Parent Involvement in British Columbia November 30, 2005 Presented by Steve Cardwell, School District No. 37 (Delta) Hosted by the Ministry of Education Part 3: Innovations in Professional Growth Public Education and Webcasting in BC: October 2005 to May 2005

Introduction Enhancing Parent Involvement in Schools The Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy

Outcomes Outcomes for the webcast session:  Understanding  Exploring  Observing  Engaging

The Importance of Parent Involvement Think – Pair – Share One benefit of parent involvement One challenge of parent involvement

Its about parent involvement …its about community! Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

The separation of parent and school is based on a mechanical model of teaching and learning, wrong and outmoded, but still very much alive. Comer’s work has recreated the essential elements of community in school. A central aspect is the parent and staff partnership – caring, meaningful adults – interacting on behalf of and with students to promote their development, desirable behaviour, and learning. James Comer, Yale Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

Dream a little… Dream BIG! Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

We cannot afford to sequester parents on the periphery of the educational enterprise. Parent involvement is neither a quick fix nor a luxury; it is absolutely fundamental to a healthy system of public education. Anne Henderson Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

What Research Tells Us Many forms of family and community involvement influence student achievement at all ages. A focus on building respectful and trusting relationships is effective in creating and sustaining connections that support student achievement. “A New Wave of Evidence” Research Synthesis by Anne Henderson and Karen Mapp

What Research Tells Us Activity: Say Something Participants read an assigned piece of text/statement. When finished reading, participants say something about what has been read.

Benefits of Parental Involvement to the student: Better attendance Homework more likely to be completed Better attitude towards school and improved behaviour Improved achievement Higher graduation rates Greater involvement in post-secondary Source: BCCPAC 2002 Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

A school learning community includes educators, students, parents, and community partners who work together to improve the school and enhance students' learning opportunities. Joyce Epstein, Director Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

Volunteering Learning at Home PARENT INVOLVEMENT Communicating Collaborating with the Community Parenting Decision-Making Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press. 6 Types of Parent Involvement

Parenting All parents want the best for their children. Parents are the primary source of basic needs:  Physical  Emotional  Social  Developmental

Parenting Support for Parenting  To help parents fulfill their responsibilities  To assist schools in understanding the families in the community Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press.

Collaborating with the Community Building Partnerships:  Activities bring resources to the school from the community and from the school to the community  Community services support and enhance school programs and directions Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press.

Parenting Collaborating with the Community

Parenting and Collaborating with the Community 1.Click PAUSE on your media player here. 2.Take time to discuss Parenting and Collaborating with the Community using Activity Package questions. 3.Click PLAY to resume webcast playback after discussion.

Learning at Home Activities that involve families with their children influence achievement, decisions, and choices  Developing skills  Homework  Goal Setting  Curriculum related activities Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press.

Learning at Home

Take time to discuss Learning at Home using Activity Package questions.

Decision-Making Activities that involve families as participants in decision-making of all kinds Parent Advisory Councils School Planning Councils Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press.

Decision-Making

Decision Making Take time to discuss Decision Making using Activity Package questions.

Volunteering  Volunteers provide support to children’s learning  Volunteer activities can occur in the school and in the community Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press.

Volunteering Parent involvement and schools: Volunteers in schools/classrooms Volunteers for schools/classrooms Volunteers as members of audiences Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press.

Volunteering

Take time to discuss Volunteering using Activity Package questions.

Communicating  Ongoing communications help educators and families understand each other in the interest of student progress  Communication is from school-to-home and home-to-school Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press.

Communicating

1.Click PAUSE on your media player here. 2.Take time to discuss Communicating using Activity Package questions. 3.Click PLAY to resume webcast playback after discussion.

Volunteering Learning at Home PARENT INVOLVEMENT Communicating Collaborating with the Community Parenting Decision-Making Adapted from Epstein, J (2001). School family and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools. Boulder CO: Westview Press. 6 Types of Parent Involvement

The Importance of Parent Involvement 1. Comments from Students 2. Appreciating Parents

Parent Involvement Creating together Learning together Embedding growth and risk taking in our culture Being flexible, patient and persistent Sustaining improvement through consistent evaluation and revision

think outside b x h ………………… for all students Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

Schools are communities of human beings bound together in an organic and continuously developing web of relationships. Joanne Quinn, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto November 2003 in IMPACT Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

…and finally, remember our purpose… Every second counts for the next generation! Reach for Nothing Less Meaningful parent involvement

Closing Remarks: Kim Howland, President BCCPAC

Our Thanks Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary School, Kelowna Chilliwack Community Services & Chilliwack School District Rick Hansen, Secondary School, Abbotsford Delta DPAC Students from North Delta Secondary School Victoria School District Kim Howland President, BCCPAC Special thanks to SD 37 (Delta) Steve Cardwell, Delta – Host Seaquam Secondary School