Supporting Learning & Behavior at Home
The purpose of the Milwaukee Public Schools Initiative is to educate MPS parents & families about Response to Intervention (RtI), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Literacy, and special education topics, and to empower them to support these initiatives in their homes and in the community. On this page you will find resources for parents on a variety of academic and behavioral topics.
Family Trainings
Download our parent trainings with speaker notes so you can present to parents and families at trainings, family nights, community events, and others.
A Family Guide to Response to Intervention This PowerPoint covers the basics of Response to Intervention (RtI). It includes key terms and definitions, an explanation of each of the tiers and what to expect at each tier, and information about the link between RtI and special education.
A Family Guide to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports This PowerPoint covers the basics of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). It includes key terms and definitions, explanations of each of the tiers and what to expect at each tier, including interventions, and information about how to support PBIS in the home.
5:1 Positives to Correctives This PowerPoint discusses the importance of balancing positive feedback with corrective, negative statements. When this ratio is present in a relationship (i.e. teacher-student relationship), research tells us that it makes a difference to the health of the relationship.
Literacy Modules
Class 1: Literacy is For All This PowerPoint gives parents an overview of the five components of literacy, giving examples of each component and strategies for families to use at home. It also stresses the importance of daily literacy practice in the home.
Class 2: Types of Literacy, Assessments & Home-School Communication This PowerPoint gives families information on different types of literacy (ABC, visual, cultural, computer). Families will learn how to prepare children for testing, different literacy assessments used in their district and action steps to take after receiving the results. Families will also learn strategies for effective communication with educators around literacy.
Class 3: Finding the Right Books & Including Literacy in the IEP This PowerPoint gives families tools and strategies for finding appropriate books for their children. It also discusses what it might look like if a child's IEP includes literacy related goals and services.
Class 4: 10 Things You Should Know About Summer Reading This PowerPoint gives families easy to digest information about the importance of not only reading, but other learning activities over the summer to prevent the summer slide and improve outcomes.
Handouts
These handouts can be printed for use in trainings, family nights, community events, or working one-on-one with families.
Literacy Handouts
Brochures
Parent Guide to Literacy Brochure - English
Parent Guide to Literacy Brochure - Spanish
Handouts for "Literacy is For All" Presentation
Building Literacy into Everyday Activities - English. Spanish version.
Tips for Reading Out Loud - English. Spanish version.
Sight Word Activity - English. Spanish version.
Literacy Tips by Grade Level
First grade reading tips. (English)
Preschool reading tips. (English)
Reading tool kit for elementary students. English. Spanish.
Second grade reading tips. (English)
Third trade reading tips. (English)
Finding Books for Your Child
Choosing the Right Book - English. Spanish version.
Looking for the Right Book - English. Spanish version.
Interacting with the School About Literacy
Working with your child's teachers checklist - English. Spanish version.
Questions Parents Can Ask About Reading Improvement - English. Spanish version.
Literacy Assessments
Preparing Your Child For Testing - English. Spanish version.
In-Home Literacy Activities
Reading at Home Checklist for Parents - English. Spanish version.
Community Literacy Activities
Literacy in the Park - English. Spanish version.
Literacy Activities at the Doctor - English. Spanish version.
Literacy Activities at the Mall - English. Spanish version.
Literacy Activities in the Neighborhood - English. Spanish version.
RtI Handouts
Brochures
Response to Intervention Academics Brochure - English
Response to Intervention Academics Brochure - Spanish
Handouts for "Family Guide to Response to Intervention" Presentation
Questions to Ask About RtI (English)
Start With a Plan That Works for Everyone (English)
PBIS Handouts
Brochures
Response to Intervention Behavior Brochure - English
Response to Intervention Behavior Brochure - Spanish
Handouts for "Family Guide to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports" Presentation
Questions to Ask About PBIS (English)
Blank behavior matrix - English. Spanish version.
25 Ways to Ask Your Child How School Was (English)
Other PBIS Handouts
Free or low-cost rewards. English. Spanish.
Bedtime Cool Tool (From WI PBIS Network) (English)
Morning Routine Cool Tool (From WI PBIS Network) (English)
Resources
Links to outside webpages with additional information and resources.
Literacy Resources
Bilingual
Colorin Colorado: A bilingual site for families and educators of English language learners to help become better readers.
Unite for Literacy: Online children’s books with text in English or Spanish and narration in a variety of languages.
Literacy Center: Resources in English, Spanish, German and French.
Early Literacy
Get Ready to Read!: Designed to support educators, parents, and young children in the development of early literacy skills in the years before kindergarten. Intended for use with all children, the resources and information provided on this site promote skill-building, communication between adults, and ways to address concerns.
PBS Parents: Activities and reading strategies for children
Starfall: Phonics games for children
Reading is Fundamental Activities: Educational activities for children, sortable by age and topic
Fred Rogers Center Early Literacy Quick Clips Video Playlist
Elementary/Secondary Literacy
Reading Rockets parent resources: offers strategies, lessons, activities and ideas designed to help young children learn to read
Vocabulary development games from Vocabulary.Co.Il
Reading is Fundamental Activities: Educational activities for children, sortable by age and topic
Literacy Access - Libraries, Reading Programs, Online Resources for Free E-Books, etc.
Lit2Go: Classic literature for older children with audio
A Story Before Bed: A story book with video of the author reading the book
Mee Genius Free audio books
Story Nory: Audio stories
Day By Day New York: Daily books with audio with manual or automatic page turning, as well as daily activities, songs and videos on a monthly theme.
Loyal Books: Books for older children with streaming audio and downloadable chapters.
Screen Actor’s Guild Storyline Online: Videos with animated illustrations of books read aloud by famous names.
Literacy Interventions
Reading Rockets - Helping Struggling Readers
Literacy at Home and in the Community
Exploring the Literacy House from the National Center for Family Literacy
Making Room for Literacy (Video) from the Puckett Institute
10 Car Games to Get Your Child Ready to Read!
Partnering with your Child’s School About Literacy
Literacy Terms Defined for Parents (Free Printable Version Included)
Literacy Glossary for Parents of Primary-School Children (from UK)
Demonstration Videos
Reading with your child: Phonemic Awareness
Reading with your child: Fluency for grades K-3
Reading with your child: Comprehension
Penfield Children’s Center: Reading with your child
RtI Resources
Milwaukee Public Schools: RtI Process
PBIS Resources
Milwaukee Public Schools: PBIS