Transcript Document
Dealing with Differences: Addressing
Diversity in Family Engagement
www.laspdg.org
Presented by Pamdora Williams
LaSPDG Staff
@laspdg
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Considerations
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Family Engagement
Webinars
2014-2015
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People First Language
“People First Language puts the person before the disability and
describes what a person has, not who a person is.”
Full People First Language webinar available at
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Inclusive Practices Webinars
2012-2013
Let’s Chat!
Using the Chat Pod…
share the types of diversities
represented in your district,
classroom or in your school.
Family Engagement is:
A Shared Responsibility
Schools and other community organizations and agencies are
committed to working with families in meaningful and
culturally respectful ways, and families are committed to
actively supporting their children’s learning and development.
Cradle to Career
From birth to college and career
Across Contexts
Throughout contexts in which children learn – at home, in
schools, in afterschool programs, in faith-based institutions,
and in community programs and activities.
Weiss, H., & Lopez, M.E. (2009). Redefining family engagement in education. FINE Newsletter I(2).
Retrieved from http://hfrp.org/RedefiningFamilyEngagement
Shifts in Perspectives about Family Engagement
Old Lens
Individual Responsibility
Deficit-Based/ Adversarial
Random Acts
Add-On
Events Driven
Compliance
One- Time Project
Current Lens
Shared Responsibility
Strength- Based/ Collaborative
Systemic
Integrated
Outcome Driven
Ownership & Continuous
Improvement
Sustained
This is excerpted from an August 2010 meeting of the National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group.
7
Harvard Family Research Project. (n.d.). Achieving Excellence and Innovation in Family, School, and Community Engagement
Webinar Series. Building Strategic Partnerships to Foster Community Engagement in Education. Retrieved September 11, 2012 from
http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/projects/achieving-excellence-and-innovation-in-family-school-and-communityengagement-webinar-series/webinar-5-building-strategic-partnerships-to-foster-community-engagement-in-education
Domains of Family Engagement
Quality Indicators
Family Support
strategies and practices that:
• acknowledge and respect
diversity of families.
• aid families in supporting
academic needs
Quote
“It is time for parents to teach young
people early on that in diversity there is
beauty and there is strength.”
-Maya Angelou
Addressing Diversity
• Helps build relationships
– Misconceptions are addressed
– Conflicts are minimized
• Improves morale of families that may feel
marginalized
• Creates an inclusive and culture rich learning
environment for all
Diversities to Consider
• Cultural Diversity
• Ethnic Diversity
• Language Diversity
• Religious Diversity
Strategy 1:
Time to Reflect
“People would like to see our diversity problem
disappear. And the way they think it’s going to
disappear is by not talking about it. But the real
way you make it disappear is by talking about it,
learning about it, and understanding it, and then
you’ll see a change, not just by ignoring it.”
a 12th grade student
Revisit Family Engagement Policy
Reflect on Personal Assumptions
Communicate using plain
terminology and sensitivity
Insert pic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsIW6mRgcWk
Communicate using plain
terminology and sensitivity
Strategy 2:
Differentiate Initiatives
“Acknowledging and valuing diversity means more
than celebrating food or holidays. It means making
room for a range of voices, perspectives and
resources, and styles of interacting.”
-Adger, 2001, Lopez, Sanchez and Hamilton 2000
Tiered Approach to Planning Events
Special
efforts for a
few
families.
Additional supports
to boost some or smaller
groups of families.
Opportunities afforded
to all families.
20
Intensive: 3rd Tier
Selective: 2nd Tier
Universal: 1st Tier
Tiered Approach Planning Template
Name of the event or activity.
Purpose or objective of the event or activity.
This should be a concise sentence that tells the single most important reasons for holding the event or
activity.
Outcomes of the event or activity.
This should be a short list of specific things parents know or will be able to do as a result of
participating in the event or activity. You might want to put them in priority order.
Tier 1 Example
How will the outcomes be achieved?
Where will the event or activity be held?
Who is the intended audience for this event or
activity?
What materials will be provided?
What, if any, special accommodations will be
provided?
How will you know if and when the outcomes
have been achieved?
Tier 2 Example
Tier 3 Example
Is family engagement more effective
when personalizing strategies?
Conducting Home Visits
http://www.pthvp.org/index.php/trainings-a-events/watch-our-video
Is family engagement more effective
when personalizing strategies?
Capitalize on family strengths
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf1rlf2myCA
Is family engagement more effective
when personalizing strategies?
Individualize Outreach Efforts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxhFeQ79bjw
Poll
Which is a tier one activity?
Back to School Meet and Greet
Donuts with Dads
ESL Family and Friends
Poll
Select which tier?
-Lunch and Learns by grade level
-Behavior strategies for parents of students with
disabilities
-Understanding Common Core workshop
-Community outreach at a local churches
-Follow-up phone call(s) after a literacy night
Tier one
Tier two
Tier three
Strategy 3:
Evaluate outreach efforts
“School is where children learn to
appreciate, respect, and collaborate with
people different from themselves.”
- Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education3
Feeling welcomed motivates families
to become engaged!
Families feel welcome when:
• The “welcome mat” is out
• Family is included in the school community
• The school feels warm and friendly
• People are accessible
• Balance of big events and small events
How Welcoming is Your School ?
Poll
True or False?
Addressing diversity will help build relationships
with families.
Improving family and school partnerships require a
shift in how schools think about family
engagement.
Building Capacity
• When you leave today, what will you do with this information?
• How will you share it with others in your district?
• When will you share it? (Timeline)
Note: If you are on the district leadership team, this information
will be useful in completing your district’s LASPDG 5 Year Plan
Questions?
• Please use your chat pod if you have questions
related to this presentation
• After this webinar, you may email questions to
Pamdora Williams [email protected]
Reminder(s):
Virtual Bookshelf
http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=198
Archived webinars
Missed Webinar Wednesday?
http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=308
Next Webinar Wednesday for Family Engagement
March 4, 2015 at 10:00
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The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of
Education, #H323A110003. However those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US
Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.