July 2012Issue: 2
For five years, the Connecticut Parent Information and Resource Center (CT PIRC) has offered a variety of professional development, conferences, and workshops to educators, families, and community leaders in order to eliminate disparities and improve educational success for all students. More than 30 years of research about families and schools demonstrate that family engagement improves student achievement. CT PIRC provides school districts with strategies and tools to effectively partner with families and communities.
In This Issue
Common Core Standards
Culture and Trends
IDEA for Families
What are the Common Core Standards?   
On July 7, 2010, the Connecticut State Board of Education voted to approve new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in the areas of English language arts (reading, grammar, writing) and mathematics.  The CCSS are guidelines about the knowledge and skills that students need to learn from kindergarten to grade 12. CCSS are important because they help set clear and coherent
expectations that help build children's knowledge and skills.  These standards also provide a clearer roadmap for academic learning for educators, families and students because it provides specific goals by grade level that ensure students succeed.  Furthermore, CCSS can help students develop critical thinking skills that will prepare them for college and work expectations.  
 
Read More about the CCSS standards and what they mean for families.   
Culture and Trends

Let's face it. Engaging in conversations with adolescents is sometimes difficult. However, not all is lost. Talking to adolescents can be easier if the "right" questions are asked. Active listening can help parents talk to their adolescent children. In order to create a safe judgment-free zone you can:

  • Create a safe and loving environment. Hug your children before they leave the house. Tell them how proud you are of them.
  • Create an asking and listening ritual for at least 10 minutes a day. At the end of the day when you or your children get home, engage them in conversation about their day. Do this before starting any house chores.

 Read More...for more tips and suggestions.

The Home-School Connection      
Over the summer, many children who made huge gains during the school year may begin to see their reading skills decrease as a result of not having classroom instruction during summer vacation. However, there are many ways to support your child's reading growth during the summer months. Below are a few activities that your children can do after reading in order to maintain their reading skills and help them grow as readers during their vacation. Be sure that your children read books/texts that are not too easy for them. A book/text should always have a little bit of a challenge in order to help your children grow.  
 

 

Read more for literacy activities and tips in action.. 

IDEA for Families

On July 26, 2012 we celebrated the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which is most commonly known as "ADA."  All over the nation, people with disabilities and their friends and allies reflected on the importance and impact that this barrier-breaking civil rights law has had on their lives. The ADA was reauthorized - updated - in 2008.  The reauthorization made the law more forceful after many years of court decisions that weakened its original intent.

 

Read More...

We would love to hear from you! Email us or call our toll free number at 1-800-842-8678 if you would like more information for yourself, your school, or your faith-based or community organization. Check out our Web site for additional resources and information.

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

-Emilie Buchwald

 
Websites that Support Summer Reading:

Scholastic

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

National Endowment for Humanities "Summertime Favorites"

2012 Notable Children's Books from the Association for Library Service to Children

CT Reads 2012 Governor's Challenge

Connecticut Collaborative Summer Library Program
 
The Best Beginnings Possible

Professional development opportunities and a wide range of innovative resources for families and educators.