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Food Assistance programs are widely available and we want them to be easily accessible. Linked above will lead you to all food assistance programs you may qualify for. Don't be afraid to ask for help or ask questions.

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Find resources that share information about hunger and provide food assistance.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to end hunger and obesity through the administration of 15 federal nutrition assistance programs including WIC, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and school meals.

To learn how to get assistance from one of these programs, see the How to Get Food Help brochure.

Call or text the USDA National Hunger Hotline to speak with a representative who will find food resources near you.

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Find resources that share information about hunger and provide food assistance. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to end hunger and obesity through the administration of 15 federal nutrition assistance programs including WIC, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and school meals.

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We want your student to be as successful as possible and one of the key factors is parent involvement. Linked is an article of what that means and why it is important broken down in an easy-to-read and understand format. It shouldn't be scary or overwhelming.

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Find Expert-Led Strategies That Work for Your School

Visit the Waterford webinars page to learn from educational experts like Candra Morris, Dr. Jenni Torres, Julie Christensen, and others on topics that include:

Fostering Family Engagement

Teaching with the Science of Reading

Understanding the Six Literacy Strands

And more!

On both the classroom and schoolwide level, family involvement in education can make a profound difference in early learning outcomes. When educators build strong relationships, families can reinforce what their students are learning in the classroom as they set their own routines and expectations at home.

As an educator, it's important to remember that all families are different. While they may face barriers to their involvement, such as scheduling or transportation needs, always assume that families are eager to support their children however they can.

Focus on getting to know families so you have a solid understanding of their needs and what is going on in their lives. Use that knowledge and work with families to find ways to support their students at home and, if desired, in your school. Read on to learn what family engagement includes and how you can build a community where families are valued at your school.

What Is Family Engagement?

Family engagement is when families and educators, including teachers and administrators, partner together to share the responsibility of supporting a student's learning.

Educators can connect families with opportunities to actively contribute to the school community, set student goals, and create strong home learning environments. Families understand their child's needs, strengths, and areas of growth and use that understanding to inform the strategies educators use.

Engagement can involve a variety of opportunities depending on the individual family. Some families may want to take an active role in the classroom by volunteering or joining parent-teacher organizations. Others may prefer at-home options in which they stay connected with teachers through digital communication and help students build the skills they're learning in class from home.

Family Engagement Leads to Mutual Respect and Student Success

The importance of family involvement in education is clear, and the benefits profound. In a retrospective looking at 50 different studies, researchers found strong connections between family involvement and academic achievement.[1] Support and involvement from educators and families are crucial to a student's academic performance. This is one reason administrators must value families as a crucial part of their school environment.

By engaging families, educators can create partnerships founded on respect. Educators recognize the valuable understanding families have of their child's learning needs. As they build trust over time, families likewise come to recognize the expertise and training educators have to help students learn.

Remember that there is no way to know a student's full history and needs without connecting with their family. Likewise, educators can't effectively involve a child's caregivers without understanding events and communication options that interest the family most. In the most effective partnerships, educators work with families to determine the individual and school-wide strategies that will best involve caregivers and meet each student's needs.. .

As Candra Morris, Waterford's Director of Family Partnerships, notes in a recent article, "We must include opportunities to elevate family voices and to involve them in the process to ensure they get what they need."

Recognizing and Addressing Barriers to Engagement

Teachers and administrators must be aware of significant barriers as they determine how to involve families in the classroom. Many families face structural barriers like a busy work schedule or a lack of transportation that make in-person options challenging. Other families may encounter societal barriers that discourage them from working with educators, especially if schools do not actively make sure families feel respected.

As you address structural barriers, get to know the families in your school and find ways they can get involved in their child's education that work with their needs. If a family is facing transportation issues or a busy work schedule, for example, advise teachers to consider virtual calls or provide flexible meeting times if they can.

To address societal barriers that alienate families, create a school-wide culture that values diversity and embraces every family's voice. Offer professional development opportunities to your teachers that include strategies for creating inclusive classrooms and recognizing implicit biases. Additionally, seek anonymous family feedback (e.g.,through surveys) to learn specific areas where your school can improve and determine ways to reach those goals.

The more you connect with families in your school, the better you will understand the barriers they face. No matter how you respond to these issues, the key is this: by definition, your strategies cannot follow a universal template. Instead, adjust them to meet the circumstances of the families you serve.

How Administrators Can Support and Engage Families

Because family engagement is so essential to a learning environment, it's never too early in the school year to start building connections. "[Back to school events] are great opportunities to meet families and let them know right off the bat that they can speak on behalf of their child," says Candra Morris, "and that you're eager to listen."

As teachers open their classroom doors for back to school nights, consider leaving your office door open or spending time in the front lobby. Start conversations with families and learn the names of people you haven't met before. Give them your contact information so they know how to reach you if any questions or concerns arise.

Through the school year, administrators play a crucial role in assisting and advising teachers as they build relationships with families. Establish yourself as a trusted leader for teachers to voice the barriers to engagement they come up against and ask for insight. As you model open communication and a willingness to listen with your teachers, you also encourage them to do the same with families.

To promote classroom engagement plans on a larger scale, consider offering professional development opportunities to teachers. Independent options like online courses, webinars, or in-person training sessions can give teachers fresh ideas to connect with families through the school year.
Sources:
1. Hill, N. E., & Tyson, D. F. "Parental involvement in middle school: a meta-analytic assessment of the strategies that promote achievement." Developmental psychology, 2009, 45(3), 740-63.

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How Parent Involvement Leads to Student Success | Waterford.org

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Learn how you can improve family involvement in your schools, and the significant impact it can have on academic achievement and student success.

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C.O.P.E has wonderful education classes both in person and on zoom that can help with a variety of situations that families might be going through.

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target populations. C.O.P.E.'s practitioners are accredited on the wide array of curriculums created by Triple P

Triple P Options

Parents of Children Ages 0-12
Build healthy relationships with your children based on respect and responsibility. Develop expertise in dealing with normal and challenging behaviors with greater parent confidence. Curriculum includes a nine week course with seven learning sessions and two phone coaching sessions to discuss key learnings and next steps. All materials provided by C.O.P.E.

Triple P Seminars are informal presentations where people get together in groups of all sizes, sometimes 20 or more, to talk about the issues and concerns. The benefit of this style is that you learn about topics that are important to you and to your own child.

​

There are several topics that address more specific issues or behaviors that parents of young children face such as mealtime problems, sleep patterns, and tantrums, among others. The three main seminars in the Triple P

Triple P Online- Parenting during COVID-19

As so many families are experiencing new challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis, you may be concerned about the physical and emotional wellbeing and safety of your children. It's also very important to look after yourself as a parent. We have some practical tips and strategies that will help.

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Triple P Parent Education | C.O.P.E. Family Support Center

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The Triple P Positive Parenting Program has been demonstrated to prevent and treat behavioral, emotional and developmental problems in children by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and confidence of parents. All of this is done through a strength-based and self-reflective approach that builds upon existing parenting strengths.

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Here is some fun facts about me!
If you have any questions feel free to text or call me at (925)333-4444 or email me at msk@school.com
I can't wait for this exciting school year!

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Cute Handdrawn Meet the Teacher Poster Meet the Student or Teacher

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I would love for you and your student to fill out this about me so we can hang it in our class and get to know each other!

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Pink and Cream Illustration Meet the Student Introduction Graphic

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We will have a Facebook page for our class. Send me your email if you would like to be in the Facebook group. This is for discussions, questions, and classroom updates.

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Each week I will send out a Weekly newsletter both electronically and in print.
I will send it out in Spanish and in English.
It will have all class events and updates.

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Pastel School News Classroom Creative Email Newsletter

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It is a wonderful idea to cook with your kids at home. I will attach a general link of basic recipes we might be making in our class but it would be such a fun activity to include them in just making dinner with you. It can help younger children build language and math concepts.

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Healthy Home Get your kids busy in the kitchen with these 20 easy recipes for kids. And these are great tips for teaching kids to cook, too!
This post may contain Guest
affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate, I receive a percentage of qualifying purchases

My friend Katie at Kitchen Stewardship has developed a phenomenal cooking class for kids called Kids Cook Real Food! She opens enrollment every few months, and she also offers a FREE Knife Skills Class before each new class starts! Katie starts out with easy recipes, and my girls have really enjoyed the classes they have taken through this program!
If you want to teach your kids to cook, I highly recommend checking out the knife skills class and Kids Cook Real Food (the curriculum map in particular will help you know if this class is a good fit for your family)!
By Sarah Mueller, Contributing Writer
Do your kids like to work in the kitchen? Since we spend so much time preparing healthy food, it only made sense for me to train my 4 boys early on to help out. Part of their training has involved learning lots of easy recipes for kids.

Teaching kids to be independent in the kitchen has multiple benefits:

First of all, it's a big help for you. If a child can get himself a snack, that's one less thing for mom or dad to do.

In addition, cooking is fun for kids. It makes them feel important and grown up.

Also, cooking teaches important life skills.

Cooking (and cleaning up) increases their self-confidence because cooking may be somewhat of a mystery to kids until they start doing it themselves. Something as simple as making their own scrambled eggs can be a big deal!

It's very satisfying for kids to be able to cook something and serve it to others since not all children can do so.

Being involved in the cooking encourages kids to try new foods, which is most noteworthy!

Cooking together with your kids is fun, and, as a result, it's a great way to spend quality time together!

Tips for teaching kids to cook

Start with simple dishes. Even making toast is a big deal to a 3-year-old.

Always supervise, especially with knives, the oven or stove, but encourage the child to be as independent as possible. Remind them of the rules frequently.

Expect a mess. Your calm reaction to a mess or a spill will help your child to know that messes are part of life. Plus, then you get a chance to help your child clean up that mess-yet another invaluable lesson in pitching in around the house.

Make it a habit to have your child help prepare dinner or other family meals on a regular basis.

Make sure they help clean up, too. Here's a free printable kitchen cleaning checklist for kids. One day, you'll be grateful that they know how to clean the kitchen.

Here are 20 easy recipes for kids to make all by themselves

1. Toast and scrambled eggs

2. Easy cinnamon coffeecake muffins

3. Grilled cheese sandwiches

4. English muffin pizzas

5. Oven-roasted potatoes

6. Stove-popped popcorn (a weekly staple in our home, made by my 14-year-old)

7. Chocolate chip cookies

8. Walking tacos (especially if you have the ground beef already cooked)

9. Homemade applesauce (made extra exciting if you use a spiral peeler!)

10. Tomato soup

11. Quesadillas

12. 2-ingredient banana pudding

13. Easy herbal tea

14. Easy homemade wheat bread (a little advanced, but such an accomplishment!)

15. Hummus (let your kids customize with their favorite spices)

16. Veggie plate with homemade ranch dressing for dipping

17. Fruit with creamy lemon dip

18. Homemade whipped cream (so fancy!)

If your children are interesting in cooking, then I highly suggest Chef Junior, a cookbook for kids written by kids ages 12-15. These are real-food, healthy recipes that you kids will enjoy making and want to eat.

Click here to enter to win a free copy!

When your kids start cooking, it will take longer and be messier.

You might have to endure some inedible creations! But it's an investment in their future (and yours as they become more independent and can cook for you!). The earlier kids learn to be active and independent in the kitchen, the better.

Want even more inspiration for easy recipes your kids can make? Check out these:

What are your favorite easy recipes for kids to make?

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Healthy Home Get your kids busy in the kitchen with these 20 easy recipes for kids. And these are great tips for teaching kids to cook, too! This post may contain Guest affiliate links. Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you.

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Vroom is an app from the Bezos Family Foundation that helps parents turn everyday moments into learning moments and keep their child's brains stimulated and "build their brain" wherever they are.

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Science-backed early learning for children from birth to age 5.

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Vroom helps you add science-backed early learning moments to mealtime, bathtime, bedtime or anytime. By helping your child learn now, you get them ready for school, friends and life.

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-Have a healthy involvement
-Are caring
-Convey a deep sense of commitment
-Give time and attention to the family
- Don't get overinvolved with activities that exclude the family
-Recognize the signs of unhealthy codependence
-Understand the importance of both independence and interdependence
-Know how to take care of others without creating over-dependence
-Understand mutual nurturing and healthy boundaries
-Build and maintain self-esteem
Use discipline and guidance in ways that leave children's self-esteem intact
-Develop a feeling of self-worth
-Know how to communicate effectively (give and receive feedback)
-Have skills at problem-solving and resolving conflict
-Know how to give and receive recognition
-Know how to protect their family members and provide a secure environment with the home
-Maintain a connection to society
-Have rules that work for each member and the family as a whole
(Gonzales-Mena, pg 270)

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When schools are closed for the summer, we still want all children to have access to food. The Summer Food Service Program allows families to have access to free and healthy meals even when school are not in session.

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Summer Food Service Program | Food and Nutrition Service

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The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded, state-administered program. USDA reimburses program operators who serve no-cost, healthy meals and snacks to children and teens. Meals are served at summer sites in low-income communities, where sponsors often also offer enrichment activi…

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Sensory Play is a really good way to engage your child. Making something such as a sensory bin would be a really fun activity to do together. I have attached a link to really simple and easy-to-follow directions for sensory bins.

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What do you need to do to make sensory bins? Is it hard? Do kids really like sensory bins? Sensory bins were a huge staple in our house for a number of years. They were a go-to play option that I could change up frequently, create new themes for and change with the seasons or holidays! Sensory bins are an amazing way to engage and interact with young children. The benefits of creating sensory bins in early childhood are numerous. Read our: All About Sensory Bins for more on these benefits. We have favorite fillers, themes, accessories, and more in our

A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO MAKE SENSORY BINS

With a few simple steps, you can have a perfect sensory bin for little hands to dig into! Let me start by reminding you that sensory bins do not have to be fancy, Pinterest-worthy creations. The oohs and ahhs from your child will be plenty! I have heard from many people that they feel intimidated by the process when they go to make a sensory bin! I hope I can clear that up and show you how to make a sensory bin in no time! Some of our favorite sensory bins are the least thought out ones!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE SENSORY BINS?

There are only a few basic things you really need to make a sensory bin! Everything else will be extra depending on whether or not you have chosen a theme for your sensory bin! Some people enjoy making sensory bins to elaborate on a favorite book, we have a few book and sensory bin ideas here. Others like to make sensory bins for holidays and seasons, check out all of our seasonal and holiday sensory bins in our Ultimate Sensory Play Guide. Lastly, people make sensory bins purposefully for the sensory experience. There are so many ways to make sensory bins!

STEP 1: CHOOSE A GOOD CONTAINER

We have a few different sized and shaped options that we have enjoyed! A larger sensory bin is really wonderful for getting the hands right into the sensory bin filler without having to worry about to much mess. Read about mess here. Last resort, great a cardboard box or baking dish, or dish pan!
STEP 2: CHOOSE A SENSORY BIN FILLER
To make sensory bins you need sensory bin fillers. We definitely have our favorites! When you go to make a sensory bin, choose a filler that is appropriate to the age of the child and the level of supervision the child will receive when playing with the sensory bin. Click on the photos below to see our choices.
We offer 2 lists of sensory fillers, one that includes food items and one that does not!
When you go to make sensory bins and chose fillers, keep in mind if there is a special theme you want to include! It's super easy to dye sensory bin fillers. We have several sensory bin fillers that are easy to color quickly. Click on each of the photos to see how! Make and play the same day!
STEP 3: ADD FUN TOOLS

STEP 4: COMPLETE WITH A THEME {OPTIONAL}
One of the best parts of sensory bins is all the filling, dumping, pouring and transferring that takes place! What a great hands-on way to practice important skills while enjoying some awesome sensory play! Sensory bins can easily improve fine motor skills by the tools you choose to include. Make sure to check the dollar store, recycling container and kitchen drawers for easy items to add when you make sensory bins. We have a lot of fun tools and play items to try, click photo for list!

If you have chosen a specific theme for your sensory bin, complete it with some of our fun play items from the picture above, click on photos for all the ideas!

For example if you are going with a rainbow theme sensory bin to explore colors...

choose a container size

find rainbow colored objects like plastic easter eggs, dollar store linking toys, plastic cups and spoons in different colors, and look around the house! I grabbed a pinwheel and an old CD!

Now you can easily make sensory bin for any play time with these four easy steps. The best part of being able to make sensory bins for your child, is getting to enjoy them with your child! make sure to dig your hands into all those great sensory bins. You are the best model for your child! Play, explore and learn right beside him or her.

VISIT OUR SENSORY PLAY IDEAS PGAE TO FIND INSPIRATION!

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How To Make Sensory Bins Step by Step Guide

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What do you need to do to make sensory bins? Is it hard? Do kids really like sensory bins? Sensory bins were a huge staple in our house for a number of years. They were a go-to play option that I could change up frequently, create new themes for and change with the seasons or holidays!

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Take your child to the local library! It is a free activity and entertainment and it encourages reading. Your child can get their own library card and feel empowered in being able to check out their own books.

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1. Pride and excitement
We see it every day. Children light up when they sign their name to their own library card. For many kids, a library card is the first card in their wallet with their name on it. They take pride in being a member of the library and having something that is their own.

2. Responsibility
Asking children to be responsible for their card and for items they've checked out on their card teaches them to be accountable. They will begin to learn about consequences if they lose their items.

3. Good Citizenship
Having and using a library card is a tangible way to be part of the community. Kids begin to recognize the civic resources available to them, and how to be responsible for them.

4. Self-discipline
Checking out a book is one step in a decision-making process. When kids go to the library, they have thousands of titles to choose from. Selecting their books for the week helps them learn how to negotiate a collection, choose thoughtfully, and learn patience when a title isn't available.

5. Problem-solving and taking initiative
Help your kids learn how to find books on their own. It's the first step in teaching research skills and problem solving. They can start with the online catalogue at home to find the titles they are interested in. Once they are in the library, they can learn the system for finding their books. You can make a game of it.

6. Exploration and discovery
The library is a risk-free place where kids can explore different kinds of books, movies and music. Studies show that when kids choose their own materials, they tend to enjoy reading more and develop into life long readers. A library card is truly a window to the world.

7. There's more for you!
When you're not sharing your card with your children, you can check out more of the materials you love!

Ready to apply for a card?

Great! Visit any library location to apply for your child's card today. Be sure to bring identification and proof of address.

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Top 7 Reasons Your Child Needs a Library Card | Knox County Public Library

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1. Pride and excitement We see it every day. Children light up when they sign their name to their own library card. For many kids, a library card is the first card in their wallet with their name on it. They take pride in being a member of the library and having something that is their own.