Parent Workshops

The Parent Academy is a collaborative citywide program dedicated to supporting student achievement by creating and enhancing partnerships within school communities and strengthening parent involvement. Through free, community-based workshops, parents can find out what their child is learning in school and how they can support their child’s learning at home. There will be three events (2 on Saturdays and 1 during the school week in each borough during the 2012-2013 school year).

What Will Parents Learn?

How to get the most out of parent-teacher conferences
Strategies for working within a team (IEP, school leadership teams, one-on-one mentoring)
Identifying resources to support your child’s learning and developmental needs
Understanding Common Core learning standards, standardized tests, and response to intervention
Learning how to help your child be ready for college and careers
Understanding special education and how to support your child’s ability to learn
Technology training, including basic computer skills, social media, and cyber-bullying awareness
and more…

Why Should Parents Participate?

Free Workshops – Learn how to become an active and effective partner in your child’s education. Workshops will be offered in every borough at no cost.
Network and Collaborate with Other Parents – Network with other parents to share examples of family engagement initiatives at schools and exchange ideas on how to get involved.
Access to Community Resources – Learn about local community organizations that provide students with extra help.

See a calendar of upcoming workshops.

To date, the Parent Academy has conducted the following workshops, and the material is available for your use:

Workshops that will be presented in the future:

Strategies for Working within a Team (i.e., IEP, school leadership teams, one-on-one mentoring)
This workshop will provide parents with strategies they can use as they become active members of school teams, whether parents represent children enrolled in general education, special education, or are members of school leadership teams (SLTs) or engage in mentoring activities. Strategies for preparing for and organizing team meetings and communicating effectively at the meeting will be presented. Parents will also learn effective decision-making strategies, as well strategies for ensuring there is follow up on the part of all members of the team. Participants will engage in role-playing exercises and will receive useful tip sheets they can utilize as they remain active members of educational teams.

Identifying Resources/Local Organizations to Support your Child’s Learning and Developmental Needs
This workshop will begin with a rationale for utilizing local organizations to support your child’s learning and developmental needs. The workshop will be individualized for each of the five boroughs, highlighting resources for families within their own communities. Materials specific to each of the five boroughs will include: lists of useful resources, calendars, contact information, cost, and eligibility information. In addition, strategies will be provided for identifying, accessing, and approaching a variety of entities with specific information regarding internships for high school-aged students.

Understanding Common Core Learning Standards, Standardized Tests, and Response to Intervention
This workshop begins with an overview of foundational concepts that will assist individuals in understanding information related to standards, tests, and interventions. During the breakout session, participants are provided with examples of standardized test results as well as progress monitoring information yielded from a response-to-intervention approach and will be guided through the process of interpreting the information. Strategies for ongoing monitoring will be provided.

Encouraging Resiliency and Self-efficacy and Understanding Positive Behavioral Supports
This workshop will provide participants with useful strategies they can immediately put in place to encourage resiliency and self-efficacy. Participants will also be provided with an overview of positive behavior supports and interventions. During the breakout session, participants will gain experience exploring why children engage in certain behaviors and will learn strategies they can easily implement at home. In addition, strategies will be provided to families that foster working collaboratively with school staff to ensure the very best outcome for their children.

Understanding how to Support Your Child so S/He will Graduate Ready for College and for a Career
Becoming “college and career ready” is a process that begins as soon as your child enters the classroom. College and career readiness means more than completing coursework. Thus, the workshop will provide families with strategies to assist their child in developing strong work habits, study skills, and interpersonal and social skills. In addition, an overview of the tests administered during the middle and high school years will be provided as well as a timeline that will help parents and their children carefully plan for transitions to high school and beyond.

Supporting Students in Transitional Grades
Careful planning for transitions will assist you and your child in navigating the transitional grades. This workshop will begin with an overview of important strategies for planning for the transitional grades. Breakout sessions will enable participants to be grouped by the grade level of their child, specifically, preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school. A variety of resources will be provided specific to your child’s grade level.

Technology Training (i.e., basic computer skills; social medial awareness about cyber bullying, etc.)
With technology constantly changing, parents may find it difficult staying informed. This workshop will provide parents with resources that will enable them to keep abreast of the technological applications/social media their children may be accessing on a daily basis. Parents will be given strategies for guiding their children to make appropriate choices and steps they can take to prevent or address cyber bullying.

How to Find Resources for Your Child Inside and Outside of School for Success in Math/Science/Arts
Being educated in New York City affords your children with experiences no other city in the world can offer. This workshop will be individualized for each of the five boroughs, highlighting resources for families within their own communities. Materials specific to each of the five boroughs will include: calendars, contact information, cost, and eligibility information. In addition, strategies will be provided for identifying, accessing, and approaching entities so that your child can access valuable opportunities related to math, science, and the arts inside and outside of school.

Identifying Federal Funding that Supports your Child’s Academic Success (e.g., Title I, and Title III)
This workshop will provide an overview of funding sources from the federal government meant to enhance the academic achievement of our children. How families are to be involved in the provision of these services will be presented. In addition, promising practices will be presented.

Wellness Issues
A healthy lifestyle positively impacts your child’s performance in and out of school. This workshop will provide parents with effective strategies for influencing the food, beverage, and lifestyle choices their children make on a daily basis. Materials specific to each of the five boroughs will include: calendars, contact information, cost, and eligibility information so that you and your child can access valuable opportunities within your own communities. Helpful tip sheets for both you and your child will be provided.

About Us Academics Choices & Enrollment Schools in the Community Offices & Programs Division of Family and Community Engagement Partnership Standards Parent Workshops Events Contact Us Rules & Policies Student Support, Safety & Activities Performance & Accountability	Parent Workshops The Parent Academy is a collaborative citywide program dedicated to supporting student achievement by creating and enhancing partnerships within school communities and strengthening parent involvement. Through free, community-based workshops, parents can find out what their child is learning in school and how they can support their child’s learning at home. There will be three events (2 on Saturdays and 1 during the school week in each borough during the 2012-2013 school year). What Will Parents Learn? How to get the most out of parent-teacher conferences Strategies for working within a team (IEP, school leadership teams, one-on-one mentoring) Identifying resources to support your child’s learning and developmental needs Understanding Common Core learning standards, standardized tests, and response to intervention Learning how to help your child be ready for college and careers Understanding special education and how to support your child’s ability to learn Technology training, including basic computer skills, social media, and cyber-bullying awareness and more… Why Should Parents Participate? Free Workshops – Learn how to become an active and effective partner in your child’s education. Workshops will be offered in every borough at no cost. Network and Collaborate with Other Parents – Network with other parents to share examples of family engagement initiatives at schools and exchange ideas on how to get involved. Access to Community Resources – Learn about local community organizations that provide students with extra help. See a calendar of upcoming workshops. To date, the Parent Academy has conducted the following workshops, and the material is available for your use: Workshops that will be presented in the future: Strategies for Working within a Team (i.e., IEP, school leadership teams, one-on-one mentoring) This workshop will provide parents with strategies they can use as they become active members of school teams, whether parents represent children enrolled in general education, special education, or are members of school leadership teams (SLTs) or engage in mentoring activities. Strategies for preparing for and organizing team meetings and communicating effectively at the meeting will be presented. Parents will also learn effective decision-making strategies, as well strategies for ensuring there is follow up on the part of all members of the team. Participants will engage in role-playing exercises and will receive useful tip sheets they can utilize as they remain active members of educational teams. Identifying Resources/Local Organizations to Support your Child’s Learning and Developmental Needs This workshop will begin with a rationale for utilizing local organizations to support your child’s learning and developmental needs. The workshop will be individualized for each of the five boroughs, highlighting resources for families within their own communities. Materials specific to each of the five boroughs will include: lists of useful resources, calendars, contact information, cost, and eligibility information. In addition, strategies will be provided for identifying, accessing, and approaching a variety of entities with specific information regarding internships for high school-aged students. Understanding Common Core Learning Standards, Standardized Tests, and Response to Intervention This workshop begins with an overview of foundational concepts that will assist individuals in understanding information related to standards, tests, and interventions. During the breakout session, participants are provided with examples of standardized test results as well as progress monitoring information yielded from a response-to-intervention approach and will be guided through the process of interpreting the information. Strategies for ongoing monitoring will be provided. Encouraging Resiliency and Self-efficacy and Understanding Positive Behavioral Supports This workshop will provide participants with useful strategies they can immediately put in place to encourage resiliency and self-efficacy. Participants will also be provided with an overview of positive behavior supports and interventions. During the breakout session, participants will gain experience exploring why children engage in certain behaviors and will learn strategies they can easily implement at home. In addition, strategies will be provided to families that foster working collaboratively with school staff to ensure the very best outcome for their children. Understanding how to Support Your Child so S/He will Graduate Ready for College and for a Career Becoming “college and career ready” is a process that begins as soon as your child enters the classroom. College and career readiness means more than completing coursework. Thus, the workshop will provide families with strategies to assist their child in developing strong work habits, study skills, and interpersonal and social skills. In addition, an overview of the tests administered during the middle and high school years will be provided as well as a timeline that will help parents and their children carefully plan for transitions to high school and beyond. Supporting Students in Transitional Grades Careful planning for transitions will assist you and your child in navigating the transitional grades. This workshop will begin with an overview of important strategies for planning for the transitional grades. Breakout sessions will enable participants to be grouped by the grade level of their child, specifically, preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school. A variety of resources will be provided specific to your child’s grade level. Technology Training (i.e., basic computer skills; social medial awareness about cyber bullying, etc.) With technology constantly changing, parents may find it difficult staying informed. This workshop will provide parents with resources that will enable them to keep abreast of the technological applications/social media their children may be accessing on a daily basis. Parents will be given strategies for guiding their children to make appropriate choices and steps they can take to prevent or address cyber bullying. How to Find Resources for Your Child Inside and Outside of School for Success in Math/Science/Arts Being educated in New York City affords your children with experiences no other city in the world can offer. This workshop will be individualized for each of the five boroughs, highlighting resources for families within their own communities. Materials specific to each of the five boroughs will include: calendars, contact information, cost, and eligibility information. In addition, strategies will be provided for identifying, accessing, and approaching entities so that your child can access valuable opportunities related to math, science, and the arts inside and outside of school. Identifying Federal Funding that Supports your Child’s Academic Success (e.g., Title I, and Title III) This workshop will provide an overview of funding sources from the federal government meant to enhance the academic achievement of our children. How families are to be involved in the provision of these services will be presented. In addition, promising practices will be presented. Wellness Issues A healthy lifestyle positively impacts your child’s performance in and out of school. This workshop will provide parents with effective strategies for influencing the food, beverage, and lifestyle choices their children make on a daily basis. Materials specific to each of the five boroughs will include: calendars, contact information, cost, and eligibility information so that you and your child can access valuable opportunities within your own communities. Helpful tip sheets for both you and your child will be provided.