Parent Education Committee

In today's world, supporting our children's development involves much more than just making sure they have done their homework. We must also support our children's development as powerful thinkers and learners to give them the skills they need to be successful in the 21st century.

Leading Harvard university researcher Ron Ritchhart shared strategies, research and resources drawn from his work in the Worldwide Cultures of Thinking Project to help parents along this path. Sidenote: You can read more about Visible Thinking and its use at TASIS Portugal on our website.  

"Brain Matters" ELC Parent Night

The Early Learning Center faculty had a special screening of this documentary as part of their professional development program prior to the start of the school year. We are thrilled to host part two for parents of our youngest learners.

Why is it that some children thrive while others do not? Is it a matter of genetics, IQ, socioeconomic background or education? "Brain Matters" is a groundbreaking documentary about the science of the early years of life. The film reveals how learning begins far before children go to school and highlights the experiences that help them prosper in life. Join us for a screening and stimulating discussion with "Brain Matters" writer and director Carlota Nelson and producer Steven J. Posner, who is also a proud TASIS Portugal parent.

Carlota Nelson is a filmmaker and director of the groundbreaking feature documentary, "Brain Matters", a film that explores the development of the brain in early childhood. She is a Knowledge Fellow at ECDAN (Early Childhood Development Action Network), a member of The Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain, and is on the board of the Steering Committee at Karanga, the Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills.

Her documentary work has spanned global social and cultural topics, including art and apartheid in South Africa, censorship in Kuala Lumpur, and recidivism in America's women's prisons. Nelson's first feature documentary, "Anclados", premiered across Europe in 2010. The film tells the story of the crew of a Russian trawler quarantined in a Spanish port following the collapse of the Soviet Union. To learn more about Nelson, please visit her LinkedIn profile.

Steven J. Posner is an entrepreneur, leadership advisor, bio hacker, and father. Producer of "Brain Matters", Steven has been deeply involved in all aspects of the film's production, including financing, story development, production leadership, marketing, partnerships, and distribution. More info on Steven can be found on LinkedIn.

NoticeAbility

For parents of students with dyslexia in 1st through 8th Grades

Learn more about NoticeAbility's partnership with the Magellan Campaign: Download the presentation

Thanks to a friend of TASIS Portugal, Susie Joyce, founder of Dyslexia Portugal, we were honored to have presentations for faculty and parents by NoticeAblity founder Dean Bragonier and his wife.

Several years ago, a colleague gave Dean Bragonier a copy of The Dyslexic Advantage, not realizing how impactful this gift would be. Painfully aware of the challenges associated with his own dyslexia, the psychological impact of being perceived as "different" and the hurdles encountered in his academic journey, Dean was intrigued by the findings of neuroscientists Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide. In the pages of their book, he discovered the cognitive advantages associated with his dyslexia… gifts that, until that moment, he had not given the value they deserved.

As the father of a young son with dyslexia, Dean wrestled with the obstacles he knew his child would face in school. How could the social-emotional challenges be addressed by the discoveries laid out in the pages of The Dyslexic Advantage? If students with dyslexia discovered their cognitive strengths, would they develop healthier self-esteem?

If these students were exposed to professions where dyslexics are disproportionately successful, would they be more engaged in the academic process and cultivate the resilience they need to survive? Would knowledge of "dyslexic benefits" make these students less likely to drop out and engage in risky behaviors?

Dean founded NoticeAbility in 2015. Within three years of its launch, NoticeAbility’s curricula were translated into Dutch and Portuguese and were being used to empower students with dyslexia in public and private schools, homeschools and after-school programs in 31 states and 26 countries.

Dean Starbuck Bragonier is the Founder & Executive Dyslexic at NoticeAbility, a National Board Member of the International Dyslexia Association.

Check out his TED Talk (here) • Watch NoticeAbility in action (here) •Watch "From the Classroom to the Boardroom"(here)

A Webinar for Middle School Parents: Social Emotional Learning

for parents of students in 6th through 8th Grades

Project Wayfinder designs research-based curriculum for students to develop social, emotional, and life-ready skills so they can thrive in school and beyond. During this training we will cover what social emotional learning is, why it is important as well as review the Project Wayfinder curriculum. We want all parents to experience the curriculum and have strategies for talking to their students about this work. The session will be participatory and we invite guardians to bring questions they may have as well!

Presenter Bio: The Wayfinder training is led by Alie Kelley who is the Director of School Success at Project Wayfinder. Her key roles involve supporting schools and youth programs across the globe with implementing Project Wayfinder and finding custom ways to have this work flourish in each school. Alie has over 10 years of education and social impact start-up experience. She started her career as a special education teacher in the California Bay Area and later became a school founder, coach and researcher working at both traditional public and charter schools. Alie is a certified mindfulness educator and yoga teacher. Throughout her time working in schools, Alie was guided by one question: What are the systems, processes, instructional practices and curriculum that help all students thrive? Alie believes answering this question is essential to helping students grow into curious and confident young adults equipped to lead purposeful lives.

Additional SEL resources:
College Admission: Do You Belong?
Why Your School's SEL Curriculum Needs a Revamp

"Parenting During the Pandemic" a timely and relevant webinar sponsored by the TASIS Parent Association. 

The TPA Parent Education Committee was very excited to screen the IndieFlix movie “LIKE”, a documentary about finding balance in a digital world, for middle school parents. This screening was inspired by one of our parents, Emma Alazard, who provided informational sessions on social media for our middle school students and parents.

View Emma's Handout for Parents  •  View Emma's Handout for Kids

The filmmakers of LIKE inspire kids and teens to consider a life of JOMO (joy of missing out) as opposed to FOMO. They use their proven 4 E formula: entertainment, empathy, enlightenment, and a heavy dose of empowerment, arming their audiences with easy-to-execute strategies to change their habits that very same day. Research and data is plentiful: happiness surges when we have digital balance, not overload; when we give ourselves time to look at actual trees, animals and all things nature, as well as interact – however we can - with other humans.