Parent Assisted Learning (PAL) Packets™

An Introduction for Teachers

Left-click on the arrow for the next slide

Right-click for navigational and other options

Introduction to PAL Packets

• What is a PAL Packet?• What is its purpose?• Components of PAL Packets• Getting parents involved and excited about them• How and when to use PAL Packets

What is a PAL Packet?• Short activity aligned to

an important skill or standard in Language Arts or Math

• Activity that students complete with their parents or guardians

• Activity that enriches and expands on classroom experiences

Why PAL Packets?• Expose the student to

education outside of the classroom

• Involve parents in their students’ education

• Create a positive learning environment in the student’s home

Why is parental involvement in education important?

[Students] are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, graduate from high school, and go on to higher education. Low-income and minority students benefit the most.

- National Coalition for Parental Involvement in Education

What are the Components of a PAL Packet?

Front Page• Contains the easily

recognized logo so you know what it is

• States the grade and subject for the PAL Packet

MathematicsGrade 3

• States the objective of the activity

Read Bar Graphs

Parent LetterParent A ssisted L earning

• States the objective in the first paragraph

Dear Parent or Guardian:

Your child is currently learning to read bar graphs. Here is your chance to help your child practice this important skill.

• Asks the parent to do the activities with the child and to have the paper returned to you

In this PAL Packet you will find a short activity for you and your child to do. Please do the activity and The Back Page this evening. Then sign your name on The Back Page and have your child return it tomorrow.

Remember, parents are a child’s first teacher. Thank you for your time and energy in making learning fun and exciting for your child.

Sincerely,

_________________________Your child’s teacher

Explanation Parent Assisted Learning

budget their income.

• Parent Pointer –Explains more about the objective such as why it is important, where it is used in real-life, etc.

Bar graphs are used in many occupations. Businesses use bar graphs to make projections and to record profits and losses.

USING BAR GRAPHS

Parent Pointer —

Educational institutions use bar graphs to record student enrollment, and families sometimes use bar graphs to help

• Directions – Explains in detail what to do

Math In the Home, On the Go, and For the Fun of It — DIRECTIONS: Read the information on the Learning to Read

Bar Graphs reference sheet with your parent or guardian. After looking at the graphs, review the data found in the

boxes at the bottom of the page. Be sure you understand how this data was obtained from the graphs. Then, you and your parent or guardian will read the data and answer questions on

the Bar Graph Reading activity pages. • Talk About It –Complete “The Back Page” after the activity

Talk About It — After you have finished the activity, turn to The Back Page to show what you know.

Activity

• Typically contains a graphic organizer explaining some basic ideas and showing some examples of the objective.

P a r e n t A s s i s t e d L e a r n i n g

L e a r n i n g t o R e a d B a r G r a p h s

V e r t i c a l B a r G r a p h

S n o w f a l l i n M y H o m e t o w n

05

1 01 5

2 02 5

N o v e m b e r D e c e m b e r J a n u a r y F e b r u a r y

M o n t h

B a r s g o f r o m b o t t o m t o t o p

R e a d t h e s c a l e n u m b e r w h e r e t h e b a r s e n d a t t h e t o p

H o r i z o n t a l B a r G r a p h

B a r s g o f r o m l e f t t o r i g h t R e a d t h e s c a l e n u m b e r w h e r e t h e b a r s e n d a t t h e r i g h t

T h e s e t w o b a r g r a p h s s h o w t h e f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n :

J a n u a r y h a d t h e m o s t s n o w f a l l , w i t h 2 0 i n c h e s o f s n o w .

N o v e m b e r h a d t h e l e a s t a m o u n t o f s n o w f a l l , w i t h 5 i n c h e s o f s n o w .

D e c e m b e r a n d F e b r u a r y h a d t h e s a m e a m o u n t o f s n o w f a l l , w i t h 1 0 i n c h e s o f s n o w .

Num

ber

of

Inch

es

S n o w f a l l i n M y H o m e t o w n

0 5 1 0 1 5 2 0 2 5

N o v e m b e r

D e c e m b e r

J a n u a r y

F e b r u a r y

Month

N u m b e r o f I n c h e s

Activity

• Designed to improve the student’s skills and give them extra practice

• Directly related to the objective of the PAL packet

P a r e n t A s s i s t e d L e a r n i n g

B a r G r a p h R e a d in g

D i r e c t io n s : D i s c u s s t h e d a t a r e c o r d e d o n t h e f o l l o w i n g g r a p h s w i t h y o u r p a r e n t o r g u a r d i a n . T h e n t a k e t u r n s w i t h y o u r p a r e n t o r g u a r d i a n t o fi l l i n t h e b l a n k s b e l o w e a c h g r a p h . C h e c k e a c h o t h e r ’s w o r k .

1 . T h e n u m b e r o f s t u d e n t s w h o l i k e b a s e b a l l t h e m o s t i s _ _ _ _ _ . 2 . _ _ _ _ _ _ s t u d e n t s l i k e b a s k e t b a l l t h e m o s t . 3 . T h e m o s t f a v o r i t e s p o r t i s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , w i t h _ _ _ _ _ s t u d e n t s

l i k i n g t h i s s p o r t . 4 . T h e l e a s t f a v o r i t e s p o r t i s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . 5 . T w e l v e s t u d e n t s l i k e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ t h e b e s t . 6 . F o o t b a l l i s l i k e d m o s t b y _ _ _ _ _ _ s t u d e n t s . 7 . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f s t u d e n t s w h o v o t e d i s _ _ _ _ _ .

F a v o r i t e S p o r t s o f S t u d e n t s

0

5

1 0

1 5

B a s e b a l l F o o t b a l l S o c c e r B a s k e t b a l l

S p o r t

Numb

er of

Stud

ents

• Has some type of worksheet or game for the parent and student to complete together

The Back PageThe Back Page

Parent A ssisted L earning

graph?How do you read the information on each type of bar

Parent — Ask your child the following questions:

What are two types of bar graphs?

Talk About It • Parent section – Has questions for parents to discuss with their student

__________________________ __________________________

Student’s Name Parent or Guardian’s Signature

• Parent and student sign the bottom and return to you

magazine. Have your parent or guardian ask you three questions about the information on the graph. Attach

Student — Answer the above questions in complete sentences on the reverse side of this page.

OR

Do the following activity on the reverse side of this page:

Find and cut out a bar graph from a newspaper or

the graph to this sheet and write the questions you were asked and your answers.

• Student section – Answer the questions or do an activity to turn in

Preparing and Involving Parents

• During parent conferences, introduce PAL Packets and give them an example

• Hold an informational night to show the Parent PowerPoint presentation

• Send home an informational letter explaining what a PAL Packet is and what you expect from the parents

Preparing and Involving Parents(continued)

• Encourage parents to communicate with you and take responsibility for their child’s education

• Discuss with parents the importance of good study habits

• Teach parents how to create positive learning environments in their homes

How do you use PAL Packets?

• Find one that complements what is being taught in the classroom

• Send the PAL packet home with the students to complete with their parents or guardians

• Make sure that the students know when it is due• Review the completed packet to make sure it was

done correctly

When do you use PAL Packets?

• When a student needs extra practice with the skill addressed by the PAL Packet, or,

• As often as possible – it is always good to include the parents in a child’s education

• Use them heavily in the weeks before state tests• Stick to a consistent schedule – for example,

assign a PAL Packet every other Friday and they are always due the following Wednesday

Research overwhelmingly demonstrates that parent involvement in children's learning is positively related to achievement.

- School Improvement Research SeriesKathleen Cotton and Karen Reed Wikelund

Enjoy using your PAL Packets!

Click here to return to the Main Menu