Family Engagement Specialists

Welcome to our blog! We are passionate about empowering parents and educators with the knowledge and strategies to boost and sustain family engagement goals. Our products and services are currently in 48 states and Puerto Rico and New Zealand. All products are available in Spanish. When schools and communities connect, students succeed.


Sunday, January 19, 2014

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On the third Monday in January, the United States of America observes Martin Luther King Day.  Government Offices, school systems, banks, and postal offices are generally closed on this day.  This becomes a day of service, reflection, and commemorating of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Since your children will be home from school, why not spend a little time learning about one of America’s famous heroes, Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great man who worked for racial equality and civil rights in America.  He was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, GA.  His mother was a school teacher.  His father and grandfather were both ministers.  Martin has one brother, named Alfred, and one sister, named Christine.  Martin learned how to read before entering public school.
He was an excellent student; skipping grades in elementary and high school.  He enjoyed reading books, singing, riding his bicycle, and playing football and baseball.  He entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA when he was 15 years old.
After graduating from college with his doctorate degree, he was married and moved to Alabama where he became a minister.  During the 1950’s, Dr. King became active in the movement for civil rights and racial equality.  He participated in many peaceful demonstrations that protested the unfair treatment of African-Americans. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.  He gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963.
Commemorating the life of a tremendously important leader, we celebrate MLK Day each year.  Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is still remembered today to inspire us all to join together for peaceful harmony in this world.  He encourages us to dream for a better future for our children.
Here are a few ideas to engage your child in celebrating MLK Day:
1. What do your dream about?  Write a paragraph describing your dream.  Draw a picture of who you want to be when you grow up.
 2. Think of 8 words that describe Dr. King.  Write the words down.  Now use those words in sentences to tell facts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  For example:  leader, minister, Civil rights, dream speech, equality.
3. Make a spelling word list to learn and memorize.  Examples:  great, leader, rights, protest, color, skin, equality, speech, dream

4. Write an acrostic poem using the letters in FREEDOM.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Helping Parents with their New Year's Resolutions

We are well into the New Year and maybe you have made your “New Year Resolutions”, but have you considered becoming a more involved parent in your child’s education? Here are a few tips you can use to encourage your participation in becoming more engaged in your child’s education and school activities. If you are already doing these suggestions, this can be one resolution that you can mark as “accomplished” and feel good about reaching your goals for the New Year. Thank you for your dedicated participation in your child’s education. You are laying the foundation for his/her future success in our global economy and society.

TIPS FOR INVOLVED PARENTS
1. Talk to your child about school activities and experiences.
2. Talk with teachers regularly – even when no problems exist.
3. Broaden your child’s understanding of the world by visiting malls, museums, parks, zoos, universities, sports stadiums, theaters, transportation facilities (air ports, train stations), farms, and local landmarks (historical sites, fire station, police station, courthouse).
4. Make learning relevant by encouraging activities that use what kids learn at school. Encourage kids to count money; make shopping lists; calculate costs, sales prices, and taxes; read menus and newspapers; and write letters.
5. Designate a specific time and place for homework.
6. Read to your child every day and encourage independent reading. Make frequent trips to the public library.
7. Set goals that are challenging but attainable.
8. Visit the school regularly and become involved in school activities as often as possible.
9. Become familiar with your child’s curriculum and its required skills and goals.
10. Be aware that your attitudes about school – and teachers – influence your child’s attitudes about school and teachers.

Challenge yourself to select at least three of these tips and work towards gaining total parental involvement in your child’s education. You will begin to see an increased improvement in your child’s academic progress, positive attitude about school life, regular attendance, and overall performance on a daily basis. So it’s worth your time and effort to become actively engaged in your child’s education. It is going to be a Happy New Year!

Monday, January 6, 2014

Safety Tips to Children Safely Playing in Cold Temperatures

Now that winter is upon us, when children want to play outside in the extreme cold temperatures, the American Red Cross offers some safety tips for staying safe in cold conditions.

1. Dress in layers of light clothing: rather than just wearing a heavy coat, wear undergarments, shirt and sweater, tights or knee socks, pants and boots along with a warm coat.

2. Cover your head and hands: wearing a hat, stocking cap, or hood and gloves will prevent losing too much body heat quickly.

3. Limit your time of exposure to low temperatures: small children need to come inside every 10 minutes to get warm before returning to outdoor play.

4. Seek medical attention immediately: if you or your child experiences symptoms of dizziness, confusion, and severe shivering, as hyperthermia may be a concern.

5. Watch for symptoms of frostbite: your extremities may show signs of frostbite if there is a numbness and skin discoloration of the fingers, nose, face, or toes. If this occurs, seek a warm shelter and begin first aid treatment. Remember to use “luke-warm” water rather than hot water to soak hands and feet. Call emergency medical attendants immediately for frostbite exposure.

6. Drink hot liquids and stay hydrated: keeping hot cocoa or hot tea available for warm-up breaks from being in the cold will help to keep the body warm on the inside. It is important to stay hydrated when playing in the cold temperatures, so drink plenty of water, too.

7. Final tip: get into a warm shelter before any of the extreme exposure symptoms become severe.

Let your children have fun during the winter months when the sun is shining. Just take precaution when the temperatures dip below freezing. You will want to keep your child happy, healthy, and safe until the season changes for warmer days.