Family meetings

Family Conferencing  Meetings held several times per year  Provides forum for families to hear what you have learned about their child  Builds relationships between home and school

Benefits of family involvement in planning  More accurate assessment  Insights about child’s culture  Families ideas on child’s strengths and challenges  Agreement on important objectives

Benefits of family involvement in planning  Shared expectations for child growth  Opportunities to encourage parent  Common information for child at home & school  Care and education

Steps in Family Conference Process: Prepare for Meeting o Assessments completed o Rapport developed with family o Learn about family background and culture o Times set with family

Steps in Family Conference Process- Prepare for Meeting  Room set up & materials gathered  Consider priority child objectives  Work samples gathered

Steps in Family Conference Process- During the Meeting  Welcome  Dreams  Worries  Description of child  Plans/Objectives for child

Steps in Family Conference Process – Conclude the Meeting  Briefly summarize  Set another meeting to review progress  Determine communication mechanism

Meetings for children with disabilities or other issues  Sensitivity for the whole child  A non judgmental attitude  A source of referral information

Prior to Sensitive Meeting  Carefully state the meetings intent to be sure family is aware of issues  Use a facilitator if possible  Use chart paper

Introduction to Sensitive Meeting Clarify reasons for the meeting  Explain the meeting process and roles of all participants  Remind parents they are the expert on their child

During Meeting: Dreams and Concerns Record on Chart Paper Dreams Concerns

During Meeting - Description of Child Record on Chart paper Loving creative independent explorer bossy determined outgoing controlling

During Meeting – Action Plan  Develop steps – support plan, communication system, meetings to update  Determine supports to steps in action plan  Determine family and teacher involvement

After meeting  Transfer chart information to family meeting form.  Use the action plan as a guide.

Activity 5.4  Review the role play activity.  Once you begin the role play stay in your role until the activity is done.  If you have questions during the role play write them down for later.