Skip to main content

Family Supports and Resources

Illustration of diverse families interacting, with text 'Family Support & Resources' overlaid.

  • Early Literacy and Print Awareness

    Early literacy begins with understanding how books and print work, recognizing letters, developing oral language, and building an interest in stories and information.

    Phonological and Phonemic Awareness

    Phonological awareness is the ability to hear and work with the sounds in spoken language. This includes recognizing rhymes and syllables and blending, segmenting, adding, deleting, or changing individual sounds in words.

    Letter-Sound Relationships and Phonics

    Phonics teaches students how letters and letter combinations represent sounds. Students use these relationships to read and spell unfamiliar words.

    • UFLI Foundations Toolbox organizes phonics concepts by UFLI lesson and includes sample words, word chains, decodable passages, games, and practice sheets.
    • UFLI Home Support includes English and Spanish directions and printable letter tiles for home practice.
    • UFLI Home-Practice Video demonstrates how caregivers can use the weekly practice sheet.
    • UFLI Letter-Sound Pronunciation Video demonstrates how to pronounce sounds without adding an extra “uh.”
    • Reading Rockets: Phonics and Decoding explains how children learn to connect sounds with print.
    • IXL Language Arts provides skill-specific instruction and practice with vowels, consonants, digraphs, blends, silent-e patterns, vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, and other phonics patterns.
    • Footsteps2Brilliance provides bilingual letter, sound, and early-phonics games for young learners.

    Decoding and Multisyllabic Words

    Decoding is the process of using sound-spelling knowledge to read unfamiliar words. As students progress, they learn to divide longer words into syllables and recognize meaningful word parts.

    • UFLI Foundations Toolbox includes lessons and practice with closed, open, silent-e, vowel-team, r-controlled, and consonant-le syllables.
    • Reading Universe provides explanations and classroom videos covering decoding, syllable types, multisyllabic words, and structured literacy.
    • IXL Language Arts provides practice with syllable division, compound words, prefixes, suffixes, roots, and multisyllabic decoding.
    • Reading and Writing SOS answers common family questions about sounding out words and supporting a child who struggles with decoding.

    Spelling, Encoding, and Word Study

    Encoding is using sound and spelling knowledge to write words. Effective spelling instruction connects directly to phonemic awareness, phonics, syllable patterns, and meaningful word parts.

    • UFLI Home Support provides word-building activities using printable letter tiles.
    • UFLI Foundations Toolbox includes word chains, spelling practice, irregular words, and lesson-aligned home-practice sheets.
    • IXL Language Arts provides practice with sound-based spelling, syllable patterns, irregular words, homophones, prefixes, suffixes, Greek and Latin roots, and other word-study concepts.
    • Reading Universe Writing Resources include instruction and videos related to spelling, handwriting, typing, and written language.

    Reading Fluency

    Fluency is the ability to read accurately, at an appropriate pace, and with expression. Fluent reading allows students to focus more attention on understanding the text.

    • Reading Rockets: Fluency includes videos, explanations, and activities such as repeated reading and modeled fluent reading.
    • Reading and Writing SOS addresses family questions about slow, choppy, or inaccurate reading.
    • UFLI Decodable Passages allow students to practice reading connected text containing previously taught phonics patterns.
    • Footsteps2Brilliance provides narrated bilingual books that allow developing readers to hear fluent, expressive reading.
    • Families can build fluency by taking turns reading, echo reading, rereading a familiar passage, or reading a text together.

    Vocabulary and Oral Language

    Vocabulary includes understanding and using words in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Rich conversations and content knowledge help children understand increasingly complex texts.

    • Reading Rockets: Vocabulary provides videos and activities for developing word knowledge.
    • Freckle ELA builds vocabulary through fiction and nonfiction passages adapted to each student’s level.
    • IXL Language Arts provides practice with context clues, synonyms, antonyms, shades of meaning, affixes, roots, and academic vocabulary.
    • Footsteps2Brilliance develops vocabulary through bilingual stories, songs, images, and interactive activities.
    • Families can support vocabulary by discussing unfamiliar words, connecting them to known ideas, and using them in new sentences.

    Reading Comprehension

    Comprehension is the ability to understand, interpret, and learn from text. It depends on accurate reading, vocabulary, background knowledge, knowledge of language structures, and active thinking.

    • Reading Rockets: Comprehension explains skills such as retelling, summarizing, questioning, making inferences, and identifying important ideas.
    • Freckle ELA provides adaptive fiction and nonfiction passages with comprehension questions.
    • IXL Language Arts provides practice with main idea, details, sequence, cause and effect, text structure, inference, theme, point of view, author’s purpose, and comparing texts.
    • Reading and Writing SOS answers common family questions about understanding and discussing text.
    • Footsteps2Brilliance allows younger students to listen to, read, discuss, and respond to interactive stories.

    Families can support comprehension by asking: “What happened?” “What is the most important idea?” “What did you learn?” “What evidence supports your thinking?” and “What questions do you still have?”

    Knowledge-Building and Informational Reading

    Students become stronger readers when they develop knowledge about science, history, geography, culture, the arts, and the wider world.

    • Freckle ELA includes nonfiction passages on science, history, and current-interest topics at multiple reading levels.
    • IXL includes informational texts and skills related to text features, main ideas, evidence, text structures, and integrating information.
    • Smithsonian Learning Lab offers free texts, images, videos, artifacts, and collections related to history, culture, science, and the arts.
    • Families can build knowledge by reading nonfiction, visiting museums and parks, watching educational programs, and discussing how new information connects with prior learning.

    Sentence Construction, Grammar, and Conventions

    Strong sentences communicate complete, clear, and connected ideas. Students learn how word choice, sentence structure, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar make writing easier to understand.

    • Reading Universe: Sentence Expansion demonstrates how students add meaningful details to simple sentences.
    • Reading Universe Writing Resources provide videos and activities related to sentence construction, handwriting, spelling, and typing.
    • IXL Language Arts provides targeted instruction and practice with complete sentences, parts of speech, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, sentence combining, and sentence revision.
    • Footsteps2Brilliance includes beginning sentence-building and writing activities for young learners.

    Planning and Organizing Writing

    Before drafting, writers identify their purpose and audience, generate ideas, gather information, and organize their thinking.

    Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Writing

    Students write for different purposes throughout the year: telling stories, explaining information, and supporting opinions with reasons and evidence.

    • IXL provides grade-level practice with narrative organization, informational paragraphs, opinion writing, reasons and evidence, introductions, conclusions, and transitions.
    • ReadWriteThink offers free writing organizers, interactive tools, and activities related to stories, poetry, informational writing, and persuasive writing.
    • Reading Rockets: Writing Basics explains the development of different types of elementary writing.
    • Footsteps2Brilliance provides beginning storytelling and writing opportunities connected to interactive books.

    Revising, Editing, and Publishing

    Revision improves the meaning, organization, clarity, and effectiveness of writing. Editing occurs after revision and focuses on spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation.

    • Reading Rockets: Revising explains how revision differs from simply correcting mistakes.
    • Reading Rockets: Looking at Writing demonstrates the stages of planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
    • IXL provides targeted practice with adding details, strengthening word choice, reorganizing ideas, correcting sentences, and editing conventions.
    • Reading and Writing SOS provides short expert videos answering family questions about writing development and motivation.

    When responding to a child’s writing, begin with the message: “What are you trying to tell your reader?” and “Where could you make your idea clearer or more detailed?” Save spelling and punctuation corrections until after the ideas have been developed and revised.

  • Mathematics at Independent

    Math instruction at Independent focuses on conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning. Students learn not only how to solve problems, but also why strategies work, how concepts connect, and how to explain their thinking using words, models, equations, and evidence.

    Eureka Math

    Independent uses Eureka Math as its core K–5 mathematics curriculum. Eureka develops mathematical understanding through carefully sequenced lessons and consistent visual models that build from grade to grade. Students explore multiple strategies, discuss their reasoning, develop efficient procedures, and apply their learning to increasingly complex problems.

    Eureka Math Family Tip Sheets

    Great Minds provides free Eureka Math Family Tip Sheets for every grade and topic. These resources explain what students are learning, define important vocabulary, demonstrate the models and strategies used in class, connect new learning to previous concepts, and suggest ways families can provide support. Tip sheets are available in English and Spanish.

    Eureka Math Video Support

    Not sure what a number bond, tape diagram, place-value chart, or another Eureka Math strategy means?

    Duane Habecker’s Eureka Math video playlists provide step-by-step videos organized by grade, module, and lesson. Select your child’s grade and current module to locate the matching lesson.

    Great Minds also has an official Eureka Math Family Resources page with grade-level roadmaps, Family Tip Sheets, and introductory videos explaining major Eureka models. It is more polished and parent-focused, but EMBARC has the more complete lesson-by-lesson video collection.

    Freckle Math

    Freckle provides adaptive math practice based on each student’s current level and learning needs. Students may complete teacher-assigned activities or independent practice in areas such as number sense, operations, fractions, measurement, geometry, and data. Families can learn more through the Freckle at Home Guide. Short, consistent practice sessions are generally more effective than completing many activities at once.

    IXL Math

    IXL Math gives students targeted practice across a wide range of grade-level math skills. Interactive questions, examples, videos, and explanations provide immediate feedback and help students learn from errors. Students should prioritize skills assigned or recommended by their teacher and take time to review explanations instead of rushing to increase a score.

    How to Support Math at Home

    When your child needs assistance, begin with questions instead of giving the answer: “What is the problem asking?” “What do you already know?” “Can you draw a model?” “Which strategy did you use in class?” or “How can you check whether your answer makes sense?” Encourage your child to explain their reasoning and treat mistakes as useful information about what to try next.

    Family Math in Everyday Life

    Stanford University’s DREME Family Math provides playful activities that turn cooking, shopping, household routines, games, and neighborhood walks into opportunities for mathematical thinking. No special materials or advanced math knowledge are required, and many activities are available in Spanish.

    Free Virtual Math Tools

    The Math Learning Center offers free virtual manipulatives, including number lines, number frames, base-ten pieces, fraction models, geoboards, clocks, money pieces, and number racks. These visual tools can help children represent a problem and make sense of abstract concepts without replacing their own reasoning.

    Khan Academy

    Khan Academy’s K–8 Math Resources include free instructional videos, examples, and practice organized by grade and concept. Khan Academy can be useful when a student needs to review a prerequisite skill, see an additional explanation, or practice a specific concept identified by the teacher.

    Bedtime Math

    Bedtime Math offers short, playful stories followed by math questions for different age levels. Families can read the story, talk through the numbers, compare strategies, and make informal math conversation part of a regular routine.

    Building Fluency

    Math fluency means being able to use accurate, efficient, and flexible strategies—not simply answering as quickly as possible. Card games, dice games, board games, estimation, mental math, cooking, measuring, and discussing different ways to solve the same problem all strengthen fluency while keeping math meaningful and enjoyable.

  • Social Studies and Science at Independent

    Social studies and science instruction at Independent is designed around curiosity, investigation, discussion, and evidence. Students do more than memorize information: they ask meaningful questions, examine sources and phenomena, conduct investigations, consider different perspectives, and communicate conclusions.

    inquirED Inquiry Journeys

    Independent uses inquirED’s Inquiry Journeys for K–5 social studies. Each unit begins with a compelling question that students investigate using primary and secondary sources, maps, images, texts, videos, and discussion. Students build knowledge of history, geography, civics, economics, and culture while strengthening reading, writing, speaking, critical-thinking, and evidence-analysis skills.

    TCI Bring Science Alive!

    Independent uses TCI’s Bring Science Alive! for elementary science. This inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Students investigate real-world phenomena, develop and test models, collect and analyze evidence, explain their thinking, and apply scientific ideas to engineering challenges.

    Supporting Inquiry at Home

    Families can strengthen inquiry skills by encouraging children to notice, wonder, investigate, and explain. When your child asks a question, consider responding with: “What do you notice?” “What do you think might be happening?” “What evidence supports your idea?” or “How could we find out?” Visits to parks, museums, historical sites, libraries, and community events can also become opportunities for meaningful investigation.

    Smithsonian Learning Lab

    The free Smithsonian Learning Lab gives families access to millions of images, artifacts, recordings, texts, videos, and expert-created collections. Children can explore history, art, culture, science, technology, and the natural world through authentic objects from across the Smithsonian’s museums and research centers.

    Library of Congress

    The Library of Congress Education Resources allow students and families to explore photographs, maps, letters, newspapers, recordings, and other primary sources from throughout American history. Examining original sources helps children ask questions, identify perspective, compare evidence, and better understand how knowledge about the past is constructed.

    Smithsonian Social Studies and Civics

    The Smithsonian offers free Social Studies and Civics Resources organized for students from the early elementary grades through high school. Resources explore history, geography, culture, identity, government, civic participation, and the ways communities change over time.

    Exploratorium Science Activities

    The Exploratorium’s Science Activities collection includes more than 300 hands-on, teacher-tested investigations for curious learners of all ages. Many activities use inexpensive household materials and encourage children to observe, experiment, revise their ideas, and explain how everyday phenomena work.

    California Academy of Sciences at Home

    The California Academy of Sciences offers free Science at Home activity packs for children ages 4–11. Families can explore animals, ecosystems, astronomy, biodiversity, and the environment through guided videos, crafts, observations, and hands-on experiments.

    NASA Learning Resources

    NASA’s K–4 Learning Resources and Grades 5–8 Learning Resources include videos, articles, games, engineering challenges, and hands-on activities. Students can investigate space, Earth science, aeronautics, technology, and current NASA missions.

    Explore Science Outdoors

    Every walk can become a science investigation. Families can observe seasonal changes, compare plants and animals, study shadows, track weather, examine rocks and soil, or document living things in a neighborhood or park. Encourage your child to make careful observations, record questions, draw models, look for patterns, and use evidence to explain what they discover.

  • Social-Emotional Learning at Independent

    Social-emotional learning is woven throughout the school day at Independent. Through Second Step, PBIS, and ADL’s anti-bias curriculum, students learn to understand and manage emotions, build healthy relationships, solve problems, make responsible decisions, appreciate differences, and stand up for themselves and others. These skills support students’ well-being, sense of belonging, and readiness to learn.

    Second Step

    Second Step helps students develop skills for learning and life, including empathy, emotional regulation, problem-solving, responsible decision-making, and positive relationships. The family resource page includes information and activities caregivers can use to reinforce these skills at home.

    PBIS and SOAR

    Independent uses Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports to explicitly teach, model, practice, and positively recognize the behaviors that allow everyone to thrive. Our SOAR expectations—Safe, Organized, Achieve Goals, and Respectful—create consistent language across classrooms and common areas. Students may receive Eagle Wings when they demonstrate these expectations. Families can explore PBIS strategies for home to build positive routines, clarify expectations, recognize growth, and respond consistently to behavior.

    Anti-Bias Education

    ADL’s Anti-Bias Education helps students develop positive identities, understand and value differences, recognize unfairness and bias, and take action to create a more inclusive community. Lessons encourage age-appropriate conversations about identity, diversity, fairness, stereotypes, empathy, and allyship. ADL also provides additional resources for families and educators.

    No Place for Hate

    Independent is proud to participate in No Place for Hate, a student-centered initiative that brings our school community together to address bias, bullying, inclusion, and allyship. Through schoolwide activities and conversations, students learn that everyone shares responsibility for creating a community where people feel safe, respected, valued, and included.

    Supporting Social-Emotional Skills at Home

    The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning provides information about the five core areas of social-emotional development: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Families can support these skills through predictable routines, emotion coaching, collaborative problem-solving, opportunities for independence, and conversations about how choices affect others.

    Executive Function and Self-Regulation

    Executive-function skills help children focus, remember directions, manage impulses, shift between tasks, organize materials, and work toward goals. Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child offers a free guide to executive function and age-appropriate games and activities families can use to strengthen these skills.

    Friendship, Conflict, and Bullying

    Conflict is a normal part of learning how to navigate relationships, while bullying involves repeated aggressive behavior and a real or perceived imbalance of power. Stop Bullying helps families understand the difference, recognize warning signs, talk with children, and respond when a child is experiencing, witnessing, or engaging in bullying. Families should contact the teacher or school office when concerns arise so the school can understand the situation and respond appropriately.

    Digital Citizenship and Online Relationships

    Children need guidance to communicate respectfully, protect their privacy, recognize harmful online behavior, and develop healthy technology habits. Common Sense Media provides family resources related to digital citizenship, screen time, cyberbullying, online safety, media balance, and age-appropriate technology use.

  • School Health Services

    CVUSD’s Health Services Department supports students’ health, safety, and ability to participate fully in school. Families can find information and forms related to immunizations, medications at school, health conditions, physical examinations, and other student health needs. Contact the Independent office if your child has a medical condition or may need health support during the school day.

    Medical Care and Health Insurance

    Families looking for a doctor, clinic, immunizations, health insurance, or low-cost medical services can explore Alameda County’s Health Services. Alameda Health System also provides primary, specialty, and emergency care throughout the county, including services for patients with Medi-Cal or limited insurance coverage.

    Dental Health

    Alameda County’s Healthy Smiles Program helps connect children and teens with preventive and urgent dental care. Assistance may be available for families who are uninsured or underinsured, including help finding a dentist and determining eligibility for no-cost services.

    Mental and Behavioral Health

    Alameda County’s Child and Young Adult System of Care provides culturally and linguistically responsive mental-health and substance-use services for children, young adults, and families who have or may qualify for Medi-Cal. Families can also contact Independent’s school psychologist or school counselor for support, consultation, and connections to appropriate school or community resources.

    Support for Caregivers

    The Family Education and Resource Center supports Alameda County families caring for a child, teen, or adult experiencing mental-health challenges. Families can receive information, education, referrals, assistance navigating mental-health systems, and opportunities to connect with other caregivers.

    Food and Nutrition Support

    The Alameda County Community Food Bank helps families find free groceries, fresh food, and prepared meals near their homes. Assistance is available in multiple languages. Families may also contact the Independent office privately for help accessing school meals or other food resources.

    Children’s Health and Development

    Healthy Children, created by the American Academy of Pediatrics, offers reliable, family-friendly guidance on children’s physical health, emotional wellness, development, nutrition, sleep, safety, and common childhood illnesses. Information is available in English and Spanish.

    Physical Activity and Family Wellness

    Regular movement, outdoor play, sleep, and time together support children’s physical and emotional well-being. The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District offers parks, swimming, sports, camps, classes, and low-cost recreational opportunities for children and families throughout Castro Valley.

  • Castro Valley Adult & Career Education

    Castro Valley Adult & Career Education offers a wide range of classes and services to support adults and families in our community. Programs include English language learning and citizenship preparation, high school diploma and GED completion, career education and job training, parent education, community-interest classes, and programs for adults with disabilities. Many programs are offered at no cost and are open to adults regardless of residency or citizenship status. Visit the Castro Valley Adult & Career Education website to explore current classes, registration information, and available support services.

    County and Local Family Resource Centers

    Families can connect with Davis Street Community Center for basic-needs assistance, food and clothing support, childcare services, medical and dental care, behavioral health services, and referrals to other community programs. Families may also call 211 Alameda County for free, confidential assistance locating food, housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and other services throughout the county.

    Castro Valley Library

    The Castro Valley Library offers much more than books! Families can access free educational programs, homework and research resources, computers, Wi-Fi, digital books, family events, and activities for children of all ages. A free Alameda County Library card also provides access to the library’s extensive collection of online learning resources.

    Parks and Recreation

    The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District—better known as H.A.R.D.—provides parks, playgrounds, swimming, sports, camps, classes, community events, and recreational programs throughout Castro Valley and the surrounding area. Families can view current activities and register through the district’s Recreation Guide.

    Legal Aid and Immigration Services

    Bay Area Legal Aid provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents in areas including housing, public benefits, family safety, healthcare access, and consumer rights. For immigration-related support, the Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership connects community members with legal assistance, Know Your Rights education, and support during immigration-related emergencies. Services may be available regardless of immigration status.

    Domestic Violence and Family-Safety Services

    The Alameda County Family Justice Center brings together more than 30 agencies to support individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Free services include safety planning, legal assistance, counseling, emergency support, and help navigating available protections. Building Futures also provides confidential shelter and support services for survivors of all gender identities. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

    Multilingual Learner Resources

    CVUSD’s Multilingual Services and DELAC page provides information for families of students who are developing English proficiency, including program information, family engagement opportunities, and District English Learner Advisory Committee resources. Families may also contact the Independent office for interpretation, translated information, or assistance communicating with school staff.

    Special Education and Section 504

    CVUSD provides specialized services, supports, and educational opportunities for eligible students with disabilities. Visit the district’s Special Education Department to learn about evaluations, Individualized Education Programs, services, and parent rights. Information about Section 504 protections and district procedures is available through CVUSD’s Annual Notifications. Families who have concerns about their child’s learning, health, development, or access to school should begin by contacting the classroom teacher or school office.

    Foster Youth and Students Experiencing Housing Instability

    Students in foster care or without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence have educational rights and may qualify for additional support. This can include families living temporarily with others, staying in a motel or shelter, or experiencing another unstable housing situation. CVUSD’s McKinney-Vento Student Services can assist with enrollment, school stability, transportation, supplies, meals, and connections to community resources. Families are encouraged to reach out even if they are unsure whether they qualify.

    Newcomer and Immigrant-Family Resources

    Newcomers Welcome Alameda County connects immigrant, refugee, asylee, and newcomer families with healthcare, housing, employment, education, legal assistance, benefits, and other community services. The site includes a searchable resource directory designed to help families find culturally and linguistically appropriate support. All children have the right to attend public school, regardless of immigration status.

    LGBTQIA+ Students and Families

    Independent is committed to ensuring that every student and family feels safe, respected, and included. PFLAG Oakland/East Bay provides support, education, community, and resources for LGBTQIA+ people and those who love them. Our Space in Hayward offers affirming services for LGBTQIA+ youth and provides support and education for caregivers and families.

    Kinship-Care and Military-Connected Families

    Lincoln Families’ Kinship Support Services provides free assistance to grandparents, relatives, and close family friends who are raising children. Services include family coaching and connections to financial, legal, mental-health, emergency, and educational resources. Military-connected families and veterans can contact the Alameda County Veterans Service Office for help accessing benefits and services available to veterans, dependents, and surviving family members.

  • Adventure Time Childcare
    Adventure Time provides licensed, on-campus childcare before and after school for students in TK–5. The program offers homework support, arts and crafts, sports, games, music, cooking, academic enrichment, and time to relax in a safe, nurturing environment. Adventure Time is open from 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. For enrollment, rates, and availability, visit Adventure Time or call the Independent site at (510) 733-9134.

    PlayCV
    PlayCV’s Full PLAY program provides on-campus after-school care for students in TK–5 until 6:00 p.m. Students participate in homework support, structured play, STEAM, sports, leadership and life-skills activities, and enrichment classes such as chess, eSports, and bucket drumming. Financial assistance may be available. For enrollment, rates, and availability, visit PlayCV’s Independent Elementary page or call/text the Independent site at (510) 900-8696.