Parents as Teachers Program

Vision: All children will learn, grow, and develop to realize their full potential

The Parents as Teachers Program (PAT) is a program that is based both in the home and at school. The PAT curriculum is based on reliable and current research in areas of child development and neuroscience and addresses the five areas of school readiness that play key roles in children’s success in school as identified by the National Education Goals Panel. These include physical well-being and motor development, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, language development, and cognition and general knowledge.

Certified parent educators conduct monthly individualized personal visits that support the development of the whole child and include content that addresses school readiness dimensions. Parents learn what to expect of children in terms of learning and development and how to orchestrate the experiences to which their children are exposed. Group meetings provide the opportunity for participating parents to share insights, experiences, and parenting concerns while learning about parenting practices and school/community resources. Weekly Learn & Play sessions are held at participating schools to establish an early link between home and school. Early school readiness skills are taught to help children and families make the transition to pre-kindergarten and/or kindergarten. Parent educators connect parents to community agencies and resources (including FWISD services) that are outside the scope of what the PAT program offers. Finally, PAT offers periodic screening of overall development, language, hearing, and vision to provide early detection of potential problems and prevent difficulties later in school.

The FWISD program offers Parents as Teachers in 4 elementary schools and the Lowden-Shutts Center for Women and Children at the Presbyterian Night Shelter.

For additional information, please contact Julie Miers at 817.814.3330, 817.269.3610 (cell), or julie.miers@fwisd.org