Parents As Essential Partners -- Maryland State Parental Information Resource Center

Featured Speaker:
Charlie Applestein, MSW
Award winner, noted author and trainer endorsed by educators and child welfare leaders throughout the country.
"No Such Thing as a Bad Kid"

Flyer

Description

* folleto en español

About the Conference

The evidence is clear. When schools, communities and families work together to support learning, everyone benefits. To that end, a Special Advisory Committee composed of experienced educators, social service professionals, students, community members, and parents have organized a conference to provide families and caregivers in Southern Maryland with the information and strategies they are seeking to ensure their children’s success in school and beyond. Child Care and a Youth Track are also available.

Join us and learn how to be your child’s best teacher and guide for a lifetime!

About the Sponsor

The Maryland State Parental Information and Resource Center (MD PIRC) is designed to assist Maryland parents and educators to address issues related to family involvement and closing the achievement gap. The goals of the PIRC include: creating school, community and parent partnerships; providing parents with strategies to support children’s learning; and offering parents useful resources.

Location

College of Southern MD, La Plata
8730 Mitchell Road
La Plata, MD 20646

Schedule

8:30 - 9:15 am Light Breakfast and Registration
9:15 Sharp Conference Opening
10:00 Sharp Featured Speaker: Charlie Applestein,MSW
11:00 - 12:00 SESSION I
A	Parents as Partners and the Impact of the No Child Left behind (NCLB) Act (In Spanish) What’s this law about and what does it mean for my child?
B	ABC's of Budgeting: Life's Balancing Act Learn the basics of creating and maintaining a family budget, including reasons why you should create one, how to create one and, most importantly, how to stick to one. We will also address ways you can manage your debt and ways to begin eliminating it.
C	Relationship Education And Life Choices Parent Program Parents have the greatest influence on the decisions their children make about relationships and sexual activity. We will focus on providing tools to talk with youth to help them understand that the choices they make today will affect them tomorrow.
D	Internet Safety and Cyber-bullying Bullying has a new face, but what does it look like? How is it legally defined? Be aware of networking giants like MySpace and their positive and negative effects.
E	Curing “The Dog Ate My Homework” Excuse: The ABC's of Organizing for Home & School Learn easy tips and tricks for curing the clutter and chaos that comes with kids: how to organize a child's bedroom, how to set up a space for homework and how to get them out the door on time.
F	Security and Safety in the Schools and Community Sheriff Tim Cameron and Sgt Larry Titus will provide information and tools for staying safe.
G	The Importance of Multicultural/Diversity Education Recognize the effects that race, culture, class, gender, religion, and ethnicity can have on our lives.
H	How To Be Heard and Understood Sometimes talking to your child's teachers and principals can be frustrating. This workshop offers practical step-by-step information for using your skills to influence your child's education
I	Maryland School Assessment At-A-Glance Participants will gain a better understanding of state testing requirements, MSA test content areas and what student scores mean.
J	What's the Deal with Middle School Reading? Why is reading such a struggle for some children? How is my child tested on the Maryland State Assessment? What can I do to support my child?
K	Weighting for a Healthy Life? Why Wait-Start Now! Do you know what 5 pounds of fat look like? This entertaining and informative presentation will discuss the prevalence of obesity among adults and children in America and what we can do about it.
L	How to Discipline Without Screaming and Scolding Parents are tired of dealing with the challenging behaviors of their children, and can resort to shaming, blaming and complaining. Learn the four Crucial C's of misbehavior and what to do about them.
M	Men, Let’s Talk It’s important to involve dads in their children’s schooling so, what are the roadblocks? There are practical strategies that encourage father involvement and connect men with their kids’ education.
N	Love Your Public Library Looking for materials, ideas, family activities, and programs? Get suggestions that are both fun and free.
O	Surviving a Snack Attack Participants will learn the importance of eating healthy snacks and will make and sample several kid-friendly recipes.
12:10 - 1:10 Adult Lunch #1 Entertainment by the Village African Dance and Drumming Troupe
12:10 - 1:10 SESSION II
AA	Parents as Partners and the Impact of the No Child Left behind (NCLB) Act What’s this law about and what does it mean for my child?
BB	Panel Discussion: Stay in School Why should I stay in school? What can be said to a young person to help them understand the importance of staying in school?
CC	Relationship Education And Life Choices Parent Program Parents have the greatest influence on the decisions their children make about relationships and sexual activity. We will focus on providing tools to talk with youth to help them understand that the choices they make today will affect them tomorrow.
DD	Curing “The Dog Ate My Homework” Excuse: The ABC's of Organizing for Home & School Learn easy tips and tricks for curing the clutter and chaos that comes with kids: how to organize a child's bedroom, how to set up a space for homework and how to get them out the door on time.
EE	How To Be Heard and Understood Sometimes talking to your child's teachers and principals can be frustrating. This workshop offers practical step-by-step information for using your skills to influence your child's education.
FF	Having Fun with Sounds (PreK, Elementary) Participants will be given rhymes, songs and other fun activities that can help young children become aware of, think about and manipulate sounds in spoken language.
GG	How to Discipline Without Screaming and Scolding Often parents are at their wits end when dealing with their children’s challenging behaviors and resort to shaming, blaming and complaining, in addition to screaming and hitting. This workshop will focus on presenting the 4 Crucial C's of misbehavior and what to do about them.
HH	Parenting and Teaching with Love and Logic This program helps good parents become even better. Learn to share and become more open.
II	Stir Up Your Gifts and Those of Your Children: Moving from Insanity to Success! Is your child experiencing failure in school? Is it due to lack of goal setting, disorganization, poor study skills, or lack of motivation? Learn how to increase success in these areas.
1:20 - 2:20 Adult Lunch #2 Entertainment by the Village African Dance and Drumming Troupe
1:20 - 2:20 SESSION III
AAA	Relationship Education And Life Choices Parent Program Parents have the greatest influence on the decisions their children make about relationships and sexual activity. We will focus on providing tools to talk with youth to help them understand that the choices they make today will affect them tomorrow.
BBB	D.A.R.E. Drug Abuse Resistance Education Learn about D.A.R.E’s mission and experience a lesson.
CCC	Curing “The Dog Ate My Homework” Excuse: The ABC's of Organizing for Home & School Learn easy tips and tricks for curing the clutter and chaos that comes with kids: how to organize a child's bedroom, how to set up a space for homework and how to get them out the door on time.
DDD	How To Be Heard and Understood Sometimes talking to your child's teachers and principals can be frustrating. This workshop offers practical step-by-step information for using your skills to influence your child's education.
EEE	Parenting and Teaching with Love and Logic This program helps good parents become even better. Learn to share and become more open.
FFF	Strengthening the High School Reader Why is my high school reader struggling? What can I do to support my child?
GGG	Stir Up Your Gifts and Those of Your Children: Moving from Insanity to Success! Is your child experiencing failure in school? Is it due to lack of goal setting, disorganization, poor study skills or lack of motivation? Learn how to increase success in these areas.
HHH	A Parent’s Guide - Maryland’s Plan for PreK-12 Education (In Spanish) Learn about Maryland’s state testing and reporting processes, programs available to support student achievement, ways parents can be involved in their child’s education, where to find help for children with disabilities and special needs, and programs to help plan for your child’s future.
III	Surviving a Snack Attack Participants will learn the importance of eating healthy snacks and will make and sample several kid-friendly recipes.
2:30 - 3:30 Closing Session and Celebration with Door Prizes

Youth Track - Ages 12-18

11:00 - 12:00 Lunch and Asset Development with Antoine White

12:10 - 1:10 Drumming Workshop with David Williams

1:20 - 2:20 D.A.N.C.E. Empowerment with Antoine White

2:30 - 3:30 Closing Session and Celebration with Door Prizes

Registration

PARENTING MATTERS: RAISING SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN is FREE! Light breakfast, lunch, plenty of free parking, and child care services will all be available. Children (ages 2-11yrs) MUST be registered in advance to attend the Child Development Center. Please call Andrea Muntz at 301-934-7871, St. Charles Children's Learning Center, College of Southern Maryland, for registration. She will provide you with information needed for your child to attend. Children will NOT be accepted if this information is not on file prior to the event.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. We will still accept walk-in registrations.