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North Dakota State PIRC is a Parent Information and Resource Center; Funded by US Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement

Print Materials

The following is a list of print materials we distribute. These materials are not available to view or print from our website, but you may request copies of these materials to be sent to you, at no cost. All materials listed below are available free of charge to North Dakota residents. If you are interested in receiving any of these titles, contact us by phone at (701) 837-7510 or 1-888-763-7277, or by email at [email protected]. You may request multiple copies of any item, if available.

Bullying Prevention

Educator�s Guide to Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats
17 pages
Booklet
Young people have fully embraced the Internet as both an environment and a tool for socializing. Unfortunately, there are increasing reports of teenagers (and sometimes younger children) using these technologies to post damaging text or images to bully their peers or engage in other aggressive behavior. There are also increasing reports of teens posting material that raises concerns that they are considering an act of violence toward others or themselves. This guide provides educators with insight into these concerns and guidelines to prevent and respond.


Parent's Guide to Cyberbullying
15 pages
Booklet
Young people have fully embraced the Internet as both an environment and a tool for socializing. Unfortunately, there are increasing reports of teenagers (and sometimes younger children) using these technologies to post damaging text or images to bully their peers or engage in other aggressive behavior. There are also increasing reports of teens posting material that raises concerns that they are considering an act of violence toward others or themselves. This guide provides parents with insight into these concerns and guidelines to prevent your child from being victimized by or engaging in online harmful behavior. It also provides guidance on things you can do in either case.


Crisis Prevention

Self-Injury: A silent scream
8 panels
Brochure
An estimated two million people in the United States cut, burn or otherwise inflict injury on themselves as a means of coping with overwhelming feelings. The majority of those who practice this most hidden of self-destructive behaviors are young women, who generally begin in adolescence and often continue the practice into their 30s. The pamphlet explains the reasons people self-injure and provides extensive suggestions for approaching a friend or family member you suspect of self-injuring.


The Explorers: Making Discoveries About Yourself
12 pages
Activity Book
"The Explorers" is an activity book that provides youth with tools for enhancing positive behavior. Puzzles, word problems, and other games cover important concepts including coping with problems and discovering positive strategies to use in angry situations. Famous explorers lead kids through "explorations" in anger resolution, coping strategy development, and self-esteem building. Children learn to understand their own feelings and reactions to situations. Grades 4-5


Understanding Eating Disorders
16 pages
Brochure
Examines a wide range of disorders, with special focus on anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Reviews symptoms, origins, warning signs, and treatments. Stresses the positive influence friends and family can have.


Drugs & Alcohol

101 Things You Should Know About Drugs: An Educational Activities Book
18 pages
Activity Book
Provides plenty for youngsters to think about when faced with a decision about using tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs. Text helps them understand the consequences of drinking and drug use and provides strategies for saying "no" and keeping drugs and alcohol out of their lives, such as positive friends and healthy activities. For grades 3-6.


A Parent�s Guide To Drinking Driving & Drugs
8 panels
Brochure
This handy guide gives parents the essential facts on teenage drunk/drugged driving. It discusses the effects of alcohol on driving ability and teaches concerned parents effective communication skills. Helpful refusal tips are also included giving teens prepared responses to pushes of using drugs and alcohol so they can make the right choice.


Drugosaurs! A Drug Education Activity Book
24 pages
Activity Book
Take children to another place and time -- the world of the Drugosaurs - to create drug awareness and prevent drug abuse. Drugosaurs teach children to make smart and healthy choices by avoiding drugs. The underlying theme of the activity book is a "Don't go extinct!" no-use message.


Parents & Drugs: Helping Your Child Keep Free Time Drug-Free
8 panels
Brochure
With more children having more unsupervised time, it's imperative that their time be filled with constructive activities. This handout guides parents in keeping their children involved in community organizations, communicating rules of the house to a child who stays home alone, getting to know their children's friends, and setting firm rules for parties.


Pregnant? It's Time to Think About More Than Just Yourself
2 sides
Bookmark
Facts about the effects of methamphetamine on babies before and after birth.


Emotional Issues

Teen Esteem! Feeling Good About Yourself
8 panels
Brochure
Shows how self-esteem affects teens' lives, encourages setting goals, and offers daily statements teens can use to build a positive self-image.


Learning

Helping Your Child Learn - A Guide for Parents of Children in Grades K to 3
16 pages
Booklet
This updated, photographically illustrated guide gives parents of children in grades K to 3 the tips, tools, and techniques they need to develop a love of learning in their child! Helps them set the stage for school success with teaching tips, projects, and activities to expand their child's knowledge in reading, writing, math, geography, science, and more. Also discusses conflict resolution, wise TV use, ways to celebrate diversity, and much more.


Homework Lessons for Parents
16 pages
Booklet
Encourages parents to help their children with homework by emphasizing the importance of their involvement, and reassuring them that they can offer meaningful assistance. Gives practical tips on how to set up a study area, schedule daily study times, motivate young learners, and more.


How To Help Your Child With Homework
8 pages
Booklet
Encourages parents to instill good study habits in their child by consistently showing interest in their child's schoolwork; setting up a place to study at home; and, most importantly, making sure their child understands the importance of learning.


Math

At-Home Activities to Help Your Child Learn Math
16 pages
Booklet
Easy to read and easy to understand, this study book provides a series of fun, age-appropriate math activities for parents to do with children in grades pre-K through 5. It helps enhance students' comprehension of important math concepts, and helps parents feel more confident about their own ability to use math with their children.


Misc. Parent Issues

Preparing for School Transfers - A Guide for Military Families
16 pages
Booklet
This useful booklet shows military parents how to help their child prepare for and adapt to a new school after a military transfer or permanent change of station (PCS) move. Gives key planning strategies to make the transition easier on children and parents alike. Parents get tips on communicating openly with their children and with school personnel, and on providing a sense of routine and keeping a positive attitude.


No Child Left Behind/Title I/Other Laws

About School-Parent Compacts
16 pages
Booklet
Provides a clear explanation of what a school-parent compact is; the responsibilities of schools, parents, and students; and what all participants can do to support the compact. Describes methods used to monitor the success of the compact.


About Schoolwide Title I Programs
16 pages
Booklet
Now that entire schools are applying for Title I funding, parents and staff have an opportunity to plan how to best improve the school and its programs. This booklet explains how schoolwide Title I programs work, and how they might be used.


Student Confidentiality: The FERPA/HIPAA Facts
20 pages
Booklet
This handbook addresses existing federal laws that govern student confidentiality, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).


Title I, Your Child, and You
8 pages
Booklet
This booklet is a great way to help parents become part of the success of Title I in giving every child a high-quality education. It explains how the program works -- detailing its key features -- and encourages participation.


Title I� What Parents Should Know
16 pages
Booklet
Explains this federal aid program, and emphasizes the benefits that result when parents take an active role. Encourages parents to create an at-home atmosphere that fosters a love of learning; offers sources of help and information. Same content as Classic booklet, "Your Title I Program."


Understanding the No Child Behind Act
32 pages
Booklet
This practical, interactive guide helps parents understand their rights and responsibilities under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, including their right to reports on teacher quality, and their school's standards, testing, safety record, and adequate yearly progress (AYP). Covers school choice and supplemental services (SES), and emphasizes that school success begins at home. Hands-on pages include space for tracking student achievement, listing questions to ask during meetings with educators, and recording ways to help students build skills at home.


Parent Involvement

About Volunteering at Your Child's School
16 pages
Booklet
This unique recruitment tool shows parents how and why to become volunteers. It illustrates the great variety of ways in which parent volunteers help out at school, and readies parents for the next step by suggesting they contact the school, PTA, or Title I program coordinator.


Family Learning Is Fun! A Home And School Partnership Calendar, 2007-2008
28 pages
Calendar
A variety of fun activities encourage parents to read to their children, help with homework, and play games that build on the lessons learned in school. A terrific way to foster creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning in every child!


Getting Parents Involved
32 pages
Booklet
When parents are made to feel welcome, their involvement in their children's education increases. This handbook explains the many easy ways in which school staff members can extend that welcome through written communication, phone calls, and constructive parent-teacher conferences; as well as ways to overcome barriers to meaningul parent involvement such as parents' education levels, language differences, and schedules. Hands-on worksheets provide space for making a communication plan, developing workshops that encourage parent involvement, and accessing what is needed in the way of school support. A must-have for helping improve academic achievement, test scores, and dropout rates, and complying with NCLB mandates.


How to Be Involved in Your Child's Education
32 pages
Booklet
When does a parent become a teacher? The minute his or her child is born! And that role doesn't end when the child begins school, as this interactive handbook makes clear. In easy-to-read text, it explains how everyone benefits - students, parents, and schools - when parents are involved in their child?s education, and explains the simple things parents can do to make learning an everyday occurrence. Hands-on pages provide space for parents to write down their expectations and rules for their child, keep track of important contact information, record questions they may have about school policies, and track their child's progress.


Parent-Teacher Conferences - Tips for Success
8 panels
Brochure
Parents and teachers make a great team, and parent-teacher conferences are the perfect time to build strategies for student success -- together. This helpful folder gives tips for making the most of parent-teacher conferences, including ways to prepare, suggestions of questions to ask, and encouragement to follow up on what is discussed.


Reading

Helping Your Child Become a Better Reader
16 pages
Booklet
This lively study book uses appealing photographic illustrations to help deliver the message that reading is a key to success in school -- and life! Full of engaging ideas for making reading part of everyday life -- including telling family stories, making a book with one's child, and playing word games -- it shows parents of children in grades K to 3 ways to make reading fun for the whole family. Emphasizes the importance of being a good "reading role model," provides tips for working with a child's school to reinforce learning at home, and lists ways to promote learning from a distance for parents who don't live with their children. Addresses 5 key early reading skills, as outlined by Reading First, and is correlated to the Standards for the English Language Arts, as written by the International Reading Association and NCTE.


Helping Your Child Get Ready to Read
32 pages
Booklet
Reading is not only necessary for school success -- it's also fun! That's the message in this upbeat handbook that emphasizes the importance of introducing children to reading at an early age, and shows parents how to make reading part of everyday life. Includes information on the five key reading skills of the National Reading Panel's "Reading First" initiative (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). Ideas for activities -- such as visiting the library -- are provided, and hands-on features such as word games and reading logs support skill building.


Know What? We Like to Read
12 pages
Booklet
The focus is on fun because that's the perfect way to "pitch" reading to elementary-school-age children. Easy-to-read text and interactive exercises help children build skills that can increase their reading proficiency and their enjoyment of reading. They're directed to sources of reading materials on the things that interest them, and get encouragement to read every day -- in school and at home.


Social Issues

Peer Power! The Other Side of Peer Pressure
8 panels
Brochure
Encourages replacing negative peer pressure with positive peer support and gives young people effective options for dealing with peer pressure.


Testing

About Test Anxiety
16 pages
Booklet
The ideal booklet for everyone who suffers from test-related anxiety, whether it is a minor irritation or seriously affects their grades. It explores causes of test anxiety, and offers helpful tips on minimizing its impact.


Test Anxiety - Tips for Success
8 pages
Booklet
There are techniques involved in testing well, and this booklet offers several! Readers learn the best ways to take essay exams, objective tests, short-answer exams, and standardized tests. Booklet also explains how to build confidence and reduce stress.