Transcript Breaking Down the Invisible Fence Presented by: Gloria Canada, Ed. D.

Breaking Down the Invisible Fence
TEXAS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT CONFERENCE
Dec. 2011
Presented by: Gloria Canada, Ed. D.
Founder of Circles of Purpose
Success Takes All Three
School
Student
?
Every Family has a Story …
Top 3 Risk Factors for Being LowIncome?
 Low level of Parental Education _____
 Mobility of Family_____
 Having Immigrant Parents_____
 Age of Parents_____
 Single Parent Families_____
Parental Education
Children in Low-Income Families in Texas, by Parents' Education, 2009
86% (1,092,573) of children whose parents do not have a high school degree live in low-income
families.
67% (980,498) of children whose parents have a high school degree, but no college education live in
low-income families.
30% (1,223,328) of children whose parents have some college or more live in low-income families.
Residential Move
Children Who Have Recently Moved in Texas, by Income Level, 2009
23% (755,933) of children in low-income families moved last year.
13% (463,281) of children in families that are above low-income moved last year.
The achievement gap closely mirrors
inequalities in aspects of schooling, early
life, and home circumstances that
research has linked to school
achievement.

(Barton, 2004)
Know Your Community
Affects of Poverty
Instability & Unpredictability
 Missed Rent Payments
 Frequent Moves
 Utilities Shut Off
 Minimum/No Access to
Health Care
 Unstable Child Care
Arrangements
 Running Out of Food
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Profound Effects on
Children
Impedes Children’s Cognitive
Development
Exacerbates Poor Child Health
Poor Nutrition
Adolescent Drop-Outs
Low Self-Esteem
Lack of “Normal Experiences”
Contributes to Problems:
(linked to parental stress &
depression)
 Behavioral
 Social
 Emotional
Don’t Assume …
1) Don’t assume students have access to
magazines, references & resources
2) Don’t assume students can study at home
3) Don’t assume families will contribute to fund
drives or sales.
4) Don’t assume families will call if they have a
question.
5) Don’t assume families will confide in school
personnel if you have not established a
relationship.
Creating Change
Provide Parents:
1. Education – ask
parents what they want

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2. Social Networks –

build a support system

3. Basic Life Skills –
from organization to
behavior management

Positive Outcomes:
Health Care
Adequate Housing
Adequate Food
Stimulating Early
Learning
Connection with Schools
Involvement with
Children
 Reading
 Attendance at Conferences
 Homework
 Hope for the Future
ELIMINATE BARRIERS
The “Bench Story”
Identify Your Invisible Fences
NOTES :
1.
2.
3.
Can You Anwer “Yes”?
 Do you have seating for parents to gather outside?___
 Is there ample seating in the front office?___
 Does the receptionist smile easily?___
 Do staff members say, “hello” in passing?___
 Are parents encouraged to come onto the campus?___
 Are “non-academic” events scheduled for families as well



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as academic events?___
Do you know where your students live?___
Are home visits made?___
Are classes for parents made available on campus?___
Is acceptance of diversity evident?___
Breaking the Fence
(Check off those you already do)
__Have non-threatening parent involvement activities
__Provide high-interest parent classes
__Hold meetings at locations accessible to families
__Provide child care during activities
__Schedule parent/teacher conferences during convenient times
for parents
__Provide reading material (open the library)
 Magazines on parenting issues
 Books parents to read to their children
 Have meetings at local library so everyone gets a library card
__Serve snacks during activities
More…
 Offer parent incentives to attend – door prizes
 Host parent clubs – crafts, computer, knitting, cooking
 Establish a parent resource room on campus
 Make home visits
 Line the walls with photos of your students
 Make your recorded telephone greeting friendly and bilingual
 Call to give “good news”
 Greet parents outside or in the halls before & after school
 Share something new…
______________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Even Without Fences…
Be Tolerant of:
 Irregular attendance
 Disorganization
 Unreliable transportation
 Financial crisis
 Disruptions in normal family
relations
Relationships
Non-Threatening School
Involvement
High Interest Parent Classes
Jingle Bell Walk
 Promotes healthy
activities for family
wellness
 Provides an opportunity
for parents to participate
in a nonthreatening, nonacademic activity
Family Movie Night
 Watch a G-rated movie on a big screen,
provide popcorn and drinks
 Community building
 Incentives for:
 Honor roll
 Perfect attendance
 Grade level recognition
Parent/Child Book Club
Home/School literacy connections make a difference on
children’s achievement & reading acquisition
______________________________________
 Choose high interest books – have students vote on a
book to read
 Provide opportunity for parents & child to select the
next book
 Post their names/pictures on bulletin board or
newsletter
 If possible, allow for family to “keep” book when
finished
Festivals and Carnivals
 Teachers/committees run the
booths
 Games
 Face Painting
 Food
 Invite the entire community
 Provides a non-threatening
social and fun environment for
teachers and their families to
mingle with students and their
families
Reading Café
 Students prepare a tasty selection of books and
writing samples from the year to share with their
families.
 Light snacks are provided while the parents select
menu items they would like to hear read to them.
 Faculty & staff make sure to stop by and listen to
students read (whose parents did not/could not
attend)
Learn to Earn
Parents are rewarded or recognized for attending classes or
volunteering.
1. Books
2. Door Prizes
3. School Spirit Items
4. Clothes Closet Choice
5. High School Football Game Tickets
6. Lunch
7. Bulletin board with parent names &/or pictures
8. ________________________________
9. ________________________________
The Power of Family
Family involvement may be directly
linked to positive student outcomes
 Students’ mental health
 Lack of truancy
 Prevention from dropping out of school.
(Cook, Herman, Phillips, & Settersten, 2002)
The Next Generation…
D) Look Toward the Future
Between the years 2004 through
2040 the need for programs which
specifically address the needs of the
economically disadvantaged will
grow 119.9%
(Steve Murdock, Texas State Demographer, 2007)
Benefits – Reaching out to Families
Circles of Purpose provides families with tools to create a
strong foundation for the purpose of student success.
 Strengthen the Family Foundation
 Increase Communication
 Establish Good Health and Wellness Habits
 Implement a Positive Behavior Management
 Identify Achievable Goals
 Strengthen Organization Skills
Benefits to the School
The diversity in families can span cultures, languages,
socioeconomic status and levels of education. Developing a
partnership which is purposeful for the families, the children and
the school creates a sense of shared opportunities and
achievements.
 Increase in Communication
 Increase in Attendance
 Increase in Parent Participation
 Increase in Student Achievement
 Decrease in Student Discipline Referrals
THIS IS A PEOPLE BUSINESS…
“If you find it in your heart to care for
somebody else, You will have succeeded.
Maya Angelou
Back to the Future…
EVERY
FAMILY
HAS
A
STORY
Do Not Let Demographics Determine Destiny
What Makes a Family?