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SignalVine serves as a tool to support families enroll their child in Pre-K. By texting “PREK” to the number provided, families opt-in and receive individualized support (in their preferred language) by asking real-time questions and receiving real-time responses from a staff member from their respective district. In addition, families receive text reminders and linked resources relating upcoming enrollment events for their district throughout the spring and summer leading up to the first day of school. SignalVine can provide personalized, two-way communication as well as timed messages to send out to families based on specific criteria such as age, language, and enrollment status.
Additional benefits of SignalVine include that it is
Opt-in for parents and families
Less labor-intensive than its alternatives because districts can create a logic mapping of the messages based on individual parent characteristics
Read The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Daniel J. Seigel & Tina Payne Bryson
Recommended books to distribute in the home toolkit before the start of school include Llama Llama Misses Mama, The Kissing Hand, Lola Goes to School, First Day Jitters, and The Day You Begin.
Read Spotlight on Young Children: Social and Emotional Development, edited by Rossella Procopio & Holly Bohart
Teach children strategies for self-regulation with help from these posters that can be put up in the classroom or throughout the school
Explore the Momentous Institute’s curriculum, Changemakers, which utilizes free-standing lessons and teaching practices to promote SEL in students
Conscious Discipline's offers relevant Professional Development Trainings and E-Learning on a variety of topics
Read What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey & Bruce D. Perry
For information on possible instructional materials for purchase see TEA’s List of Approved Instructional Materials as well as the List of Instructional Materials Adopted by the State Board of Education
Read Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children by Lisa Daly & Miriam Beloglovsky (see the companion article below)
Literacy First is an evidence-based program that provides intensive early literacy support for K-2 students. Notably, they are the only fully bilingual early learning high-dosage program in the community tutoring space in Texas. Tutoring, instructional resources, and assessments are all available in English and Spanish.
This upcoming school year, Literacy First, is exploring consulting with districts to set them up for success in implementing a similar intervention model to support students with learning recovery from COVID-19 and beyond. During school year 2021-22, they could provide consultation to districts on what a quality PK-2 tutoring program looks like and what it takes to use the time and effort of paraprofessionals and volunteers to drive growth and serve students effectively. Program staff can also provide consultation around effective early literacy data systems with a unique emphasis on assessing young students’ development of automaticity with early literacy skills. To learn more email support.literacyfirst@austin.utexas.edu.
The New Teacher Center’s (NTC) Early Learning program "provides job-embedded professional learning opportunities for coaches and administrators with an emphasis on early learning pedagogy and formative assessment tools targeted at quality instruction." NTC also offers consultation and training to districts on best practices and effective allocation and utilization of resources.
Developing Talkers offers Professional Development and training opportunities. Find more information, including who to contact to learn more, here
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