Family and School Communication 2

Tell us what you remember about our last session: “Making Education a Family Goal” Tell us wha t you rem em ber abo ut last we ek’s ses sio n:

What did you talk about on your ride home last time? How did you like the workshop last time? What did you try out from the things you learned last time?

Understand the school’s structure and organization, and the roles of school personnel. Learn new skills and knowledge to communicate effectively with school personnel and to have better communication at home. Overview of Tonight’s Session

1.Each family has 5 minutes to write: Two statements that are true about your family. Two statements that are true about your family. One statement that is not true, but try to “trick” the rest of the group. One statement that is not true, but try to “trick” the rest of the group. 2.Families will read their cards to the group. 3.The rest of the group will try to guess which are true and which one’s not. Two Truths and a Lie

We have a pet hamster named “Princess Lovey Fluffy” We love playing games as a family We have lived all over the U.S. Here’s My Example

Mis declaraciones:  Soy…  Tengo…..  Me gusta…

Discussion: What do you think of this activity? Why do you think we did this activity? Two Truths and a Lie

¿Cuáles son las personas que trabajan en la escuela? ¿Qué función cumplen esas personas en la escuela? ¿Cuál es el nombre de…? Actividad

What do these people do at school? What is the name of the… Principal? Principal? ESL Teacher? ESL Teacher? Who’s Who?

Group Activity Students go with a facilitator to another room for an activity Parents stay here with the other facilitator

If Gabe needs help in his math class, who would you ask first for help? Start with the people at school that are closest to the situation – generally the teacher or counselor Do you remember Gabe?

How do you get in contact with school personnel? 1.First try calling or visiting in person 2.Next try = 24 hr response time 3.You should be patient, persistent, and have multiple contacts 4.Establish a good communication with school personnel. It should be built on trust. This may take time.

A key person to speak with here in this school is: Norma Duran Brown Her phone number is: (828) Her address is:

Do they have your correct phone numbers and adress on file at school?

What is communication? A process of giving and receiving, listening, and discussing

What are some obstacles to communicating effectively? lack of time negative attitude cultural differences language barriers different styles of communication

Who here has participated in a meeting with school personnel? What is the purpose of a meeting with a teacher, a counselor or a principal? Did you know spanish-language interpreters are guaranteed to any parent who would like one? Successful Meetings with School Personnel

1.You need to schedule a meeting, if not you risk not being able to meet with school personnel or have only 5-10 minutes to meet. 2.Plan what you would like to make sure you discuss during the meeting Take notes if possible 3.Schedule a follow up if you feel like you need more time to discuss things Tips for Meetings with School Personnel

What are some barriers to meeting with teachers and school personnel? Time Transportation Childcare Previous “not so great” experiences Parents’ schedule Others?

 ESL = Inglés como Segundo Idioma  Programa que provee educación diaria para estudiantes de k-12 que tienen competencias limitadas de inglés. E nglish as S econd L anguage

It is a program that provides daily education for K-12 students that have limited English competences It is not an English class English as a Second Language

W-APT = WIDA ACCESS Proficiency Test Test that evaluates student’s level of oral comprehension (listening), oral expression (speaking), reading, and writing in English ACCESS Test Every ELL student is evaluated each year with the ACCESS test until they pass it and exit ESL classes.

Parents share with the youth what you learned while they were gone Youth share with us what you did Parents and Youth Together Again

Talk about the classes that your youth is taking and who are his or her teachers. Are you going to put the list of classes on your refrigerator? Drive Home Chat