Imagining Career Possibilities

Imagining a career path can be quite hard for some students. Since there are so many different types of professions, starting the process of narrowing down the occupational possibilities can be daunting. Parents and local school districts should work together to expose kids to as many jobs as possible.

This will give students, especially those in high school, more information about the type of work they might like to do when they get to the workforce. The reality of our 21st century economy is that some of today’s jobs will no longer be around in 5 or 10 years, but entirely new jobs will be created.

To help us understand things parents can do to support their kids’ career exploration, take a moment to visit THE PARENT TOOLKIT. This week's featured article is on imagining career possibilities.  Read it today and BOOKMARK the site.

Go there now >>

Branching Out HIGHLIGHT: FREE Fun Things to Do in and Around Houston

Branching Out is a weekly publication presented by SBISD to encourage students and parents to read this summer.  Each week we'll highlight interesting articles or information here. For more, visit and bookmark the Let's Try Reading blog.

Downloads:

• Read it now! Branching Out Volume 1, Issue 2 (.pdf)

FREE Fun Things to Do in and Around Houston

Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States. It has over 2 million citizens, but that doesn’t count all of us who live just outside of Houston. I know that the adults hate the traffic problems that occur because the city is so large, but there are many benefits to living in Houston. The greatest benefit is that there are wonderful things to do here. Many of those fun things don’t cost any money.

Free Things to Do in the Houston Area:

Discovery Green is located downtown near Minute Maid Park. Check out their web site (discoverygreen.com) because events change regularly. Through June they will have a children’s writers’ workshop every Saturday. All children are welcome.

 

JPMorgan Chase Tower Observation Deck is located at 600 Travis in Houston. It is the high-est public observation deck in Houston. The building is 75 stories high, but the observation deck is on the 60th floor. The elevator is so fast that it only takes a minute to reach the 60th floor. Go on a clear day and enjoy the view.

 

Hermann Park is a wonderful place to spend a day. This is the park’s 100th birthday. They have done a lot to update the park. The lake is lovely. You won’t be able to resist the play area. There are 2 water areas to run through. They have also added some interesting art throughout the park. Bring a lunch and enjoy the day out of doors.

 

Waugh Street Bridge Bat Colony is just north of Allen Parkway and south of Buffalo Bayou. A colony of about 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats live in the gaps under the bridge. They come out at dusk looking for delicious insects to eat. Be patient because sometimes they are a bit late.

 

Art Car Museum is not your typical museum. It is at 140 Heights Boulevard. You will have to see this one. It is wonderful. You won’t believe the art that can be created using an automobile.

 

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is right beside Memorial Park. While it is very close to downtown, you won’t know it during your visit. There are miles of trails to hike, interactive exhib-its that allow you to touch the things that interest you. It also has a garden built to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. If you like nature, try this one.

 

Port of Houston has a free 90 minute boat tour of the port. You can tour the channel coming up close to the enormous freighters that come into our ports. A guide will share information throughout the tour. The tour is free, but you must make a reservation. http://www.portofhouston.com/community-outreach/sam-houston-boat-tour/

 

Free Thursday happens at many of our art museums. Check with the museum that interests you for their free days.

 

Public Library is always free. Many of them have special activities for the summer. It is a great place to cool off, sit in a quiet spot and read.

Find the Zone, Branching Out & A New Blog

We encourage you to FIND THE ZONE.

Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) believes that literacy is critical for students to be successful in their learning and in life. Because of this belief SBISD has developed a new initiative called Find the Zone.  The initiative's goal is to empower all partners in student success (parents, educators, community members and students) to find their 'zone of excellence'.

From new professional development opportunities for staff,  to the development of new resources and tools for parents and students that align with instruction, Find the Zone's goal is ensure all our students are encouraged to read, inspired to learn and engaged in achieving more than they think possible. We believe everyone has a role to play in supporting the student educational experience and we invite you to be an active participant!

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We're Branching Out

This summer SBISD is launching two publications for parents as part of SBISD's In the Zone initiative. The first is Branching Out. Branching Out is a weekly newsletter for parents and students designed to encourage summer reading. The second is a blog called Let's Try Reading.

The purpose of Branching Out is to provide resources to parent so they can keep their elementary students reading during the summer. We'll be posting materials, including these newsletters, to the Parent Toolkit all summer long. We encourage you to bookmark and visit this site, as well as the Let's Try Reading blog, for tips and ideas that will keep your student reading all summer long.
 

Links & Downloads: 

• About SBISD's Branching Out - Welcome (ENGLISH / SPANISH) (PDF)
• June Branching Out Newsletter (PDF)

Highlight from this edition - The Flat Stanley Project

Take a look inside this month's Branching Out and you'll find a wealth of activities to kick off this summer. One in particular may be of interest...it's the Flat Stanley Project. Read about it and then join the fun all summer long!    

Visit the Let's Try Reading Blog:

Below is a link to the Let's Try Reading blog that's published in conjunction with the Branching Out summer series. Visit  and bookmark this new blog!  We will spotlight postings found there as the summer unfolds. For more information about summer reading, visit the Let's Try Reading - Good Readers Read Blog.                                                                                                                     

What does it mean when I hear educators talking about LITERACY?

Literacy is a complex concept and there are some key misunderstandings about what, exactly, literacy is.

LITERACY = Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking

Building student literacy is a complex process that starts with children’s language and literacy experiences from their earliest months and continues throughout their early years as the effects of knowledge acquisition and skill development build.  Our goal is to provide parents with resources and tools that will assist them in helping their child excel on this journey.  Over the coming months we'll be sharing links and resources on this blog.  We believe parents play a critical role in their child's educational success.  We encourage you to bookmark this blog and visit often.

It's about more than just reading the words!
For many, the confusion about literacy arises when we're talking about the skills and knowledge surrounding literacy.

The SKILLS are essentially the foundation, while the KNOWLEDGE is the application of that SKILL.

For example, a literacy skill would be recognizing words, spelling, or knowing the alphabet.  Where literacy KNOWLEDGE is understanding a concept, expressing complex ideas or vocabulary.  When you combine SKILLS and KNOWLEDGE you are talking about a complete set of competencies that make up the developmental process and the whole when talking about LITERACY.

While skills-based competencies are usually master early, knowledge-based competencies must be supported during the entire educational experience.  For many children knowledge‐based competencies  are more likely to be key sources of academic difficulties.  In a knowledge-based, global economy, knowing how to read well  and then apply what you've learned is more important than ever.

Literacy is  JOURNEY not a DESTINATION
Children need environments that support reading skills, background knowledge and active discovery. Neither skills (such as alphabet knowledge, word reading and print awareness), nor knowledge (such as understanding concepts, oral language development and vocabulary growth) are enough by themselves.

Connected, engaged parents are crucial to children’s success. Even parents without strong reading skills can make important contributions to their children’s cognitive development and later reading success through conversation and joint engagement in learning via traditional and digital media.  None of the information posted here is to be considered a substitute for instruction.  Links and resources are strictly offered as resources and supplemental information.

Got a newspaper? You’ve got learning!

Most families have access to a newspaper. Either one arrives on your doorstep or a local community paper is available for free at the coffee shop or grocery store. Even just a few pages from the newspaper can be turned into lots of early learning activities. Grab your young child and a pair of scissors, and let’s get learning with a newspaper!

SPANISH: http://www.colorincolorado.org/articulo/60707/

Letters and Words
Have your child cut out the letters needed to spell his first and last name. Have him glue these onto a piece of paper.

Ask your child to find capital and lower case pairs of letters. Glue the pairs onto a piece of paper.
Ask your child to find and cut out all the words in headlines that she can read. Paste them on a piece of paper and practice reading them together.

Writing 
Cut out a few pictures from the paper. Ask your child to write a caption for each one. Compare their caption with the paper’s caption. Talk about ways captions help readers understand one small piece of the story.

Turn a recent family event into a newspaper story. Try to write a headline, the story, include a picture or drawing, and add a caption.

Ask your child to circle all the ads they can find in the paper. Discuss what makes a good advertisement and what does not. Discover what types of words and punctuation are often used in ads, and how those are tools writers use to capture a reader’s attention. See if your child can create an ad for their favorite game or TV show.

Understanding the News 
Help your child understand the structure of the newspaper. Browse through the different sections of the newspaper. Sort news stories into international, national, and local. Point out other sections such as sports, food and entertainment.

Talk about the difference between fact and opinion. Then, read one of the articles from the newspaper. Are there facts in the story? Are there any opinions? How can we tell the difference? What sorts of words are used for each? Within which section are opinion stories usually found?

Choose an interesting and age-appropriate story from the newspaper. Read the story with your child. After reading, ask your child if she can answer the “who, what, where, when, and why” questions about the story.

Learn more at: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/got-a-newspaper-you-ve-got-learning

Understanding Children Who Are Dual Language Learners (DLLs)

One third of the children enrolled in Early Head Start and Head Start are Dual Language Learners (DLLs). They are a diverse group who have different languages, experiences, strengths, and gifts. Recent research points out the

Similarities among ALL young children – those who are leaning one or several languages (e.g., children are born with natural capabilities for language and for learning);

Differences between children growing up with one language (monolinguals) and children who are DLLs (e.g., children may learn some ideas such as counting, in one of their languages but not the other); and

Diversity among children who are DLLs (e.g., individual differences of temperament, interests, etc.).

EHS/HS programs can best support the school readiness for Dual Language Learners when they understand each child’s unique characteristics and needs.

Read more:
https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/docs/same-different-diverse.pdf?utm_source=ReadingRockets.org&utm_medium=Twitter

FAFSA Day 2014

We're excited to invite families in Spring Branch to participate in Houston's FAFSA Day 2014.

Houston FAFSA Día - 20 de febrero 2014
The goal of FAFSA Day is to increase the FAFSA/TASFA completion rate in the city of Houston.  Houston is the 4th largest city in the country and yet it has a very low financial aid completion rate among students.  Research shows that if students complete the FAFSA they are 90% more likely to attend college.  We hope you will join us at one of the FAFSA Day Trusted Centers to learn, prepare and apply for student financial aid.

Los estudiantes que completen la Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FAFSA) es un paso clave en la educación continua después de la secundaria. La ayuda está disponible!​

I'm not sure what FAFSA and TASFA are?  FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  TASFA is the  Texas Application for Financial Aid for undocumented students.

What can I do today to prepare for FAFSA Day 2014?

• Mark your calendar!  FAFSA Day is Feb. 20, 2014. (Learn more at: www.houstonfafsaday.org)
• Sign up for your FAFSA PIN on the official FAFSA website. (http://www.pin.ed.gov)
• File your taxes.

What type of assistance will I receive if I go to an official FAFSA Day Trusted Center on Feb. 20

From answering questions about the FAFSA and TASFA to assisting you and your student apply, individuals will be on-hand at trusted Centers to assist you with your FAFSA and TAFSA.  The new application for the FASFA is available online now.  (View schedules and locations at: www.houstonfafsaday.org)

What should I bring with me when I go to the FAFSA Center?
Qué llevar al llenar la FAFSA / TASFA

• FAFSA PIN
• Social Security Number

  (Número de Seguro Social)

• Driver’s License (If You Have One)

  (Número de licencia de conducir)

• 2013 W-2 Forms (Records of Money Earned)

  (Más recientes W-2 o de fin de año de pago talón)
  

• You and Your Spouse’s, or Your Parents’ 2013 Federal Income Tax Return (IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ, Foreign Tax Return)

  (Más reciente declaración de impuestos federales)

• 2013 Untaxed Income Records (Veteran’s Benefits, Child Support Received, Worker’s Compensation)

  (Registros de ingresos no tributables)

• Current Bank Statements

  (Extracto de cuenta (s))

• Current Business & Investment Mortgage Information, Business & Farm Records, Stock, Bond, and other Investment Records

  (Registros comerciales y de inversión)

• Alien Registration or Permanent Resident Card if Not a US Citizen

  (Tarjeta de Registro de Extranjero (si no es un ciudadano de los EE.UU.))

• If you were born before Jan. 1, 1992 you do not need to bring parental information.

  
  Los estudiantes que nacieron antes de 01 de enero 1992 no tienen que llevar la información de los padres.
  

When applying for the FAFSA, make sure you are on the official government website. 
There is no charge to apply for the FAFSA.(http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ )

Things to remember:

• Merit-based scholarships often require a complete FAFSA.
• Check for verification status to be sure you're finished and your application was submitted.
• Compare award letters to get the best deal.
• Mark your calendar to do the FAFSA again next year!

The Journey Begins! Your Child's Career Key

This is the second in a series of emails to help you guide your child as you prepare for the upcoming process of course selection - the first steps in the transition to high school. Our first email provided an overview of HB5. This email provides information about Career Key, a career inventory that your 8th grader recently completed in our new Naviance system.

Career Key is a career inventory that helps students match their personality and interests to careers. It’s a great way for kids to learn about themselves and the types of careers that may be their best match based on personality type.  Learn more at www.careerkey.org.

A Conversation That Will Last a Lifetime

Your child’s Career Key findings are a great resource to spark conversations between the two of you. Please use these tools as you and your child consider his/her roadmap to and through high school. This will prepare your child for the upcoming course selection process which starts in mid-January. The insights these tools provide will be helpful as you work together in the spring to select an endorsement as part of the new Foundation Plan for high school graduation.

Naviance: Your Online Planning Tool

The first step in reviewing your child’s Career Key results is to log onto Naviance, our new online portal for planning for high school, higher education and beyond. If you have not received your Naviance password, please contact your child’s counselor.

Winter Break is a great time to review your child’s Career Key results in Naviance. Eighth grade counselors will review Career Key results with students during the school day in early January and with parents at January parent meetings. (Stay tuned for dates coming directly from your middle schools.)

In the meantime, you also may wish to visit the SBISD website under STUDENTS > GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS for a one-page overview of reading your child’s Career Key results.

We hope you are finding these emails helpful. We welcome and appreciate your feedback as we work to assure you have the information you need to best help your child succeed.

http://www.springbranchisd.com/achieveit/message2_eng.html

Introduction to House Bill 5

Click here to watch informational video on House Bill 5.

THE FOUNDATION PLAN

HB 5 creates a new graduation plan called the FOUNDATION PLAN.  The FOUNDATION PLAN replaces the previous Minimum, Recommended and Distinguished plans and is the plan under which students entering high school during the 2014-15 academic year will graduate.  The FOUNDATION PLAN expands the availability of career and technology (CTE) courses and encourages students to select a personal pathway of study, called an ENDORSEMENT.  All students entering the 9th grade in 2014 will select an endorsement pathway in late Spring, 2014. 

The new plan offers a strong foundation of study with the benefit of added flexibility for students to personalize their own educational experience.  Students will be able to explore areas of interest and study before they reach college and may earn an Associate’s degree or certification while they are still in high school.

The FOUNDATION PLAN consists of 4 English credits, 3 math credits, 3 social studies credits, 3 science credits, 1 fine art credit, 2 foreign language credits, 1 P.E. credit, and 5 elective credits.
Remember, advancement at the high school level is based on the number of credits a student earns in particular content areas.  Successfully passing five End of Course Exams (EOCs) is required for graduation.

ENDORSEMENTS

The plan offers students the choice of an ENDORSEMENT, or targeted area of study.  Much as a student would pick a major in college, the new option for an ENDORSEMENT offers a student the ability to earn a total of 26 total credits (a combination of core requirements and endorsement electives in a targeted area of study) for high school graduation.  The five ENDORSEMENT options are:

• Arts and Humanities
• Business and Industry
• Public Service
• STEM (Science and Math)
• Multidisciplinary

Endorsement course work consists of 1 Math credit, 1 Science Credit, and 2 Electives.  All 8th graders will choose an ENDORSEMENT in the spring, using EXPLORE and other career interest assessments to help inform their decisions. (More on these in upcoming emails along with a parent meeting at your child’s school (dates to be determined).)  Students may change their ENDORSEMENTS at any time, or may opt at the end of their 10th Grade year to graduate under the FOUNDATION PLAN with no endorsement.  Students who graduate under the FOUNDATION PLAN with no endorsement will be eligible to apply to 4-year public universities in the state of Texas, but will not qualify for Top Ten percent consideration.  We recommend that all students graduate with an ENDORSEMENT.  Doing so ensures students have the most opportunities and options available to them.

HB5 WEBSITE

For an in-depth look at course offerings,  credit options, credit restoration, graduation planning and additional resources beyond what we've covered here, visit the SBISD website under STUDENTS > GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. Or, visit the SBISD website and look for the HB5 icon on the homepage.

In Spring Branch we believe all students deserve an education that fits their personal needs.  One size does not fit all when it comes to learning or our student's futures, and we believe the new FOUNDATION PLAN with ENDORSEMENTS offers students the chance to customize their learning and be better prepared for their future upon high school graduation. 

Please look for more information in the days and weeks ahead. Your campus will notify you of dates for January parent meetings at your child’s school.

What can I do as a middle school parent to help my child?

Talk to your child about your expectations, their dreams, and how exploring coursework or extracurricular activities now will help them find interests that may lead to a future career. Start a college or career dialogue with your student. Talk to your child about the future, and why it's important to think about career or college options now. Express your thoughts, concerns or expectations about college or future career options. Even if it doesn't always seem like it, your student is looking to you for guidance and direction.

Visit the SBISD PARENT TOOLKIT for tips and information on a wide range of topics.

Talk to your campus counselor or teacher. Success for our students takes all of us working together. We're here to help!

Additional Resources:

• Texas Education Agency (TEA) Website
• State Graduation Requirements (TEA)
• State Board of Texas (TEA)
• Student Assessment Website
• STAAR Website
• HB 5 Impact on Graduation Planning/What is the Foundation Plan? (In English /en Espanol)
• HB 5 Frequently Asked Questions (In English /en Espanol)
• A Look at House Bill 5 (HB5 Website)
• HB5 Overview (PPT)

Top 10 Ways to Develop Readers

Model It:

People in the child’s life should show that they value reading. Children know we value it when we actually do it, not when we only say “go read.” a. It doesn’t matter what you read; it only matters that you read. It would be great to model reading {sometimes} off of electronic devices if you use e-readers. Children don’t always realize that people are reading on electronic devices because they so frequently use them for playing games. b. It would be great if older brothers and sisters or cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents also modeled that they valued reading.

Reading Together:

a. The older our children grow, the less likely they are to read during the school day. But college is all about independent reading of difficult texts. b. As students move to higher grades, the reading becomes much more challenging; therefore, they need more practice reading. That reading frequently is expected to happen at home. c. Partner with anyone—parent, brother/sister {older or younger}. The parent or an older brother/sister/cousin can model what good reading sounds like. d. Form rituals around reading—bedtime, morning with breakfast, when we get home from school e. Share the reading—this is good when the child wants to read a text that is too difficult for him or her to read. f. It is great to stop and talk throughout the text. i. What do you think is going to happen next? {prediction} ii. Why do you think that character chose to do that? {character analysis} iii. How do you think the character felt when that happened? {character analysis} iv. Why would the author set the story where it is set or why would the author include such a character or why would the author talk about anything in the story or book? {author’s craft} g. It is wonderful when you spend some time reading out loud to your children. It is even better when you change your voice for the specific characters. i. This models the notion that there are differences in characters. ii. It develops interest where little may have existed before. iii. It is great entertainment. iv. You are modeling good reading. v. This enhances the relationship between adults and child. h. If you are reading a nonfiction text, think out loud about the text. Ask yourself questions. Connect to other things you have read about the topic or connect to things you know about the topic. Don’t forget to include your personal experiences.

Free Choice:

The child should be free to choose what she or he wants to read. a. Initially readers want to be entertained. They move into the stage of escape from their lives and then into seeing themselves in the text. By giving them free choice, they are meeting their emotional needs around reading. If the reader can read the text, all reading is beneficial reading. b. It does not improve one’s reading by reading something that is too difficult to understand. i. 5-finger test—read a page at the beginning of the book. If the child cannot read 5 or more words {not counting proper nouns/names}, the book is probably too difficult. That means that the child will need a lot of help reading the book—partner read. ii. So if she or he wants to read the book, make that book one that you read together. c. Children like series books because they are predictable. That adds a level of ease and comfort in the reading. They also know the characters and enjoy the relationship they have with the characters. After your child has read several in one series, you might encourage him or her to read something else but still leave the decision up to the reader.

Discuss books with your child:

a. Happens during partner reading. b. You don’t have to have read the book to talk about it. i. What are you reading? ii. What do you like about that story? Or What have you learned from the book? iii. Would you want to read another book like that one? Why? c. Traveling in a car is a good place to discuss what they are reading.

Technology:

a. Audio books—entertain, build vocabulary, widen reading interests. They do not build one’s reading skills though. b. Author sites—find a favorite author or series on their site. Builds interest in the books. c. Reading online is also valuable reading. d. Time for Kids and National Geographic have older articles online.

Parent Records Books:

a. The parent can read a book into a recording device. This is great if parent cannot be present for reading time. b. Excellent model for good reading. c. Develops interest in reading.

Personal Library:

a. There is a lot of research showing that it is beneficial for children to have personal libraries. They need to have easy access to reading so that they make the choice to read. b. When we build a library in our homes, it shows that we value books and the reading that we do. c. Public library is a benefit as well. You don’t have to own everything you read.

Required Reading:

a. Required reading may be too difficult for a child. Adults can read the assignment along with their children—take the journey together. b. The discussion will help the child think about the story and its components before he or she goes to class. c. By reading the book together you may help to build an interest in the assigned reading that may not have been present before. d. This also helps the parents to keep track of what is happening in class. Nonfiction: a. Children are interested in nonfiction reading. b. Many children struggle to read nonfiction well. c. Parents can connect the reading to family outings—museum, part, fishing, etc. Have things to read that connect to the trips. Read before the trip—building background knowledge. Read after the trips—enhances what has been learned while on the trip. Many gift shops have books that enhance the experience. d. Use the computer to find additional reading around the topic. e. Create your own book or folder of information about the topic. Reading Assessments: a. DRA/EDL—discuss your child’s reading levels with the teacher. (elementary) b. Bilingual—is the gap between language 1 and language 2 decreasing. It is beneficial to maintain the reading in language 1. But the reading must grow in language 2. c. STAAR—this is NOT a reading comprehension assessment. It is more of an assessment of reading analysis—they types of things we talk about during discussion of the text. d. Stanford—Will be offered in grades 2 through 7 starting this year. There is a reading component on the test.

Extracurricular Activities: The are REALLY Important!

Getting involved in clubs, sports, work or other pursuits outside the classroom can give your child new skills and help them learn about themselves — and can be fun.

Here’s something else you should know: Extracurriculars also play a part when your child applies to college. Most college applications ask about activities. That’s because the things students do in their free time reveal a lot about who they are — in ways that grades and test scores can’t.

Accomplishments outside the classroom show what you’re passionate about and that you have qualities valued by colleges. Here are a few examples:

• Serving in student government shows that you have leadership skills.
• Being on the track team through high school shows that you’re able to make a long-term commitment.
• Doing volunteer work at a hospital shows that you are dedicated to helping others.
• Working a part-time job while keeping your grades up shows that you are responsible and can manage your time.

Colleges want to know who you are and what you can do. Your activities help your student show them. So get out there!

Kinds of Activities

Here are the most common kinds of extracurricular activities.

School Activities

These might include sports teams, special-interest clubs, a school newspaper, music groups and student government.

Community Activities

Examples are community theater, music, and art groups as well as local clubs and sports teams.

Work

Internships, summer jobs, part-time work, babysitting, delivering newspapers — it all counts.

Volunteering

This might mean tutoring elementary school kids, helping out at the animal shelter or raising funds for a charity.

How to Get Started

Whether they want to learn more about politics, public speaking or cooking, students can find an activity that will help them explore that interest. Here are some ideas for starting the search:

• Ask friends what groups they belong to.
• Check school’s bulletin boards or website.
• Talk to school counselor or teachers about activities.
• If you have a place of worship, find out if it organizes activities.
• Look into national organizations, such as Junior Achievement, Girl or Boy Scouts, and the YMCA or YWCA.
• Think about starting a club or group.

Remember, grades are part of the story! 

Colleges want to know what your student likes, is passionate about and will contribute as a member of the campus community.  Finding ways to help your child explore their interests outside the classroom is just as important as doing well inside the classroom.

 

11th Grade Parents: College Nights, Financial Aid, Campus Visits and More!

Junior year usually marks a turning point. This is because for most students and families, it’s when college planning activities kick into high gear. Here are some things you can do this year to support your child and give him or her the best options.

Summer

• Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised by how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
• Explore financial aid options. These include grants and scholarships, loans, and work-study programs that can help pay for college costs. Find out more about how financial aid can make college affordable. 
• Attend a FAFSA/Financial Aid Workshop offered by the district.  Contact your campus for dates or check the SBISD website for important news and updates.  A great resources is the PARENT section of the website.

Fall

• Attend the SBISD College Night events!  They are a great way to get the insight and information you need.  This year's college nights are Oct. 8 & 9 at Spring Woods High School
• Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. This meeting is especially important this year as your 11th-grader starts to engage in the college application process.
• Encourage your child to set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your high schooler stay motivated and focused.
• Help your child stay organized. Work with your 11th-grader to make weekly or monthly to-do lists to keep on top of the tasks required to get ready for applying to colleges.
• Help your junior get ready for the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This is a preliminary test that helps students practice for the SAT and assess their academic skills. Juniors who score well on the test are also eligible for scholarship opportunities. Find out more about the PSAT/NMSQT.

Winter

• Review PSAT/NMSQT results together. Your child’s score report comes with a free SAT study plan. This online, customized plan is based on your child’s test scores and can help him or her work on areas that need improvement.
• Help your child prepare for college admission tests. Many juniors take college admission tests, such as the SAT and the ACT, in the spring so they can get a head start on planning for college. See which tests your high school junior may need to take.
• Discuss taking challenging courses next year. Taking college-level or honors courses as a senior can help your child prepare for college work — and these are also the courses that college admission officers like to see. Le
• Encourage your junior to consider taking SAT Subject Tests. Many colleges require or recommend taking these tests to get a sense of your child’s skills in a certain academic area. In general, it’s best to take a Subject Test right after taking the relevant course. Learn more about SAT Subject Tests.
• Encourage your child to take AP Exams. If your 11th-grader takes AP or other advanced classes, have him or her talk with teachers now about taking these tests in May.

Spring

• Search together for colleges that meet your child’s needs. Once you have an idea of the qualities your child is looking for in a college, help him or her enter these criteria into College Search to create a list of colleges to consider applying to.
• Help your child research scholarships. This form of financial aid provides money for college that doesn’t need to be repaid. Learn more through College Board’s Scholarship Search.  Or, visit the SBISD Dream it. Achieve it website.  It's a great resource for college and scholarship searching.  Bookmark it!
• Attend college fairs and financial aid events. These events allow you to meet with college representatives and get answers to questions. Your child can ask the school counselor how to find events in your area. Check out the College Fair Checklist for more information.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Help your high schooler look into summer learning programs or find a job or internship.
• Visit colleges together. Make plans to check out the campuses of colleges your child is interested in. Use the Campus Visit Checklist to learn how to get the most out of these experiences.

 

10th Grade Parents: Be Their Support System

As your child settles into the high school experience, it’s a great time for him or her to take on new challenges. It’s also not too early to explore colleges, college majors and career goals. Use the list below to help make 10th grade count.

Summer

• Visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to get your 10th-grader excited about college. Learn more about how you and your child can prepare for a campus visit.
• Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised by how affordable higher education can be. Start by reading Understanding College Costs.
• Help your sophomore explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations. Learn how to use exercises like these to make a career worksheet.  NAVIANCE/Family Connection is a great tool to generate discussion and planning around college and career.
• Read!  Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were in high school. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.

Fall

• Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your sophomore should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to make sure he or she is taking the most-appropriate classes.
• Encourage your child to set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your high schooler stay motivated and focused.
• Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. If you child is struggling, contact your campus, teacher or counselor.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school.
• Help your 10th-grader get ready to take preliminary exams. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT or the PLAN this fall can help your child prepare for college admission tests. Sophomores can also use their score reports to figure out which academic areas they need to work on. Learn more about the PSAT/NMSQT.

Winter

• Review PSAT/NMSQT or PLAN results together. Your child’s score report indicates his or her academic strengths and weaknesses. Review the report together and talk about ways to improve in areas that need attention. If your child took the PSAT/NMSQT, help him or her log in to My College QuickStart to get personalized feedback based on his or her PSAT/NMSQT score report.
• Start thinking about ways to pay for college. Most families get help paying for college costs. Attend one of the FAFSA/Financial Aid Workshops offered by the school district.  Check with your campus or the GUIDANCE and COUNSELING Department for more details.
• Encourage your sophomore to consider taking SAT Subject Tests. Many colleges require or recommend taking these tests to get a sense of your child’s skills in a certain academic area. In general, it’s best to take a Subject Test right after taking the relevant course. Learn more about SAT Subject Tests.
• Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child will be challenging him- or herself and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see.

Spring

• Make a college wish list together. Talk with your 10th-grader about qualities he or she may want in a college in terms of location, size, majors offered and so on. Check out How to Find a College That Fits You to learn more about deciding on college must-haves.
• See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are in terms of your savings goal.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out five ways your high schooler can stay motivated this summer.

 

9th Grade Parents: Keep your child motivated!

The beginning of high school is an exciting time. Your child may be adjusting to a new school, making new friends and becoming more independent. But your child still needs your help and involvement. Here are some things you can do together to succeed this year.

Summer Before High School

• Visit a college campus together. It’s a great way to get your child excited about college. Learn more about how you and your child can prepare for a campus visit.
• Get the facts about what college costs. You may be surprised at how affordable higher education can be. Attend one of SBISD's Parent U events.  These learning opportunities are a great way to find out how to help your child plan for and achieve their dream of college.
• Show your child how to explore career ideas. He or she can make a list of interests, talents and favorite activities and start matching them with occupations.
• Read!  Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were your child’s age. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.

Fall

• Make sure your child meets with the school counselor. Your child should schedule a meeting to talk about college and career options and to choose the most-appropriate classes.
• Help your child set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps your child stay motivated and focused.
• Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Ask your child about NAVIANCE/Family Connection. Engage in the work your child is doing as part of their regular course work.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school.

Winter

• Start thinking about financial aid. It’s not too early to look into types of aid that could help you cover college costs.
• Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure your child is challenging him- or herself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Not sure what classes they should take?  Do a little homework of your own and investigate colleges your child is interested in, and the admission requirements for that school.

Spring

• Help your child start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step together to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to your child when choosing a college.
• See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared with your savings goal.
• Help your child make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways your child can stay motivated this summer.

 

It starts with listening to one another.

What can I do as a middle school parent to help my child plan for college or career?

Middle school is important because your child is laying the foundation in a lot of subjects and forming study habits. Developing certain skills now will make it easier for your child to adjust to the challenges of high school and college later — and will lead to more college options.

Talk to your child about your expectations, their dreams, and how exploring coursework or extracurricular activities now will help them find interests that may lead to a future career.  Start a college or career dialogue with your student.  Attend one of SBISD's Parent U events.

Talk to your child about the future, and why it's important to think about career or college options now.  Express your thoughts, concerns or expectations about college or future career options.  Even if it doesn't always seem like it, your student is looking to you for guidance and direction. 

Here are some things you and your child can do to make the most of this time.

• Help your child set goals for the year. Working toward specific goals will help your child stay motivated and focused.
• Review the school calendar together. Note important dates and put them in a shared online calendar or in an easy-to-view place, such as a bulletin board in your kitchen.
• Make a plan to check in regularly about schoolwork. If you keep up with your child's tests, papers and homework assignments, you can celebrate successes and head off problems as a team. Get homework tips for your child.
• Talk about extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for your child to identify interests and feel more engaged in school.
• Discuss ways to take on challenges. Encourage your child to take the most-challenging courses that he or she can handle. Tackling tough courses can give your child confidence and prepare him or her for higher-level high school classes.
• Come up with fun reading ideas. Look for magazines or newspapers your child may like and talk about the books you loved reading when you were your child’s age. If your family makes reading enjoyable, it can become a daily habit.
• Visit a nearby college together. If you live near a college, look for upcoming events on campus that are open to the community or see if the college offers classes to local children and families. Just being on a campus may get your child interested in college.
• Get the big picture on paying for college. It’s not too early to learn the basics of financial aid.

 

We are creating content for this site!

We're glad you are interested in this new feature for parents in SBISD. 

If you have inputs or feedback, please forward them to us.  If you have a question you would like to see answered here, send it to us!  As we prepare for the 2013-14 Academic Year, we're working hard to post content to this blog.  Our goal is to have updated posted no later than September 1, 2013.

Bookmark this site and look for tweets and social media postings on Facebook and Twitter.
Don't forget to check the FOR PARENT section of the SBISD website for update and blog additions during the school year.

Have a great school year!

 

The Parent Toolkit - Helping your child get to and through!

In SBISD we believe all children can achieve their highest potential.  We know that success for students is not just about graduating from high school.  True success is when students graduate prepared for a college or career path of their choosing.  Parents and educators must work together to provide the best support and instruction they can for all students. 

This toolkit is intended to serve as a resource for our parents by providing an overview of what your child will study as they progress from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This toolkit does not replace course guides or other official planning document provided by the school district.  Content found here is intended to server as a supplement or resource for parents.

Our goal is to assist you in  helping your child build a strong foundation for success throughout their academic career. This toolkit is part of a large goal SBISD has for all our parents - to be engaged and an active participant in your child's education. 

Remember, communication is key!

We encourage you to build a strong relationship with your child’s teacher.  Talk to your child's teacher regularly about how your child is doing.  You play an important role in setting high expectations and supporting your child. If your child needs a little extra help or wants to learn more about a subject, work with his or her teacher to identify opportunities for tutoring, to get involved in clubs or after school activities, or to find other resources. 

We're here to help you and your child every step of the way!