1. Recognizing Diversity
Engaging All Families Series Module 2 of 10
Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC)
Welcome
Welcome to the webinar on Recognizing Diversity.
My name is Jane Groff, and I will be your presenter for Module 2, Recognizing Diversity, in the Engaging All Families Series.

2. Mindful Engagement Series
Welcoming Environment
Recognizing Diversity
Ongoing Communication
Open House & Conferences
Sharing Family Resources
Encouraging Involvement
Acknowledging Concerns
Addressing FAQs
Obtaining Feedback
Additional Resources
Engaging All Families Series: Strategies & Tools to Strengthen Family Partnerships 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Mindful Engagement Series
This presentation is Module 2 of 10 in our Engaging All Families Series.
Content for this series is derived from an analysis of research from the family engagement field, from family support organizations, and state agencies that support family school community partnerships.
Content for this series is derived from an analysis of research from the family engagement field (i.e. Joyce Epstein, Anne Henderson), family support organizations, and state agencies that support family partnerships.

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4. This Module Addresses:
The community
The respectful communication
The classroom
and online environment
…in recognizing diversity in family engagement
This Module Addresses
Again, this module will address recognizing diversity and will focus on:
The school’s surrounding community
The use of Respectful communication
And the classroom and online learning environments
…..when recognizing diversity in family engagement.
[Transition]
Hopefully, you have printed your listening guide and ready to get started with the presentation.

5. “Acknowledging and valuing diversity means more than celebrating food or holidays. It means making room for a range of voices, perspectives and resources, and styles of interacting.”
-Adger, 2001, Lopez, Sanchez and Hamilton 2000
Quote
When we think about recognizing diversity in the classroom there is a tendency to think about food, customs or holidays.
This quote sums it up well by saying that when we acknowledge and value diversity, it goes beyond celebration of holidays….
It means that we are making space and accommodations for a variety of voices, perspectives and styles of interacting.

6. Define: Diversity
Diversity in engaging families encompasses acceptance and respectful means of understanding each individual and each family as unique and accepting individual differences.
Define: Diversity
So what do we mean by “diversity” when it comes to engaging families.
Overall, the philosophy encompasses acceptance, and respect.
It begins by having a true understanding of the unique needs of families.
Then displaying acceptance in the ways that we respond to families.
An asset based approach to families helps us to see each family’s unique strengths.

7. Diversities to Consider
Cultural
Ethnic
Language
Religious
Gender
Physical and cognitive abilities
Socio-economic status
Diversities to Consider
Within a school setting, there are several diversities to consider.
They may include:
Cultural
Ethnic and Race
Language Diversities
Religious and Gender
Physical and cognitive disabilities
And socio-economic status
……to name a few

8. How is Cultural Diversity Like an Ice Berg?
In an attempt to explain culture and diversity more clearly, many experts compare it to an iceberg……..
In that it has both visible (on the surface) and invisible (below the surface) parts.
Elements of culture which we can plainly see, such as food or clothes or the language spoken, are represented by the upper portion of the iceberg.
It is important to be aware of and acknowledge that there are elements of culture which are not as obvious…… such as why someone eats or dresses the way they do, or their beliefs about raising children,…..these are represented by the much larger portion of the iceberg underwater.
For example: religious beliefs (which is below the surface) influence holidays celebrated by a culture.
Example: beliefs about beauty (which is below the surface) influence the arts that are esteemed in a culture.
So as educators, it is important to think about those beliefs that influence what we see on the surface.

9. Why is Diversity Inclusion Important?
All cultures practice traditions that support and value their children and prepare them for living in society
It is important to become aware and respectful of those values, beliefs, customs and parenting styles
It is imperative that we employ specific behaviors, attitudes and policies that recognize and respect the uniqueness of individuals and groups
Why is Diversity Inclusion Important?
It is important to spend time considering diversity.
All cultures have traditions in place that support their children for living in society. The reality is some families have more resources available to them to help their children succeed at an accelerated rate while other are trying to do the best they can with the limited resources they may possess. Nonetheless, all cultures want their children to be successful.
IT is important to become aware of the beliefs that sit below the surface of the iceberg. Awareness helps generate respect for values and beliefs that are different from our own.
For example: Some families may place varying value on education, and their role when engaging with the school. And we must become aware of what families value. That will help us in finding ways to build relationships with our families
Finally, it is beneficial to everyone when we reflect on our own behaviors, attitudes and school policies in regards to culture and diversity.
Courtesy:

10. Be Attentive To ….. The Community
So, equipped with this information about culture and diversity, there are three things that we should be attentive to recognizing diversity in family engagement.
First, we should be attentive to the community in which we service.

11. How Well Do You Know Your Community?
Teachers visit community before school starts
Bus Tour of community
Participate in community events
How Well Do You Know Your Community
We need to ask ourselves “exactly how well do we know the community in which our students live?”
Knowing the community can provide valuable information about families and may provide insight for problem solving as well.
An idea for a school-wide initiative would be to conduct home visits or community visits before the school year begins.
A walking visit is a great way to get out and meet & greet students and their families. If you have flyers or need to promote an event, like conferences, this would be a great time to do so!
Also a bus tour can be another school-wide initiative. Many schools do this with great success and find that it is a great way to see and get a feel for the community.
If your school does not conduct community tours, perhaps drive the community or pick up your groceries from one of the grocery stores in your students’ neighborhood. This will also be helpful in understanding the community.
Participating in some of the events that are offered in the community is another great way to get an understanding for the community.
Additionally, all of these will help build relationships, gain exposure and connections with the families as well as the community leaders.

12. FATHERS
Another part of understanding the community is to become familiar with the demographics such as # of single parents, % of families living in poverty and specifically fathers within your school’s community.
A quick tool to help you know whether or not your school or class is father friendly, is a quick checklist.
This tool is available for download in the New Mexico Family Modules resource in the Additional Resource section.

13. Be Attentive To…. Communicating Respectfully
When recognizing diversity, we should also be attentive to communicating respectfully.

14. People First Language
“People First Language puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a person is.”
One way to address that is to use People First Language.
This is particularly important when working with our students and families with disabilities.
Essentially, People First Language is communication which puts the person before the disability AND describes what a person has, not who a person is.
For too long, the use of old labels and identifiers have perpetuated negative stereotypes…..this is evident in the media, in public places, in entertainment,…….which is one of the greatest obstacle facing individuals with disabilities!
The use of PFL is not about being “politically correct”, but it is about choosing words and identifiers that respect the individual !
Kathie Snow. (n.d.) A few words about People First Language. Disability is Natural. Retrieved August 1, 2012 from

15. Have Your Students Take the People First Pledge & Discuss
Here is a PFL pledge.
I encourage you to incorporate PFL in your verbal and written communication, and share this information with others.
The pledge is available for download.

16. People First Language
There is a full webinar available on the noted website under the link that you see on the screen.
Make sure that you select the school year to get to the webinar.
Select school year

17. Language Diversity Offer family resources in various languages
Send home communication at a reasonable reading level so that families can understand clearly what is being communicated
Avoid using acronyms in your communication (i.e. SPED, CCSS, ESSA etc.)
Recognize and celebrate the diversity of families and utilize their skills
Also, when thinking about respectful communication, we should consider:
The various languages used in our school community. Many students may speak English at school; however, the families may speak another language in the home. It is important to be aware of this and offer various languages in our outgoing communication. Information should be provided on available translations services. Tools such as Google Translator can be a part of a school’s website to translate the information on the webpage; however, it doesn’t translate documents
We should also consider the readability level of our written communication so that families can understand what is being communicated. We need to ensure that our written communication is not an Alphabet soup of Acronyms.
Another way to communicate respect for diverse cultures is to recognize and celebrate the diverse skills and abilities that individuals may have and incorporate them whenever possible.

18. Considerations When Face to Face With Families
Some cultures may not look you in the eye when speaking or being spoken to
Name pronunciation is important
Try to limit educational jargon so that your message is clear
Be considerate of all classes
In situations in which there are face to face opportunities with families we want to remember several things:
Eye to eye contact may vary in cultures. It may not be appropriate in some cultures to maintain eye contact.
The pronunciation of names is very important. Practice and do whatever is necessary to learn the correct pronunciation of names.
Again, try to limit the educational jargon in all forms of communications. Families may nod head in agreement, but really don’t know what you mean.

19. Be Attentive To…. The Classroom and Online Environment
Finally, when recognizing diversity, it is important to be attentive to the classroom and the online environment.

20. Classroom Connections
Is there diversity presented in the curriculum and in the textbooks?
Do your room contents represent diverse backgrounds (posters, pictures)
Be considerate of homes who may lack resources to complete projects
Field trips/Events
So in your classroom, take note and visual inventory of:
Diversity in textbooks, reading materials, and visual displays in reading corners and book nooks
For example, do the walls display people and themes that represent diverse backgrounds, do they represent inclusion of students with disabilities,…
Also, it is important to be attentive to the fact that some homes may lack the resources that are required to complete assignments and projects.
Knowing that, it is important to offer alternatives or opportunities for things to be obtained from school.
You can even consider diversity in school field trips by tailoring some of the events to include diversity as an element.

21. Classroom Connections
Earlier, I mentioned that materials and books should reflect diversity.
Here is a resource that is available for you to download and it will help in selecting books that are culturally responsive.

22. Online Considerations
Review the following websites to check for respectful, inclusive language:
Your class website
Your school website
Your district website
Our on-line environment should also be examined for the use of respectful inclusive language.
Areas to check cultural responsiveness would be your:
Class website
School website
District website

23. Here is another tool that would be helpful in going through those areas
It is a website walkthrough. It can be done as a school wide activity or scavenger hunt or as a personal reflection tool.
However, it will give you some ideas of areas to search for inclusive, and respectful language in our online environments

24. Resource to Download
This resource on Culturally Responsive Family Engagement in the Additional Resources section provides insight into myths around engaging culturally diverse families as well as strategies to engage families.

25. Resources to Download
Diversity Awareness Profile (DAP)- John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Promoting Cultural Diversity & Cultural Competency Self- Assessment -Tawara D. Goode, National Center for Cultural Competence
Equitable Classroom Practices Observation Checklist –
Other Additional resources that are available to you are the:
Diversity Awareness Profile
The Cultural Diversity and Competency Self-Assessment
And the Observation Checklist for Equitable Classrooms
Please feel free to download these resources and possibly use them individually or as a whole staff professional learning opportunity.

26. Reflective Inquiry
Moving Teachers to Reflective Inquiry Webinar –
Select school year
There is also a webinar available that explores further into Reflective Inquiry.

27. Recap/Take 5
As a recap, when recognizing diversity, you should be Attentive to……
The community you serve
Respectful communication
The classroom and online environments
As a final consideration, I would like for you to Take 5…..that is take these 5 questions or statements and reflect on them. Take 5 is located in the second portion of your Listening Guide
Think about your school and identify the types of diversity and populations within it.
What ways can you share the message of PFL with students and families with disabilities?
How do you accommodate for language diversity among your families when communicating with them in writing, in person, through technology?
Identify steps that you can take to make your classroom environment more diversified.
Take a look at our district, school and your classroom website, what can you do to address the different diversities?
And after you have “Taken 5”, you are ready to Recognize Diversity with your families.

28.
The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H323A Special thanks is given to the Louisiana Department of Education in the development of this module.
Closure
In closing, I encourage you to visit our website at the web address on your screen, for other webinars in the Engaging All Families series as well as other resources.
Again, this is Jane Groff. And on the behalf of KSDE Technical Assistance Systems Network (TASN), I thank you for viewing this webinar.