Transcript Title Headline

www.theCenter4Learning.com
The Administrative Webinar Series 20102011
Presented by Adam Drummond
Family Involvement:
A Missing Key
www.theCenter4Learning.com
“Educators who are building a
professional learning community
recognize that they must work
together to achieve their collective
purpose of learning for all.
Therefore, they create structures to
promote a collaborative culture.”
Richard DuFour
www.theCenter4Learning.com
Goal Sessions:
1. Develop tools to empower families to
work with schools.
2. Create pathways for families to increase
communication with teachers and the
school.
3. Implement a plan for stakeholder
satisfaction
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PTA’s National Standards for
Family-School Partnerships
Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school
community—Families are active participants in the life of
the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to
each other, to school staff, and to what students are
learning and doing in class.
Standard 2: Communicating effectively—Families and
school staff engage in regular, meaningful
communication about student learning.
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PTA’s National Standards for
Family-School Partnerships
Standard 3: Supporting student success—Families &
school staff continuously collaborate to support students’
learning and healthy development both at home and at
school, & have regular opportunities to strengthen their
knowledge & skills to do so effectively.
Standard 4: Speaking up for every child—Families are
empowered to be advocates for their own and other
children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and
have access to learning opportunities that will support
their success.
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PTA’s National Standards for
Family-School Partnerships
Standard 5: Sharing power—Families and school staff
are equal partners in decisions that affect
children and families and together inform, influence, and
create policies, practices, and programs.
Standard 6: Collaborating with community—Families
and school staff collaborate with community
members to connect students, families, and staff to
expanded learning opportunities, community
services, and civic participation.
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What is Family-School
Partnership?
The ability to create a connection between
the school and each family that participates
in the educational programming of the
child/ren in the home.
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Is Your School
Family-School Friendly?
Open Door Partnership
School
School
Fortress
School
Come-IfWe-Call
School
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Fortress School
Parents belong at home, not at school. If
students don’t do well it’s because their
families don’t give them enough support.
We’re already doing all we can. Our school
is an oasis in a troubled community. We
want to keep it that way.
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Fortress School
• Families do not “bother” school staff.
• Curriculum and standards are considered
too complex for parents to understand.
• Teachers do not feel safe with parents.
• Families are afraid to complain. They
think the staff will ‘take it out on my kid.’
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Come-If-We-Call School
Parents are welcome when we ask them,
but there’s only so much they can offer. The
most important thing they can do is help
their kids at home. We know where to get
help in the community if we need it.
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Come-If-We-Call School
• Staff are very selective about who comes
into the school.
• Parents can call the office to get teacher
recorded messages about homework.
• Parents think that the school just isn’t the
same as it used to be.
• Principals set agenda for parent
meetings.
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Open-Door School
Parents can be involved at our school in
many ways—we’re working hard to get an
even bigger turnout for our activities. When
we ask the community to help, people often
respond.
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Open-Door School
• Teachers contact parents at least once a
year.
• Teacher explains test scores if asked.
• Office staff will find a translator if asked.
• Principal will meet with parents to discuss
a problem.
• Parents can raise issues at PTA
meetings.
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Partnership School
All families and communities have
something great to offer—we do whatever it
takes to work closely together to make sure
every single student succeeds.
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Partnership School
• Family center is always open, full of
interesting learning materials to borrow
• Students’ work goes home every week,
with a scoring guide
• Teachers contact families each month to
discuss student progress.
• Parent group is focused on improving
student achievement.
• Staff works with local community groups.
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So, how do you know what
school you are?
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The Five Keys to Partnering
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Survey
Walk Through
Family Involvement Coordinator
PTO Group
Log Book
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The Five Keys to Partnering
• Survey
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Conduct family survey at least three times
per year (fall, winter, spring)
Same questions each time administered
Limit to front/back (4 choices—cannot ride
the fence)
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Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly
Disagree
Publish results in monthly newsletter
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The Five Keys to Partnering
• Walk Through Action Team
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Yearly
Community & Family stakeholders
Led by family members
Four Distinct Areas
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Physical Environment
School Wide Practices & Policies
Welcoming School Staff
Written Materials
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Qualitative Study
• Family members felt the entrance of the
building was unwelcoming.
• Family members asked to have a
suggestion box and maps posted
throughout the school.
• Family members felt that there was not
sufficient communication between the LCF
group and the school.
• Family members wanted to have a voice in
their children’s education.
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Changes as a Result of our Studies
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Changes as a Result of our Studies
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The Five Keys to Partnering
• Family Involvement Coordinator
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Liaison between school and families
Varies by school in cost and hours
Responsibilities
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Organizing volunteers
Programming to increase participation within
school
Family Involvement Publicity pieces
Working with teachers in creating ideas for
family involvement
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The Five Keys to Partnering
• PTO Group
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Is it a top down or a lateral approach?
Look to create multiple opportunities for
leaders to be involved
Provide responsibilities to volunteers
Give them $$
Don’t over fundraise
Be transparent
Sets measurable goals
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Recording
Secretary
Co-Chairs
Corresponding
Secretary
Family Wing
Coordinator
PK, K, 1
Family Wing
Coordinator
2-3
Family Wing
Coordinator
4-5
Family Reps.
Grade: PK
Family Rep.
Grade: 2
Family Rep.
Grade: 4
Family Rep.
Grade: K
Family Rep.
Grade: 3
Family Rep.
Grade: 5
Family Rep.
Grade: 1
Finance Chair
LCF Restructure
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Roles and Responsibilities
to support shared leadership and decision-making in the
organization; also, attend LCF bimonthly meetings.
Co-Chairs—Plan/Lead meetings; delegate
responsibilities as necessary to others;
coordinate fundraising; plan calendar; make
contacts to outside organizations as necessary;
school-wide celebrations
Corresponding Secretary—Monthly updates
to stakeholders/principal; submit articles to
newspapers; advertise events to community
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Roles and Responsibilities
to support shared leadership and decision-making in the
organization; also, all positions are to attend LCF bimonthly
meetings.
Recording Secretary—Take notes at
meetings; send out minutes; register for events
Finance—Develop a budget for each area
including Wing Coordinators; balance books
monthly; provide monthly report to
corresponding secretary/chair/principal
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Roles and Responsibilities
to support shared leadership and decision-making in the
organization; also, all positions are to attend LCF bimonthly
meetings.
Academic Wing Family Coordinator—recruit
family volunteers; monitor spending;
communicate with stakeholders
Grade Level Family Representative—identify
needs; oversee operating budget; act as liaison
to FIC
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Roles and Responsibilities
to support shared leadership and decision-making in the
organization; also, all positions are to attend LCF bimonthly
meetings.
Academic Wing Family Coordinator—recruit
family volunteers; monitor spending;
communicate with stakeholders
Grade Level Family Representative—identify
needs; oversee operating budget; act as liaison
to FIC
www.theCenter4Learning.com
The Five Keys to Partnering
• Log Book
•
Create a communication tool between home
and school.
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Twenty minutes of reading a night with signature
Book comes home daily
Must be signed.
Returned daily
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Daily
Reflection Log
•Students were not
reflecting on
learning.
•Not consistent
communication
between
teacher/parent
•Inconsistent reading
documentation
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Daily Reflection Log
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Take it Back!
• Reflect on information from the
presentation.
– 3 things you will change in communication
– 1 idea on what you need next to support
involving family with educational goals
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“Communicating with parents and guardians
is a completely understated, largely
overlooked opportunity for teachers, yet it is
one of our most powerful sources of support.”
Excerpt from
Exceeding Expectations: A User’s Guide to
Implementing Brain Research In the Classroom
by Susan Kovalik & Karen Olsen
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Resources:
Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential
Guide to Family-School Partnerships
by Anne T. Henderson, Karen L. Mapp,
Vivian R. Johnson, and Don Davies
National PTA
http://www.pta.org
Indiana Partnership Center (PIRC)
http://www.fscp.org
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Schools Exceeding Expectations
HET Model Schools Conference
Hosted by K-8 Richland School District Two - Columbia, South Carolina
Friday: Guest Speaker Day
Horacio Sanchez
Susan Kovalik
Linda Jordan
April 27-30, 2011
Pre-Conference . . . . . . . . . $100
SEE Conference . . . . . . . . . $595
Guest Speaker Day ONLY. . $150
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Model Teaching Week
HET Model Schools Conference
Hosted by K-12 Huntington County Community Schools Corporation Huntington, Indiana
June 6-10, 2011
MTW is our signature training event -- a powerful & effective training experience for all teachers!
• Certified HET Instructors:
Set up the classroom, Plan curriculum based on Being There, and TEACH the STUDENTS
• Participants observe the Teacher of Students and receive training from the Teacher of Teachers
• this MTW is OPEN to participants outside of the contracting school district. JOIN US!