Put A Ring On It: Moving From Involving Parents Engaging FamiliesEngaging Families TO M. Dewana Thompson, Ph.D. Village Consulting Group Austin, TX

What’s the Difference? Involved Engaged

Engaged: To genuinely occupy, attract, or involve someone's interest or attention Involved: To connect with someone or something What’s the Difference?

So Why Aren’t Some Parents Involved?  Bad experiences in school  Lack of time  Cultural or language barriers  Staff are seen as the experts  Face challenges at home  Mistrust of schools and school staff  Child behavior problems  Not knowing exactly what they can do at school or at home

1. Support Families 2. Communicate & Build Trusting Relationships 3. Hire & Develop A Family Focused Staff 4. Build Linkages Across Individuals & Organizations 5. Establish Policy & Procedures 6. Plan Your Activity 7. Evaluate Your Activity How Do We Engage Families ? Reference: BOSTnet.org

Before You Begin Your Program: Create Systems 1. Support Families – Focus on Family’s Assets – Consider the Needs of Families – Get input from families

 Zumba  10 Tips to Getting Your Next Job!  GED Classes  Self Defense Class  Scrapbooking  ESL Classes  Iron Chef of _______  Cooking Classes Made Fun!  Gardening Club  Yoga  Construction Certification  Help I Can’t Turn My Computer On! If a topic is not listed here, please let us know what else you’re interested in: _______________________________________________________________ What days and time of day work best for you?  Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday  Saturday _____ early morning, after student drop-off _____ lunchtime _____ evening ( please indicate which evening(s) _________________ Child Name(s): ____________________________ Grade: ___________________________ Parent Name: _____________________________Phone Number: ______________________ WHICH ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN? PARENTS WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! The ACE-Afterschool grant is starting classes that are FUN & FREE for all parents of after-school parents this semester. We just need to know what activities you are interested in. Please check (√) which topics interest you & return to your child’s teacher by Thank you and we look forward to seeing you after-school!!

Before You Begin Your Program: Create Systems 2. Communicate & Build Trusting Relationships – Over-communicate – Positive Communication – Be there for families – Provide leadership opportunities – Create a welcoming environment

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS Get to Know Your Families Don’t make assumptions Introduce yourself- whether you are site coordinator OR staff Ask questions Use a child’s behavior as a conversation starter

Over-Communicate

Create a Welcoming Environment

PARENT INFORMATION TABLE KIT Clip board for sign out sheetsA tote file box Pens (1 box)Tri-fold or cork board with staff pictures and names Pen HolderWhite Out Business Card HolderA box for comments A small digital clockPost-It-Notes Dispenser Poster board to display pictures of parents or students on the wall (or use as needed) Antibacterial soap StaplerPost it Notes Tape and Tape dispenserPeel off letters Table ClothIndex cards Digital Camera

Create a Welcoming Environment

Before You Begin Your Program: Create Systems 3. Hire and Develop a Family Focused Staff – Hire staff with family engagement experience (traditional or non- traditional) – Hire staff who share parent's experiences and backgrounds – Provide professional development

Before You Begin Your Program: Create Systems 4. Build Linkages Across Individuals & Organizations – Collaborate with local organizations – Act as a liaison between families and schools – Help parents develop advocacy skills

Designing a Family Engagement Program 5. Establish Policy & Procedures – FOR PARENTS: Orientations/Info Meetings Parent Handbook Increase awareness of school calendar & activities Increase engagement in children’s informal learning PLEASE COME TO PARENT ORIENTATION Tuesday, August 25 th 7:30-8:30 am OR Thursday, August 17 th 5:30-6:30 pm Jones Elementary School Spanish Translator Available

Using Technology Remind (used to be Remind 101) Remind (used to be Remind 101) Teachers to Parents Teachers to Parents BuzzMob BuzzMob Running Start Running Start Edmodo Edmodo Engage Parents in Children’s Learning

Designing a Family Engagement Program 5. Establish Policy & Procedures – FOR SITES: Set Goals for Family Engagement Develop Action plans Develop systems for communication with parents and teachers Implement Site Visits Increase levels of family involvement, engagement and leadership opportunities Professional Development SAMPLE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT GOALS 100% of parents will participate in at least 2 family activities Provide a minimum of 10 family engagement activities each semester Increase parents participation from last year by 20%

Plan Your Family Activities 6. Plan Your Parent Activity -Who? -What? -When? -Where? -How? -WHY?

Offer several opportunities for engagement

Evaluate Your Family Activities 7. Evaluate Your Program Numbers of Parents Number of Activities Surveys Parent Climate Survey Focus Groups Track increases in grades, attendance, behavior of a target group of students

Evaluate Your Family Activities Parent Workshop Evaluation This evaluation instrument is designed to determine if the training, as delivered, met your needs. For each of the following statements, please circle the number from that most closely matches your feeling about that statement using the following scale. (5=Strongly 4 = Agree 3 = Neither 2 = Disagree 1= Strongly Disagree). Date:_________________ Title: _____________________ Facilitator:_____________ 1.Overall, the workshop met my needs as a parent The location of the workshop was appropriate and comfortable As a result of the workshop, I feel even more equipped to help my child I would recommend this workshop to other parents I received what I need to help my with their work Please share any additional comment or feedback: __________________________________________________________________

How Do We Get Them Here? Food Transportation Childcare Don’t call them classes Volunteer badges Use catchy memorable names ADVERTISE through the students Showcase students Emphasize fun but integrate learning Consider non-English speakers

Types of Engagement Academic Enrichment Ongoing Classes Family Enrichment Volunteering

Assist with Snacks Watch Dogs After- School Reading to Students Homework Help Career Day Teach an Enrichment Donations Send Items Home Cool Ideas to Engage Families Volunteering

Family Game Night Dance Off!! Fine Arts Night Family Soccer Game Student Showcase Movie Night Outside Pajama Party Spaghetti Dinner Night Let us Serve You Karaoke Night Smoothie/Ice Cream Social Cool Ideas to Engage Families Family Enrichment

Parent Orientation/Information Meeting/Open House Home Visits ESL Classes –U.S. School Culture Based (Bringing Attendance Home) Parent Universities Grocery Store/Community Family Nights Family STEM Night/Weird Science Night APTT (Academic Parent Teacher Teams) Book/Magazine Swap/Literacy Night M&M Math Made Fun FASFA Nights School Bus Family Engagement College/Career Readiness or Information Nights Science Experiments: Funology.com Family Adventure Reading Pack Cool Ideas to Engage Parents Academic Enrichment

Cool Ideas to Engage Families Ongoing Classes Partner with local community college GED Classes Continuing Education Classes CNA Job Skills Iron Chef of Texas Certification Courses ESL Classes Computer Classes Are You Smarter Than A 3 rd Grader? Finance/Budgeting Classes LEAD Classes Cook It Up in Spanish From Books to the Big Screen: Parent & Child Book Club Active Parenting/Strengthening Families/Love & Logic

Remember Don’t just involve… engage!! Dr. M. Dewana Thompson Family Engagement Resource Provider (FERP) Manhattan Strategy Group