News Briefs

About 67,000 Dallas ISD students are designated as English Language Learners, those who do not natively speak English. That represents more than 40 percent of the district’s total student population of 160,000 students. This week, Dallas ISD English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers are taking time out from summer break to better prepare for the coming school year. For the first time, a special training designed to address challenges unique to their classrooms. The training, conducted at Sam Tasby Middle School, included guest experts who presented information to attendees. Tuesday morning’s first session focused on how social-emotional learning affects…

Dallas ISD parents and students can learn about new student registration, school hours, meal information, and more on the Back to School homepage that launched July 20. Click here to view the Back to School homepage. Aug. 24 is the first day of school for students.

Turn trash into crafts! Kids can paint empty egg cartons his or her favorite color and store small items such as beads or neat rocks. Paper or Styrofoam egg cartons can be used to hold paint for art projects, too. Or plant your very own miniature garden! Use each well to plant seeds that grow flowers or herbs.

Brad Mayfield, a social studies teacher at William B. Travis Academy, was one of 30 educators from across the nation selected to attend C-SPAN’s 2015 Summer Educators’ Conference held in Washington, DC. Mayfield competed with applicants from across the country to secure a place at the conference. It helps educators discover how to integrate C-SPAN’s programs and C-SPAN Classroom’s free web-based primary source materials into classroom activities to create engaging learning experiences for students. The conference brings together middle school teachers who specialize in social studies and/or technology. Throughout the event participants learn more about C-SPAN, its online archive of…