Beyond the Bake Sale‖

Engaging Families for Student Growth

Beyond the Bake Sale‖

Are you interested in stimulating some creative discussions among teachers about

how to work more effectively with families to improve student achievement?

Beyond the Bake Sale‖

Does your school want to develop more exciting plans to engage families of all

backgrounds?

“…partnerships among schools, families and community groups are not a luxury –they are a necessity.‖

Page 1

•This presentation focuses on “meeting you where you are.”‖

•To do so, think critically about where you and your school are on a parent involvement spectrum.

Focus

BeginnerWhat’s the point?

NoviceHow do we do this?

IntermediateHow involved are we talking?

ExpertParents and Community as Partners. Period.

Where are you? Where is the School?Parent Involvement on a Spectrum…

As we study Beyond the Bake Sale

Think about where you and your school are located on the

spectrum…

1. Partnership and Student Academic Achievement are Closely Linked

“When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer,

and like school more.” Page 2

“Students whose families are involved in their learning earn better grades, enroll in higher-level programs, have

higher graduation rates, and are more likely to enroll in postsecondary

education.” Page 2

“When families take an active interest in what they’re learning, students

display more positive attitudes toward school and behave better both in and

out of school.” Page 2

“Children do best if parents can play a variety of roles in their learning: helping at home, volunteering at school, planning their children’s

future, and taking part in key decisions about the school program.”

Page 3

“Children from diverse cultures tend to do better when families and school

staff join forces to bridge the gap between home and school cultures.”

Page 3

School programs are more effective when schools enlist families in these

processes. When parents are involved at school, they tend to become more

active in the community.

Page 3

2. Partnerships help build and sustain public support for the

schools.

Public schools are seeking increased support as we live in an era of market-driven education reforms including charter schools

Page 4

Effective partnership strategies are:

• Conducting active programs to engage parents and families.

(This year SCS will have 4 family engagement activities – Curriculum Night, Reading Night, Math Night, and an EOG/Transition Event)

Page 4

At each of these 4 events, SCS will actively engage families with family friendly research based information

and “Ziploc Bag” take home activities for families to use at home to support

their child.

Page 4

Other Effective Partnership strategies Are:

• Working with community organizations to help students and families to improve educational

quality

Invite outside agencies such as Employment Security Commission, Health Department, Partnership for

Children, SCC, etc. to share information with families at PTO/PTA events

Page 4

Greater Engagement with Families

By partnering with community agencies…Families and Communities benefit when basic needs are met for housing, food, transportation,

and employment. Many studies have documented the resulting benefits for families and children, including:

• Increased knowledge of child development• Greater confidence in their role as their child’s first teacher• More frequent attendance at school meetings and a stronger

sense of responsibility for children’s schooling• Improved literacy and other skills

• Better communication with schools and teachers

Page 5

Reaching for Greater Engagement with Families

Facts• During the 1990’s, between 14 & 16 million people entered the

country• During 2000-2004, the foreign-born population increased by over 1

million per year• As poverty rates rise and manufacturing jobs decline, families and

communities face multiple economic and social problems• High percentages of the US Population are highly mobile due to the

economy and shortages of affordable housing • About 40% of children in the US live in low-income families (as of

2007)

Page 5-7

Reaching for Greater Engagement with Families

Facts• The 2000 census showed that over 4 million children are living

with grandparents. One-fourth of these grandparents have sole responsibility for these children.

• Nearly half of low-income children, those in the bottom 20 percent, live with only one parent, and nearly half move every

year.• Cultural differences are being seen in our schools due to these

and other changing cultural facts

Page 5-7

Teachers can Benefit from Parent and Community Partnerships

• Involved families are more likely to understand the goals of the teacher and the school and to be more supportive of proposed

changes.• Teachers who involve families positively and consistently tend to

rate families more positively.• Teachers who involve parents and other volunteers report that

they have more time to devote to teaching and to giving children individual attention

Page 8-9

Teachers can Benefit from Parent and Community Partnerships

• Involve families in the SIT (include regular people – people that do not hold leadership positions and whose voices are not

commonly heard…average citizens) p. 4

• Use the SIT to Develop and Revise Yearly:

1. The School-Parent Compact2. The Parent Involvement Policy &

Help parents understand the annual report card for your school

Page 8-10

Teachers can Benefit from Parent and Community Partnerships

Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

Title I Parent involvement is defined as …

“regular, two-way, and meaningful communication about student learning and other school activities.”

A contact log is on the SCS Title I website for your convenience under Beyond the Bake Sale Chapter 1

Page 11

Other Useful tools to help you are located on the SCS Title I webpage under

Beyond the Bake Sale - Chapter 1

Tools include:1. Parent Contact Log

2. Community Agency Contact Information3. This PPT. Presentation

4. http://tinyurl.com/adror7

Page 11 & Tapping the Potential of Parents – Patricia Edwards

Beyond the Bake Sale‖

Session Homework1) Go to http://tinyurl.com/adror7

2) Choose one of Joyce Epstein’s six types of parent involvement

3) Choose one “sample practice” item that your school is not currently working on that you can focus on to improve this

year 4) Have the principal email terri.scott@stanlycountyschools.org

to share which strategy your school will implement.