Jump-Starting Our Parents Ideas and Strategies to Promote Parent Involvement Kim Dyke, Kim Fox and Niki Goforth Hamblen County Schools

TDOE Parental Involvement Standards (July 2010) 1. Welcome all families 2. Communicate effectively 3. Support student success 4. Speak up for every child 5. Equal partnership 6. Collaborate with community

How are these new standards going to help? Discussion 1 – Why is it important for parents to take active roles in their child’s education? Increases academic achievement, improves behavior, attendance and overall attitudes toward schools. (Marzano) Discussion 2 – How can we welcome parents into our schools? What are the first impressions of your school? (Welcoming Schools Checklist)

Overcoming Barriers Is your building truly handicapped accessible? Are there language barriers or other obstacles to prevent parents from being comfortable in the school environment? (translators, Parent/Community Involvement Coordinator) Are your teachers careful of “teacher talk”? Do parents of upper grade students feel that their involvement is as important? Do parents understand the new standards and the difficult curriculum? (East Ridge Middle)

Overcoming Barriers Are varied opportunities/times provided for parents to be involved? Do parents know what the needs of the school are? (Sign up night) Do parents feel valued? (Team approach either at school or home) Has your school eliminated negative talk in the community/school? (That bad teacher) Is Transportation available? (Title I/Homeless)

How are these new standards going to help? Discussion 3 – How can we create effective communication between parents and teachers? Parent Portal, Notify Me, Newsletters, School and District Websites, Teacher Websites, Conferences, Handbooks, Open House and Family Nights, Parent meetings on attendance and behavior, Graduation Coaches, Transitional Coaches Discussion 4 – How can families and schools work together to form partnerships and promote student success? IXL and Renaissance Learning Websites, Open House, Fall Festival, Book Fair, Conferences, Literacy Week activities, PTO Meetings, Sign-Up Night, Hot Dog Dinner, Book Logs signed each month for reading race, Planners, Summer Reading Logs, Book Room, Tutoring, Reading Buddies, Parents utilized in centers and literacy stations, Family Reading Night, Family Craft and Games Night (Standards

Guidelines for successful family engagement. Be prepared - schedule of events in a timely manner Think about the audience (Consider backgrounds and culture) - What idea or goal do you want to get across to parents? Provide food or snacks Offer choice of days and times to accommodate different work schedules No homework policy Involve students in leading the family night- read to parents, explain the activities, conduct the experiments

Ideas for Family/Game Nights Expectations Creating Themes Literacy Stations and Centers Helpful Tips (Sample Schedule & Parent Handouts)

Let’s Explore Review each station Groups of 3 – 5 Rotate through stations

Thanks for coming! Yeehaw! Contact information: Kim Dyke – kdyke@hcboe.net Kim Fox – kfox@hcboe.net Niki Goforth – Ngoforth@hcboe.net