Curriculum, Instruction & Staff Development

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Each week, caregivers receive an email or text message with videos explaining how to do activities together as a family to support and reinforce the learning we are doing in class. Each activity is modeled in a quick, 2-minute video that you and your child can watch and do together at home or on the go.

Play is fun, but it's also how children learn. Playing ignites learning creativity and curiosity. It makes them more interested in the world, boosts their brainpower and helps them interact happily with other people. A little fun and games can give your child a bright future.*

Reading together can help your child enjoy a richer, happier life. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. Readers get their start in the lap of a parent. Even after children learn to read by themselves, it's still important to read aloud together. By reading stories that are on their interest level, but beyond their reading level, you can stretch young readers' understanding and motivate them to improve their skills.*

(d) SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.—
As a component of the school-level parent and family engagement policy developed under subsection (b), each school served under this part shall jointly develop with parents for all children served under this part a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the State’s high standards. Such compact shall—
(1) describe the school’s responsibility to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the children served under this part to meet the challenging State academic standards, and the ways in which each parent will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning; volunteering in their child’s classroom; and participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children and positive use of extracurricular time; and 
(2) address the importance of communication between teachers and parents on an ongoing basis through, at a minimum—
(A) parent-teacher conferences in elementary schools, at least annually, during which the compact shall be discussed as the compact relates to the individual child’s achievement;
(B) frequent reports to parents on their children’s progress;
(C) reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and observation of classroom activities; and
(D) ensuring regular two-way, meaningful communication between family members and school staff, and, to the extent practicable, in a language that family members can understand.

Denton ISD provides high-quality instruction based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) as adopted by the State Board of Education in a supportive and effective learning environment . ReadyRosie supports and reinforces the TEKS and incorporates the latest research on family engagement, developmentally appropriate practice, family protective factors, and social emotional learning competencies. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to view ReadyRosie videos and do the activities with their children at home or on the go. Active family engagement is proven to increase attendance, help children develop stronger social skills and fewer behavioral challenges, develop higher-quality work habits and task orientation, earn higher grands, and increase graduation rates.

All parents and/or caregivers receive an email copy of this school-parent compact in addition to flyers in English and/or Spanish, which are distributed prior to parent conferences. Denton ISD values the utility and contributions of parents as well as the importance of two-way communication. To measure children's progress, report cards are sent home each nine weeks. Parents may volunteer and participate at school. Contact your child's school for more information. 

*Credit the Mesquite ISD #ReadPlayTalk initiative for providing the "talk, play, and read" descriptors as well as the Boston Public School Talk, Read, Play campaign and the Scottish Government Play, Talk, Read website for the inspiration behind the development of the Denton ISD School-Parent Compact.