Parent Tidbits
Fall Newsletter
Welcome
My name is Mari Garza and I am your Parent Coordination Network contact. Please contact me if you have anything to add to our newsletter.
Cyberbullying: What Every Parent Should Know
It is harassment, taunting, or threats that are done via lots of forms of social media. With the click of a button, it can spread very quickly.
What Can I Do As A Parent?
1. Don't assume anything. Don't assume that your child will never participate or be the victim of "those mean kids." Even our sweetest kids get caught up in the moment.
2. Communicate...a lot. Have regular conversations with your child, Talk about examples of bullying and the consequences of the person being bullied.
3. Don't throw your hands up and say "kids will be kids." This suggests to your child that they want the victim to toughen up or that the other child was horsing around. Neither pays attention to feelings.
4. Watch your own social media use. Pay attention to what you are posting on social media. Don't teach your child to be a bully.
5 Set limits. Begin by limiting how much time your child is on social media. Put the electronics away.
6. Check and recheck. Make a contract with your child that you will check their browser history when you feel it is necessary. Be sure to routinely check it. Make your child responsible for NO Cyberbullying.
https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/cyberbullying-what-every-parent-should-know/
Developing Positive Social-Emotional Behavior
Teaching Children to Practice Acts of Kindness
Being kind to other people and yourself is important for being a good friend and being happy. Modeling kindness, reflecting on kind actions, and practicing acts of kindness can help children develop this skill. This article includes strategies for helping children learn to be kind to other people and to themselves.
2. Use Lists –Have children write lists or make collages representing what they like about their friends, family members, and people in the school.
3. Have children write lists or make collages representing what they like about their friends, family members, and people in the school.
4. Practice and Discuss Small Acts of Kindness – In addition to having children write and say things that are kind, have them practice little acts of kindness.
5. Learning to Do Kind Things for Yourself – Have children write or create a collage about things they like to do or activities that make them feel good about themselves.
6. Pick a Cause or Charity – A long-term investment in a volunteer or charity activity teaches children that even a small amount of time and energy makes a big difference.
Special Education
Notice of Procedural Safeguards - Parent Consent
The school must obtain your informed consent before it may do certain things. Your informed consent means that: you:
1. Have been given all the information related to the action for which your permission is sought in your native language, or other mode of communication
2. You understand and agree in writing to the activity for which your permission is sought
3. The written consent describes the activity and lists any records that will be released and to whom
4. And you understand that the granting of your consent is voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time.
5. If you wish to revoke your consent for the continued provision of special education and related services, you must do so in writing.
6. If you give consent and then revoke it, your revocation will not be retroactive.
7. The school must maintain documentation of reasonable efforts to obtain parental consent.
8. The documentation must include a record of a school’s attempts to obtain consent, such as detailed telephone records, copies of correspondence and detailed records of visits made to your home or place of employment.
Pathways to Adulthood Workshop
Date: Thursday, November 8, 2018
Time: 9:30am-2:00pm
Place: Education Service Center, Region 2
Address: 209 North Water Street, Corpus Christi, Texas
Lunch will be provided
To register, please go to www.txp2p.org, or to learn more about the Texas Parent to Parent Pathways to Adulthood program please contact, Cynda Green at 512-458-8600 or cynda.green@txp2p.org.
Hosted by Education Service Center, Region 2, contact Christa Rasche, christa.rasche@esc2.us 361-561-8550.
What can I do at home to help my child succeed in school?
Although school is very important, it doesn't really take up very much of a child's time. In the U.S., the school year averages 180 days; in other nations, the school year can last up to 240 days, and students are often in school more hours per day than are American students. Clearly, the hours and days that a child is not in school are also very important for learning.
- Create a home environment that encourages learning and schoolwork. Establish a daily family routine of mealtimes with time for homework, chores, and bedtime as well as time for family activities.
- Show your child that the skills he is learning in school are an important part of the things he will do as an adult. Let him see you reading books too and how it applies to every day.
- Make sure that your home has lots of reading materials that are appropriate for your child. Keep books, magazines, and newspapers in the house. Books make good gifts.
- Limit TV viewing to no more than one hour on a school night. The same goes for video games.
- Help your child learn to use the Internet properly and effectively.
- Encourage your child to be responsible and to work independently. Taking responsibility and working independently are important qualities for school success.
- Show an interest in what your child does in school. Support her special interests by attending school plays, musical events, science fairs or sporting events.
- Offer praise and encouragement for achievement and improvement.
Keep Costumes both creative and safe
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
• Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
2018 Statewide Parental Involvement Conference
Presented by the Title I, Part A Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative
December 6-8, 2018
Frisco Embassy Suites & Convention Center
Tammy Pearcy, Assistant State Director of Special Education at the Texas Education Agency, will host a feature session dedicated to an overview and update on the progress of the Special Education Strategic Plan and accompanying corrective actions.
There will also be a group of Special Education break-out sessions covering best practices and practical strategies for parents, parent organization representatives, and educators. A collection of sessions will be either presented or translated in Spanish.
For more information, visit the event website
Statewide Parent Resources
Texas Project First
Families, Information, Resources, Support, & Training
Texas Project First is a bilingual, web-based tool created by parents, for parents! It will point the way to special education information and resources you can trust and understand and people you can contact for more assistance.
From what to expect after diagnosis, navigation of the special education process, free online learning opportunities, to state and community resources, this website is full of information to help guide the special education journey.
You can also register for periodic updates from Texas Project First by clicking here.
SpedTex Reading & Academic Resources
Expand the Reading Resources category to uncover a number of evidence-based articles and program resources aimed at teaching children to read.
Check out the Apps for Parents to Use to Help Students with Literacy category to explore must-have apps that will be fun and motivating to help kids practice the essential skills associated with reading.
Texas Parent to Parent Resource Page
Texas Parent to Parent is committed to improving the lives of Texas children who have disabilities, chronic illness, and/or special health care needs.
TxP2P hosts an online, searchable resource directory to assist both parents and professionals in the care of a child with a disability, chronic illness, or special health care need. For personalized assistance, submit a question through Ask Rosemary or contact TxP2P directly.
Looking for parent support groups? TxP2P works regularly with Navigate Life Texas to keep this parent support group listing updated. If you would like to recommend a resource or to update information in this directory, send an email to Resources@txp2p.org.
Partners Resource Network
Partners Resource Network is a non-profit agency that operates the federally funded Texas Parent Training and Information Centers - PATH, PEN & TEAM. All of the projects share the common purpose of empowering parents of children and youth with disabilities in their roles as parents, decision makers, and advocates for their children.
TEAM Project
Molly Jenkins - Coastal Bend Area Regional CoordinatorTeam Project
Mobile: 910-578-6236 Office
Office 361-452-5733
Education Service Center, Region 2
Email: maricela.garza@esc2.us
Location: 209 North Water Street, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
Phone: 361-561-8539