your family. This fact sheet outlines nine simple steps to help you assess your own needs, identify the different types of respite, and provide information on how to find and pay for services. The information provided will also help you plan and make the most of your...
Description: 11 Easy Tips to Really Engage with Families - Numerous studies confirm that actively engaged families play a major role in improving academic and behavior outcomes for their students. It's time to stop simply involving families and start really engaging them. Barrier #1: Conflicts with Family Life Logistics Every family comes with its own set of logistics – other kids, work schedules, dinner routines. Every logistic represents a possible conflict that makes getting to the...
Description: This paper begins with a challenge, namely: How do we work with families and communities to co-create the next generation of family and community engagement, providing equitable learning pathways—both in and out of school and from birth to young adulthood—that will enable all children to be successful in the 21st century? Exploring what it takes to meet this challenge, the document looks at what we have learned over the past 50 years of research and policy as well as the need for...
Description: Kids grow fast, don’t they? And early intervention is designed for children from birth up to age three. At that point, services under EI end. If the child will need continued support once he or she moves on to preschool, it’s very important to plan ahead so that the transition is smooth. The resources below will help you do just that.
Description: Autism Speaks provides a sampling of the large range products and services our community often inquires about relating to safety, from seat belt harnesses, to wearable identification items, and smart technology. This list is not intended to be all inclusive and they do not endorse any individual product. Alert Me Bands AMBER Alert GPS Angel Guard AngelSense Autism ID Card Autism Safety Initiative AWAARE: Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education Collaboration BE SAFE The...
Description: These standards offer a framework for how families, schools, and communities should work together to support student success. Family Engagement (Virginia PTA) When families and schools work together, students succeed. Engaging families in order to create a collaborative partnership between families and schools is at the core of our PTA work, it's even in the name of our association! Through family events, programs, advocacy and community outreach efforts, PTAs across the country are...
Description: How can you make the most of parent-teacher conferences? Planning ahead can help you walk into your next meeting with confidence. Start by exploring these tips, conversation starters, and worksheets.
Description: This is a post by Kimberlee Rutan McCafferty, mother to two sons on the autism spectrum and an Autism Family Partner at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Summer vacation is ending all too fast, and before we know it those bright yellow school busses will be darting through our neighborhoods and a new school year will commence. Moving to a different classroom, grade, or school can be stressful for any child; for those on the autism spectrum, handling anxiety about the...
Description: Aligning and Integrating Family Engagement in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Concepts and Strategies for Families and Schools in Key Contexts includes the following chapters: Enhancing Progress for Meaningful Family Engagement in all Aspects of Positive BehavioralInterventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Family Engagement Foundations: Supporting Children and Families Engaging Families Through School-Wide Positive Behavior Support: Building...
Description: This research brief describes current approaches and highlights findings from recent studies with preschool children (ages 3-5) that document both the promise and challenge of effectively engaging families and children at risk for poor school readiness. We focus in particular on effective parent engagement models that improve school readiness outcomes in well-controlled studies. Systematic approaches and next generation research are recommended to improve the impact of parent engagement programs...
Description: The Virginia Department of Education is the administrative agency for the commonwealth’s public schools. VDOE works in partnership with Virginia’s 132 school divisions to support and improve teaching and learning, set high expectations for all students, and promote student safety, wellbeing, and health.
Description: The Local School Divisions Foster Care Liaisons is a listing of the contact information (email address and phone numbers) for school divisions in Virginia.
Description: This video shows how siblings of people with disabilities have a wide range of experiences and emotions that impact them in different ways. There are personal stories of insight, appreciation and pride as well as examples of embarassment and fear/worry.
Description: One Voice is the Official Blog of National PTA. A powerful voice for all children, PTA launched this blog as another platform for our leadership, ambassadors, staff and members to share the work they do on behalf of all children. You’ll read about dynamic programs happening at the local level, commentary on news and issues impacting the everyday realities of children, as well as live action from our conventions and events. More importantly, we welcome your comments. Actually we need your...
Description: By reviewing research and identifying case examples of teachers who do an excellent job engaging families, Flamboyan Foundation has developed a rubric that can provide educators with a clear vision for family engagement, help teachers plan more effectively, assist with the development of effective teacher professional development, and serve as a tool for teachers to self-assess and reflect on their practice.
Description: The School Community Network (SCN) provides resources, training, and tools to build strong school communities focused on student learning. SCN is sponsored by the Academic Development Institute (ADI), a not-for-profit organization located in Lincoln, Illinois. SCN's work draws from ADI's over 30 years of experience and extensive research in family and community engagement. What is a School Community? A school community consists of the people intimately attached to a school - students, their...
Description: Family Voices is a national family-led organization promoting quality health care for all children and youth with special health care needs. Working with family leaders and professional partners at the local, state, regional, and national levels since 1992, Family Voices has brought a respected family perspective to improving health care programs and policies and ensuring that health care systems include, listen to, and honor the voices of families.