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Chapter 13 Working with Families, Volunteers, and the Community ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chapter Objectives • Identify strategies for establishing reciprocal relationships with families. • List items to be included in a handbook for families. • Discuss contents and the value of center newsletters. • Understand the process of recruiting and adding volunteers and becoming active in the community where services are provided. ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Goals of Director • Develop a first-class program for children and their families • Work with parents and volunteers • Create a positive program climate ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Program • Must contain: – Positive attitudes toward families and what they can contribute to the center program – A recognition of the changing complexion of center families • Multicultural mindset • Valuing diversity (including language) – Communicate trust • Parent receiving area • Resources for parents • Consistent staff ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Program • Parent program can be divided into three major categories 1. Parent contacts 2. Parent education 3. Parent involvement ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Discussion Question 1. If parents seem uncertain about becoming involved with the center, what ideas do you have to promote parent involvement? ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Contacts • Parent contacts range – Arrival or departure greetings – Formal interviews – Scheduled conferences – Parent meetings – Phone calls – Parent feedback ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Education • Designed to improve – Parenting skills – Interpret the center program – Vocational education – Remedial classes (complete GED) – Information on consumerism, nutrition, stress or time management ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Education • Could be formal or informal – Workshops – Panels – Presentations – Seminars ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Involvement • Parent involvement is more than conferences and parent education – Active in planning, implementing, and evaluating the total program – Helping out in the classrooms – Working with children in a small, informal reading experience – Doing clerical work, repairs, or making equipment – Donating materials – Serve on the board or advisory committee – Demonstrate a skill (weaving, pottery) ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Involvement • Parents may feel – threatened by teacher knowledge – limited by their own school experiences – protective of a child with special needs ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Conferences • Share positive child experiences • Show child work, samples • Develop plans to facilitate the child’s progress • Give parents time to share ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Discussion Question 1. Why is it important to allow time for parents to share information about their child? ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Family Handbook A handbook explaining basic center procedures, policies, and philosophy. EDU 262 7/21/2015 14 Parent Handbooks • Handbooks are a way to communicate basic information about the program – Statement of center philosophy – Outline of daily program – Feeds and arrangements for payment – Transportation policies – Health and safety policies – Snacks and meals ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Parent Handbooks • Handbooks are a way to communicate basic information about the program – Services center staff will offer children and families – Center discipline policy – Requests for help from parents – Summary of scheduled events – Expectations about child’s use of transition objects – Description of legal obligation of center staff to report any evidence of child abuse ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Family Handbooks Handbooks are a way to communicate basic information about the program – Statement of center philosophy – Outline of daily program – Feeds and arrangements for payment – Transportation policies – Health and safety policies – Snacks and meals Parent Handbooks (Continued) – Services center staff will offer children and families – Center discipline policy – Requests for help from parents – Summary of scheduled events – Expectations about child’s use of transition objects – Description of legal obligation of center staff to report any evidence of child abuse A basic tool of written communication to which families can refer. Among topics you might want to include are: Program philosophy Program objectives Admissions policies and procedures Fee policies Arrival and departure policies Health policies and concerns General procedural policies Calendar Services the center may offer Center discipline policy EDU 262 7/21/2015 19 Style of Writing • Scholarly or chatty? • Formal or informal? • General or detailed? EDU 262 7/21/2015 20 Dear Family, We wish to extend a warm welcome to you and your child. We want to make this year a pleasant one for parents as well as children. You, as parents, will influence, to a large degree your child’s success in this venture. EDU 262 7/21/2015 21 I need to stay home if I have… • • • • • • fever over 101 sore throat diarrhea vomiting rash red, crusty eyes EDU 262 7/21/2015 22 I’ll keep you home when you have… fever over 101 sore throat diarrhea vomiting rash red, crusty eyes EDU 262 7/21/2015 23 A child is eligible to enroll in the kindergarten class if he is five years old on September 1 of the year he enters. EDU 262 7/21/2015 24 I can enter if… I have my birth certificate. I have all my immunizations. P.S. to parents : *If you do not have a birth certificate, write to: Bureau of Vital Statistics State Capitol Building *All immunizations are available from your doctor or the Public Health Center. 25 EDU 262 7/21/2015 Consider Costs •Typesetting and printing •Copier •Computer word processing EDU 262 7/21/2015 26 Family Handbook Information should be concise useful tool to initially acquaint families with the center program and to help them understand what to expect must be supplemented with other written and verbal communications to keep them abreast of center events and the progress of their children. EDU 262 7/21/2015 27 Newsletters Can keep parents informed about: • the center’s progress, • program philosophy, • special programs, • and future plans Can include: 1. Monthly calendar 2. Information about fund-raisers 3. Updates of staff changes 4. Activities 5. A profile of a staff person, another parent, or a center volunteer 6. News items from each classroom 7. The “Director’s Message,” which is a must for each issue Ten Tips for a Great Parent Newsletter Sylvia Reichel, author of The Parent Newsletter, 1. Make your newsletter attractive. • Pay attention to its appearance. • Will parents be enticed to pick it up and read it? 2. Be consistent. – Use the same color of paper, style of print, nameplate (name of your school and date published), and publication schedule each issue so that it is readily identified as your school or center newsletter. Ten Tips 3. Know your audience. – Use information written in an appropriate style and at a reading level that will appeal to the parents in your setting. 4. Personalize it. – People like to see their names (or their children's names) in print. Interview parents and children. The newsletter is also a great place publish thank-yous for contributions to your child care. Ten Tips 5. Share what is going on in the classroom and how parents can reinforce and extend your classroom goals in specific ways. • Consider, for example, publishing the words to songs and fingerplays your class is learning. Ten Tips 6. Be sure that what you print is timely. Do not print outdated information. 7. List Web sites, books, and magazine articles that relate to your newsletter article, so that interested parents can seek more information on the topic. Ten Tips 8. Begin the habit of recording ideas for future newsletter columns. – Keep a small notebook in your pocket or purse for jotting down your observations. 9. Look at other newsletters to see what their strengths and weaknesses are. – What makes them more attractive or less attractive? – How would you improve them? Ten Tips 10. Solicit feedback. • What do your readers like? • What would they like to see changed? Chapter Summary • The Director – is accountable for the parent program – helps staff establish parent relationships ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.