How can the Family Engagement Specialist help me? 

My primary role as the Family Engagement Specialist is to empower parents to become active participants in the education of their children. Often, parents feel uncomfortable about sharing their questions or concerns with teachers or school administration. Since good communication between home and school is such a vital part of your child’s academic success, I will listen to your concerns and work with you to make sure that your situation is expressed and understood.  Additionally, I will help you find ways to resolve any issues that may be hindering your child’s success in school.  As the Family Engagement Specialist, I want to be sure that you understand what you can do to get involved and stay informed in order to help your child perform his/her best.

I can also:

• Provide you with a personal tour of the school and explain the programs and resources available to you and your child. 
•  You do not have to be a new parent to request a school tour.
• Discuss some of the ways you can be more involved with the school.
• Answer questions you may have about school rules and regulations.
• Help arrange meetings between you and your child’s teachers or the school administration so that important information about your child is shared and understood.
• At your request, I can accompany you to conferences or other important meetings at the school to help clarify information about your child or home situation.
• Find out where to call or go to get special help or services for a child or your family.

It’s the nation’s largest federal assistance program for schools.  The goal of Title I is to help every child get a high-quality education.  The program provides millions of children with the help they need to be successful.

 Title I helps students, teachers and parents.  The program can help:

• Children do better in school and feel better about themselves
• Teachers understand the needs and concerns of students and parents
• Parents understand their child and be more involved in the child’s education

 The Title I School works to:

• Identify students most in need of educational help (students do not have to meet income standards to qualify)
• Set goals for improvement
• Measure students’ progress using standards set forth in the state’s Title I plan
• Develop programs that add to regular classroom instruction
• Involve parents in all aspects of the program

 Parents are an important part of the Title I team.  You can make a difference in your child’s education.  You know your child best.  Tell and show your child that his or her education is important to you.  You can:

• Volunteer –take an active role with the school
• Share information about your child’s interests and abilities with teachers
• Ask to see progress reports on your child and the school (to make sure both are reaching goals for improvement)
• Help decide if Title I is meeting your child’s needs, and offer suggestions for improvement.

 Be a part of Title I’s success.  There are many ways to be involved. Participate in your child’s school.  You can:

• Attend school events, such as open houses, science fairs, awards day, concerts, programs, and plays.
• Make an appointment to volunteer
• Join parent’s organizations
• As the school about training programs that the LEA and the school must provide to help parents participate in Title I

 Be aware of your child’s performance.

• Attend parent-teacher conferences
• Request additional meetings, if needed
• Keep teachers informed about events and issues that may affect your child’s work or behavior

 Share a love of learning to help your child get the most out of school. Set a good example and show how schoolwork relates to daily life by

• Reading books and newspapers daily
• Writing letters, keeping a diary and so forth
• Explaining how you use math to do ordinary activities

Talk about homework with your child.  Set a regular schedule, and make sure your child has a well-lit, comfortable space in which to do work.  You should also:

• Monitor your child’s homework schedule
• Work with your child on harder assignments. (But, don’t do the work for him or her)

  Spend quality time with your child. You can:

• Visit your local library together
• Read to your child, and talk to him or her about what you’re reading
• Ask your child to read to you
• Limit TV time, and watch and discuss programs with your child

 

Title I Meeting Dates:

Monday, September 25, 2023 - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Monday, April 10, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

We have a Family Resource Center full of resources!  Our resource center is located right inside the front doors, to the right, in the Family Engagement Conference Room.  It is our pleasure to provide you and your child with a variety of materials and resources to help support specific academic needs.  We offer flashcards, books, workbooks, and family games to practice skills, and we feel certain that you will find something useful for working with your child at home.   

Our Family Resource Center Is Open Daily from 8:10am - 3:00pm. 

 Contact Melissa Smith, the Family Engagement Specialist, if you have any questions, need assistance, or want to check out materials. 

912-754-3326 ext. 1743

mlsmith@effingham.k12.ga.us

Below are links to other resources that you can use at home.

Family Engagement Resources

BYOT APPS! (English)              BYOT APPS! (Spanish)

Motivation and Games (K-12): http://www.virtualsalt.com/motivate.htm

FunBrain (K-8, Math & Reading games)   http://www.funbrain.com

PBS Kids (Pre-K – Grade 12) http://pbskids.org/

Web Math (K-12) Generates answers to specific math questions and problems http://webmath.com/?campaign=footer_teacher_webmath

Math Support (Pre-K through Grade 8) http://www.softschools.com/math/

Homework Resources (K-8) www.kids.gov

Study Tips (Grades 4- 12, English and Spanish, tips for math, ELA, note taking, college prep and more) http://www.how-to-study.com/

Interactive Resources http://www.globalclassroom.org/ecell00/javamath.html

PBS for Parents (Spanish) http://www.pbs.org/parents/about/spanish/

PBS for Parents (English) http://www.pbs.org/parents/

Sesame Street Math for Preschoolers (English) www.sesamestreet.org/parents/math

Sesame Street Math for Preschoolers (Spanish) www.sesamestreet.org/parents/math/spanish

Science for Preschoolers:  www.scienceforpreschoolers.com

Online vocabulary builder and verb drills with bi-lingual support http://www.vocabulix.com/online/Learn/Languages

Open Culture (free audio books, movies, on-line courses, language lessons, e-books, and textbooks). Resources are in English and are either downloadable or printable.  http://www.openculture.com

Screen Actors Guild Foundation members reading stories on-line with activities http://www.storylineonline.net/

Everyday scenarios great for EL or Immigrant parent communities:   http://www.gcflearnfree.org/everydaylife

Audio books in Spanish http://albalearning.com