Differentiation of Title III Engagement Activities
All Title III engagement activities must de dedicated to increasing the English proficiency and improve academic achievement of English learners and immigrant students. Family Activities are focused on parents and families learning new skills that support the child or the family.
Topic Suggestions:
Navigating websites such as the:
- TXEL Parent & Family Portal
- Texas Assessment
- Other curriculum or language acquisition software
Training that provides parents with the tools to
- Check for comprehension when reading
- Use the families primary language to make connections in English
- Strengthen students’ oral skills for extended, detailed responses in English or in the primary language that can be transferred to English
Workshops that walk families through processes such as how to:
- Fill out the FAFSA/TASFA application
- Apply for scholarships
- Build a resume
- File tax returns for working students
NOTE: Make sure to present these topics through the lens of families of immigrant or EB students that may not be familiar with the US school system or may struggle with English.
Activity Ideas:
While many schools are comfortable with hosting events to teaching parents and families new skills that support the child or the family, consider other methods of reaching parents and families with the information.
Adult ESL Classes
By strengthening parents and families’ English skills, they will be better able to support their children’s language acquisition.
Consider using the
Adult Education and Literacy Providers page to connect parents and families with partners in the community that offer ESL, GED, citizenship classes, and more.
Navigating Resources/Supports
Live-stream through social media, record videos, or create click sheets in which resources could be software provided for at-home use by the district.
Consider sharing the educational software resources linked from the TXEL Student Activities page.
Parent Academies
Offer classes ranging from cyber security, mental health awareness, teaching life skills to children, nutrition, effective communication, and building culturally and linguistically sustaining practices in the home.
*Note: While most of these topics could be relevant to all families, make sure to tailor them for families of immigrant or EB students.
Literacy Events
At a Community Center: Hosting events at a location other than a school can lower families’ affective filters while exposing them to literacy tools and resources provided within the community.
Virtual Author Nights: Host local authors or librarians to read aloud excerpts from their favorite books during each event. School personnel can share how to support reading comprehension when reading with their children.
Family Activities In-Action
Longview ISD hosted events to show parents navigate key resources and websites. They also provided financial literacy sessions to assist with FAFSA and TASFA. Finally, they partnered with professionals to support parents with helping their children on the radio.
Additional Considerations
- Consider including a click sheet with QR codes so parents can find and use the resources and websites at a later time.
San Felipe Del Rio school staff hosted family activities at local college campuses and partnered with families within the community to host health and nutrition classes.
Additional Considerations
- Make sure to get to know your parents and families within the community through an introductory survey available on the Training and Resources page.
