LENA Start - Mesquite ISD

❓ Pop Quiz: What percentage of a child’s brain is developed by age five?
A. 20%
B. 50%
C. 70%
D. 90%

👉 Answer: D. 90%!

Those early years matter — reading, playing, and talking with your child every day helps build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. 💬📚

Read Play Talk | Mesquite Reads

We are so proud of all our families who graduated from LENA Start this spring! 🎉

📣Attention families with children under the age of 5: This one's for you!
www.ferstreaders.org/texas

📚✨ Free Books Every Month for Your Little One! ✨📚

Through Once Upon A Month Dallas - Ferst Readers, families with children under age 5 can receive a free book mailed to their home each month—helping you build a love of reading right from the start!

This program is available for families living in Dallas, Collin, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties and is made possible through a partnership between the Boone Family Foundation, Medical City / HCA Foundation, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

Ready to get started? Register today at www.ferstreaders.org/texas

🎓 Congratulations to our LENA Start families graduating this spring!

We are so proud of the commitment you’ve made to your child’s growth through reading, playing, and talking every day. Thank you for being part of LENA Start—we can’t wait to see all that your families continue to accomplish!

Read Play Talk

📢 Three new LENA Start groups begin next week!

Families with young children are invited to join one of our upcoming LENA Start groups:

Tuesday, February 4 – Tosch Elementary (English and Spanish groups offered)

Wednesday, February 5 – Joe Lawrence Elementary School (Spanish only)

Thursday, February 6 – Dr. Linda Henrie Elementary (English and Spanish groups offered)

LENA Start is a free 8-week program for families with children under age 3 that supports early brain and language development.

👉 Find all group details and register at www.readplaytalk.com/lenastart

Mesquite ISD

Check out this new LENA Start group beginning at Shands Elementary School on Tuesday, February 10 ⬇️
All families with at least one child under the age of three are invited to participate.

Interested in participating in LENA Start at Shands? Fill out this interest form to reserve your spot: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchnZ4lHJ3tVsmmqQ3kaBk5tdt7R0mJhpTTi2K0dEyxNiINlQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101663790077899681132

📢 LENA Start is coming to Tosch Elementary!

New LENA Start groups will begin Tuesday, February 3 at Tosch Elementary. This free 8-week program for families with children under age 3 will be offered in both English and Spanish this semester and focuses on building early brain and language development through everyday talking, reading, and playing.

👉 Interested families can fill out this form to receive more information:
https://forms.gle/oj8MMprzseLsGfx18

📢 Reminder for families! Two LENA Start groups begin this week!

The group at Ben and Jo Ann Cross Elementary School begins Tuesday at 5:00pm and will be offered in English only

The group at Hanby Elementary School begins Thursday at 4:30pm and will be offered in Spanish only

LENA Start is a free 8-week program for families with children under age 3 that supports early brain and language development through everyday talking, reading, and playing.

👉 View all group details and register at www.readplaytalk.com/lenastart

❓ Have questions? Call 972-882-5463.

👶Expecting and new parents - check out this FREE class on Tuesday⬇️

Register at:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=rc-tUfFynEeyj1JBLgQBS3p9SLTBA_RIgtIeH7WZVUVUNEFFWlI3VlRYSjQzM0xEUDRUTlk1OEY2Ny4u&fbclid=IwY2xjawPN8rVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFGZTZBdVozRnFwUzJaUWY1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHr8ux_DWXsouks1JBxJ98qJGkLg7O7Q_6_Fa2b1b63Fp-WglvJA5g31pgPrd_aem_YcWCf3clArMHFkaeL9Y2Iw

✨ New & Expecting Parents!👶
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about gestational diabetes and how to support a healthy pregnancy.
🔗 https://bit.ly/3JhBeva

Here is another LENA Start group that begins next week! 👶

Register today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScB2ZusoWWCnvlbAkOFpvF-KbogWheW-i5wlmxfhc-iOAKTjw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101663790077899681132

📣 LENA Start is coming to Hanby Elementary School!

Families with young children are invited to join the LENA Start program beginning Thursday, January 15 at 4:30pm. This free 8-week program supports early brain and language development through everyday talking, reading, and playing.

Families who participate will enjoy great benefits, including free childcare during every session, a free book for your child each week, a graduation celebration at the end of the program, and tools to help set your child up for success in school and beyond.

Please note: LENA Start at Hanby Elementary will be offered in Spanish only this semester.

👉 Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScB2ZusoWWCnvlbAkOFpvF-KbogWheW-i5wlmxfhc-iOAKTjw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101663790077899681132

Learn more and see all Mesquite ISD group options at www.readplaytalk.com/lenastart

⭐️ LENA Start Spotlight: Ben and Jo Ann Cross Elementary School ⭐️

A new LENA Start group is coming to Cross Elementary in 2026! This free 8-week program begins Tuesday, January 13, with classes held each week from 5:00–6:00pm. Free childcare will be provided while parents attend, and families will take home a free book every week for their child.

All Mesquite ISD families with a child under the age of three are welcome to participate—even if Cross Elementary is not your home campus.

👉 Register for LENA Start at Cross here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePrQ5O7l_GDH-1RmmLTPANWAwavpTYyqpfAuAMf4Gbwf9wzg/viewform

To see all LENA Start groups for 2026, visit www.readplaytalk.com/lenastart