Professional Development: Family Engagement
Melanie Sample
Goal:
Purpose
- to provide the knowledge and skills related to building parent capacity for leadership
Learning Targets
Vision
- I can promote student achievement by supporting and developing parenting skills
- I can provide learning and leadership opportunities for ALL parents
- I can understand the value and importance of parents in school improvement
- I can advocate for parents as full partners and decision-makers.
TODAY'S
SCHEDULE
1
Video: Effective Family Engagement
Schedule
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3
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5
The pandemic and learning gaps...
Shocking
Reading
Statistics
- 43 million US adults possess low literacy skills.
- Children who read at least 20 minutes a day are exposed to almost 2 million words per year.
- Reading could help reduce mental decline in old age by up to 32%.
- Reading fiction can make you a better decision-maker.
- 85% of juvenile offenders have problems reading
- 3 out of 5 individuals in American prisons cannot read
Collaborate!
Group Discussion
(Teachers will discuss with group the takeaways from the video. After collaborating, each table will share one idea/takeaway to all groups.)
Now it's time for Family Engagment Bingo! Only place a marker in a space if the activity has been done, or is currently being done, with your parents.
Our Vision
(Framework for Parental Involvement)
Integrating
Individualizing
Ensuring that families are included in the learning process.
Meeting the needs of students and their families.
Including
Impacting
Appreciating and embracing diverse perspectives.
Providing families with ways in which they can foster their child's education.
Our Vision
How can we increase family engagement?
01
Including
02
Individualizing
Steps Towards Success!
03
Integrating
Impacting
04
This can look like...
Including
- Positive communication
- inviting parents to share ideas and thoughts on their child's learning
- incorporating diverse beliefs into the classroom
- example: books about different cultures
This can look like...
Individualizing
- Ensuring communication in every family's language
- Creating positive relationships with each child and their family
- Incorporating various opportunities for family engagement
- example: family projects, open house, reading volunteers
This can look like...
Integrating
- including parents in the learning process
- sharing information on platforms such as Class Dojo or Class Tag to ensure parents are involved
- curriculum nights
This can look like...
Impacting
- Sending home information such as their child's test scores, graded papers, etc.
- Providing examples/information on how parents can help their child with reading and math
- example: sight word games, comprehension question guide, extra math practice sheets, videos on math problems
Task: Discuss with your table other ideas to increase family engagement.
Collaborate!
**Use the sticky notes provided on the table to write down ideas. Place them on the anchor chart at the front.
Next steps...
Step 3
Step 2
Take-aways and Final Thoughts..
In your next grade level meeting, plan a curriculum night or other activity to increase family engagement.
Step 1
Reach Out: Make sure you are communicating weekly with parents. Check phone numbers to ensure they are working.
Review Bingo Game: What are you already doing? Is there more you can do? Choose one activity from the board that you could incorporate in your classroom.