PARENT ENGAGEMENT
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ALL COURSES ARE AVAILABLE in-person or ONLINE
ONLINE LEARNING COURSES
1. Zooming in the Online Classroom: The Do’s & Don’ts (3 hours)
Parents will understand and apply the term “netiquette” and practice Zooming as a participant. They will demonstrate how to use the following functions: settings, mute/unmute, start video/stop video, gallery/speaker view, enter/exit full screen, virtual background, participants, raise hand & lower hand, rename, chat box, sharing screen, annotate on screen, breakout rooms, and leave meeting. (Instruction will be given on different technology devices).
mini-courses
2. Anger Management – Navigating Anger with Grace (3 hours)
Parents will understand how to relate to their children with calm, non-judgmental, positive, and non-critical attitudes. Parents will be guided to consciously recognize their own feelings to help control their responses to conflict.
3. Behind the Screen: Teen Romance Scams (3 hours)
Parents will understand how online scammers target vulnerable youth through digital manipulation and exploitation. Parents will discover how to recognize warning signs and intervene effectively without damaging the parent-child relationship. Parents will learn strategies to help teens heal and rebuild trust if they are victimized.
4. Bullying & Cyber-Bullying & Internet Safety: A Parents Guide (3 hours)
Parents will identify all aspects of bullying; recognize the warning signs and long term affects of bullying; practice strategies to address bullying; explain the importance of positive parent and child interactions, and the importance of being a positive role model.
5. Child Abuse Prevention – Basic, Age-Appropriate Sex Ed. Information (3 hours)
Parents will understand what constitutes child abuse; recognize the signs and symptoms of child abuse, examine ways to prevent child abuse; and begin teaching age appropriate sex education to their children.
6. Communication Skills for a Postive Parent & Child Relationship (3 hours)
Parents will understand how to relate to their children by using many forms of communication and practice active listening skills.
7. Drug & Alcohol Awareness for Parents (3 hours)
Parents will review facts and statistics of the rise of substance abuse among youth, recognize emoji drug codes, discover the steps to decrease the likelihood that their children will use or abuse substances, and identify the 5 steps a person can do if someone is overdosing.
8. Financial Literacy – Money Management (3 hours)
Parents will explore the aspects of financial literacy: Earning, Saving & Investing, Spending, Borrowing, and Protecting, so they can make informed financial decisions to take effective actions regarding their family money management.
9. Fostering Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)/Self-Esteem (3 hours)
Parents will understand that the environment in which their children live creates the foundation of his/her/they self-perception. Parents will evaluate their own self- views and practice positive self-talk to improve their self-worth and their ability to meet life’s challenges.
10. Health, Hygiene, and Safety – Teaching Lifelong Skills (3 hours)
Parents will explain the maintenance of a healthy body and mind through effective health and hygiene practices. Parents understand the role they play in keeping their children safe in the home, school and community.
11. Helping Your Child Succeed in School (3 hours)
Parents will review the importance of (1) having a positive attitude towards their children’s education. (2) establishing high expectations for their children, (3) maintaining involvement in their children’s schoolwork and activities, (4) actively listening to their children’s concerns, (5) praising when appropriate, and (6) making time to do activities together.
12. Language Development – Promoting Language Development (3 hours)
Parents will recognize developmental stages of language and speech. Parents understand the importance of reading, speaking, and listening to their children to promote language development.
13. Nutrition – Healthy Eating (3 hours)
Parents will name nutritional categories, food groups, and dietary factors that promote health and proper growth. Parents will share favorite recipes and explore how they can be adapted easily to provide a healthier alternative.
14. Parent as Teachers – Supports Learning at Home (3 hours)
Parents will provide examples of their role as a teacher for their children and explain how that role changes as the child matures.
15. Positive Parenting: Discipline to Teach, Guide & Train (3 hours)
Parents will understand and practice appropriate and effective techniques and methods for teaching and guiding children, so that children can function well at home, school, and in the community. Parents will recognize the importance of positive role models.
16. Technology & Gadgets – Raising Children in the Digital Age (3 hours)
Parents will understand the importance of monitoring children’s use of gaming, use of portable devices, and social media; explore the affects of technology on the developing brain; and the benefits of technology as an educational tool.
17. The Educational Partnership: Connecting Home, School & Community (3 hours)
Parents will explain the importance of the parent’s role in their child’s education; supportive home environment, parent and school partnership; and community. Parents will share free or low-cost community resources that are beneficial for individual or family needs.
18. The Emerging Brain: Cognitive & Intellectual Development Across the School Years (3 hours)
Parents will gain an understanding of the developing brain, state the importance of proper nutrition and sleep, and examine how too much screen time may affect the developing brain.
19. The Growing Child: Supporting Your Child Through Physical Changes (3 hours)
Parents will review the basic sequence of normal physical development of children and explain how physical growth and development affects the self-image of the child.
20. The Stress-Less Family: Stress Management (3 hours)
Parents will recognize how stressors affect individuals differently and understand the importance of stress reduction techniques to maintain/improve family health/well-being. Parents will learn how to identify the signs of excess stress, practice stress management techniques, and teach their children healthy ways to cope with their stress.
21. Understanding the Educational System (CCS) from A to Z (3 hours)
Parents will understand their child’s educational system; receive an overview of the CA Content Standards; and understand how the standards will support their child’s future academic success.
22. Unpacking Artificial Intelligence (AI): What Parents Need to Know (3 hours)
Parents will explore how today’s youth interact with AI tools— from apps that instantly write essays to computer programs that make realistic fake photos and chat like real friends. Parents will discover the safety, privacy, and ethical implications of these technologies, while learning how to guide their children toward responsible digital citizenship.
23. Parenting Children with Different Abilities (Special Education Component) (6 hours)
Parents will understand who qualifies for disability services under IDEA; learn the difference between and IEP and a 504 plan; understand accommodations and teach the Zones of Regulation; and become familiar with community resources that support families of children with different abilities.
24. Adolescent Foundations: Moving from Child to Teen (10 hours)
Parents will gain an understanding of the developmental needs of their pre-teens and teenagers. They will learn about the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual changes that occur during adolescence and will discuss the challenges and rewards of parenting a pre-teen and teenager.
transitioning courses
25. Transition to Elementary School – CA Content Standards (3 hours)
Parents will gain an understanding of the elementary school system in order to help their child transition from preschool into elementary school.
Transitioning to Middle School – CA Content Standards (3 hours)
Parents will gain an understanding of the middle school system in order to help their child transition from elementary school into middle school.
Transitioning to High School – CA Content Standards (3 hours)
Parents will gain an understanding of the high school system in order to help their teenager transition from middle school into high school. They also receive information regarding post-high school options.
26. Transitioning through High School & Beyond (College, Career, or Military) (6 hours)
Parents will learn to guide their teens through life beyond the high school years and explore information regarding: Education or Career Training; Choosing a College Major or Career Path; Requirements for College Entrance; Paying for College or Career Training, and fostering Independence.
court approved Parenting Courses
27. Loving Solutions: For parents of children 5 - 10 years old - Court Approved (20 hours)
Parents of elementary school aged children will develop techniques to raise difficult or out-of-control children. (Workbook Required)
28. The Parent Project : For parents of adolescent 11 – 18 yrs. old (30 hours) Units 1-10 Court Approved
Parents of middle school and high school children will develop techniques to eliminate destructive adolescent behavior. (Workbook Required) Optional: Additional Units 11-16 (18 hours)
self-improvement courses
29. The Road to U.S. Citizenship - Overview (10 hours)
Participants will explore the eligibility requirements, the application process, and what to expect during the naturalization interview and civics test. The class also highlights how a parent’s citizenship status impacts their children and provides practical strategies for studying as a busy family.
30. Family Well-Being through Stress Management, Nutrition & Exercise (12 hours)
Parents will learn about dietary factors, stress management strategies, and exercise techniques that can promote healthy living. This course will help parents maintain or improve the cognitive, emotional, and physical well being for themselves and their children and their family.
31. Computer Literacy - Beginning (20+ hours)
Parents will practice basic computer skills (e.g. proper hand placement, computer terminology, and set up an email account) and become familiar with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Apps, and Websites designed to assist K-12 children academically. Parent Portal lessons may be included per school request.
Computer Literacy - Intermediate (20+ hours)
Parents will practice intermediate computer skills (e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Google Slides, and Google Sheets) and become familiar with computer programs and Websites designed to assist K-12 children academically. Parent Portal lessons may be included per school request.
32. English as a Second Language: Beginning or Intermediate Levels (20+ hours)
Parents will develop communicative skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and numeracy for the immediate needs of adult English learners at the beginning or intermediate levels.
English as a Second Language: Conversation
Parents will develop communication skills (listening and speaking) in English while discussing real-life problems. Parents compare their ideas and values with those of their classmates.
English as a Second Language: Pronunciation
Parents will reproduce pronunciation basics to improve English language proficiency for limited English-speaking adults. Reading comprehension is enhanced by introducing simple spelling and sounding rules for identifying words in written text.
33. Reading Lab: Phonics for Parents – Inspire your child to blend, decode & read. (20+ hours)(Workbook Required)
Parents will review the rules of English phonics, including decoding multi-syllabic words, while practicing sound and word games to play at home. Parents will learn how to boost their child's confidence and help them catch up to achieve school success. Parents will discover the value of reading books together, no matter what language is spoken in the home.