the administrative webinar series 2010-2011 presented by adam drummond

www.theCenter4Learning.com

The Administrative Webinar Series 2010-2011

Presented by Adam Drummond

Family Involvement:A Missing Key


“Educators who are building a professional learning community recognize that they must work

together to achieve their collective purpose of learning for all.

Therefore, they create structures to promote a collaborative culture.”

Richard DuFour


Goal Sessions:

1. Develop tools to empower families to work with schools.

2. Create pathways for families to increase communication with teachers and the school.

3. Implement a plan for stakeholder satisfaction


PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school community—Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.

Standard 2: Communicating effectively—Families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning.



Standard 3: Supporting student success—Families & school staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, & have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge & skills to do so effectively.

Standard 4: Speaking up for every child—Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.



Standard 5: Sharing power—Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affectchildren and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.

Standard 6: Collaborating with community—Families and school staff collaborate with communitymembers to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, communityservices, and civic participation.


What is Family-School Partnership?

The ability to create a connection between

the school and each family that participates

in the educational programming of the

child/ren in the home.


Is Your School Family-School Friendly?

Open Door School

Partnership School

Fortress School

Come-If-We-Call School


Fortress SchoolParents belong at home, not at school. If

students don’t do well it’s because their

families don’t give them enough support.

We’re already doing all we can. Our school

is an oasis in a troubled community. We

want to keep it that way.


Fortress School• Families do not “bother” school staff.

• Curriculum and standards are considered too complex for parents to understand.

• Teachers do not feel safe with parents.

• Families are afraid to complain. They think the staff will ‘take it out on my kid.’


Come-If-We-Call SchoolParents are welcome when we ask them,

but there’s only so much they can offer. The

most important thing they can do is help

their kids at home. We know where to get

help in the community if we need it.


Come-If-We-Call School• Staff are very selective about who comes

into the school.

• Parents can call the office to get teacher recorded messages about homework.

• Parents think that the school just isn’t the same as it used to be.

• Principals set agenda for parent meetings.


Open-Door SchoolParents can be involved at our school in

many ways—we’re working hard to get an

even bigger turnout for our activities. When

we ask the community to help, people often

respond.


Open-Door School• Teachers contact parents at least once a

year.

• Teacher explains test scores if asked.

• Office staff will find a translator if asked.

• Principal will meet with parents to discuss a problem.

• Parents can raise issues at PTA meetings.


Partnership SchoolAll families and communities have

something great to offer—we do whatever it

takes to work closely together to make sure

every single student succeeds.


Partnership School• Family center is always open, full of

interesting learning materials to borrow

• Students’ work goes home every week, with a scoring guide

• Teachers contact families each month to discuss student progress.

• Parent group is focused on improving student achievement.

• Staff works with local community groups.


So, how do you know what school you are?


The Five Keys to Partnering• Survey

• Walk Through

• Family Involvement Coordinator

• PTO Group

• Log Book


The Five Keys to Partnering• Survey

• Conduct family survey at least three times per year (fall, winter, spring)

• Same questions each time administered• Limit to front/back (4 choices—cannot ride

the fence)• Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly

Disagree

• Publish results in monthly newsletter


The Five Keys to Partnering• Walk Through Action Team

• Yearly• Community & Family stakeholders• Led by family members• Four Distinct Areas

• Physical Environment• School Wide Practices & Policies• Welcoming School Staff• Written Materials


Qualitative Study• Family members felt the entrance of the

building was unwelcoming.

• Family members asked to have a suggestion box and maps posted throughout the school.

• Family members felt that there was not sufficient communication between the LCF group and the school.

• Family members wanted to have a voice in their children’s education.


Changes as a Result of our Studies


The Five Keys to Partnering• Family Involvement Coordinator

• Liaison between school and families• Varies by school in cost and hours• Responsibilities

• Organizing volunteers• Programming to increase participation within

school• Family Involvement Publicity pieces• Working with teachers in creating ideas for

family involvement


The Five Keys to Partnering• PTO Group

• Is it a top down or a lateral approach?• Look to create multiple opportunities for

leaders to be involved• Provide responsibilities to volunteers• Give them $$• Don’t over fundraise• Be transparent• Sets measurable goals


LCF Restructure


to support shared leadership and decision-making in the organization; also, attend LCF bimonthly meetings.

Co-Chairs—Plan/Lead meetings; delegate responsibilities as necessary to others; coordinate fundraising; plan calendar; make contacts to outside organizations as necessary; school-wide celebrations

Corresponding Secretary—Monthly updates to stakeholders/principal; submit articles to newspapers; advertise events to community

Roles and Responsibilities


to support shared leadership and decision-making in the organization; also, all positions are to attend LCF bimonthly

meetings.

Recording Secretary—Take notes at meetings; send out minutes; register for events

Finance—Develop a budget for each area including Wing Coordinators; balance books monthly; provide monthly report to corresponding secretary/chair/principal



to support shared leadership and decision-making in the organization; also, all positions are to attend LCF bimonthly

meetings.

Academic Wing Family Coordinator—recruit family volunteers; monitor spending; communicate with stakeholders

Grade Level Family Representative—identify needs; oversee operating budget; act as liaison to FIC



The Five Keys to Partnering• Log Book

• Create a communication tool between home and school.• Twenty minutes of reading a night with signature• Book comes home daily• Must be signed. • Returned daily


Daily Reflection Log

•Students were not reflecting on learning.•Not consistent communication between teacher/parent•Inconsistent reading

documentation


Daily Reflection Log


Take it Back!

• Reflect on information from the presentation.– 3 things you will change in communication

– 1 idea on what you need next to support involving family with educational goals


“Communicating with parents and guardians is a completely

understated, largely overlooked opportunity for teachers, yet it is one of our most powerful sources

of support.”

Excerpt fromExceeding Expectations: A User’s Guide to

Implementing Brain Research In the Classroomby Susan Kovalik & Karen Olsen


Resources:Beyond the Bake Sale: The Essential Guide to Family-School Partnershipsby Anne T. Henderson, Karen L. Mapp, Vivian R. Johnson, and Don Davies

National PTA http://www.pta.org

Indiana Partnership Center (PIRC)http://www.fscp.org


Schools Exceeding ExpectationsHET Model Schools Conference

Hosted by K-8 Richland School District Two - Columbia, South Carolina

April 27-30, 2011Friday: Guest Speaker Day

Horacio SanchezSusan KovalikLinda Jordan

Pre-Conference . . . . . . . . . $100

SEE Conference . . . . . . . . . $595Guest Speaker Day ONLY. . $150


Model Teaching WeekHET Model Schools Conference

Hosted by K-12 Huntington County Community Schools Corporation - Huntington, Indiana

June 6-10, 2011MTW is our signature training event -- a powerful & effective training experience for all teachers!

• Certified HET Instructors:Set up the classroom, Plan curriculum based on Being There, and TEACH the STUDENTS

• Participants observe the Teacher of Students and receive training from the Teacher of Teachers

• this MTW is OPEN to participants outside of the contracting school district. JOIN US!

the administrative webinar series 2010-2011 presented by adam drummond

Documents