Working with Families Project: Thanksgiving Turkey Art University of Hawaii at Manoa Jessica Kim (Gr K) and Lauren Saito (Gr 2)

Permission Letter sent home to Kindergarten and 2 nd grade parents

Reminder Letter sent home to Kindergarten parents

Working with Families Activity Handout

Target Audience: Students and families of Miss Kim’s Kindergarten class and Miss Saito’s second grade class. Students were given about one week to complete activity (November 13 to November 21). Objective: To develop family involvement in elementary school. Purpose: To promote positive children outcomes through family involvement.

Standard: 2.W.1 Writing, Text Types and Purposes: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section. Standard: 2.W.5 Writing, Production and Distribution of Writing: With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing. Standards

Task: Use your information and creativity to make a turkey with the provided construction paper. Feel free to use supplies from home as well. On each of the four fingers (not including the thumb), write down the names of the people your child is thankful for. There should be one name per finger. Then, complete the Thanksgiving Turkey Art worksheet. Here are some examples of creative turkey art:

Suggested ways to contribute to positive child outcomes during activity: 1.Assist your child, but allow him or her to do the “art” aspects of the project. Cutting, gluing, writing, coloring 2. Communicated with your child Ask questions to elaborate on your child’s answers 3. Praise your child for his or her work ethnics “Grade job, I love your neat handwriting!”

Results of Returned Completed Turkey Art Out of 23 Kindergarteners: Worked with Parents: 19 Out of 23 second graders: Worked with Parents: 21 Help from Miss Saito: 2

Student A Miss Kim – Kindergarten

Student B Miss Kim - Kindergarten

Student C Miss Kim - Kindergarten

Second Grade Miss Saito

Student work with assistance from Miss Saito

Student A Miss Saito – Second Grade

Student B Miss Saito – Second Grade

Student C Miss Saito – Second Grade

A9 Thanksgiving Hallway Board

Family and Student Experiences Kindergarten Question: “Who helped you on the turkey art activity?” Student: “My mom, I told her what I wanted to use and when she was home she helped put glitter and when she left, I finished it by myself.” Question: “What did you like the most about the turkey art activity?” Student: “I like that I put the names. I like the feathers too.” Second Grade Question: Did your mom or dad look at the handout I gave you? Student: “My mom isn’t home till dark.” Parent: “I did not work on this project with my child because I did not have time. I work three part time jobs and when I come home, I make dinner and right after, my kids go to bed.”

Insights We can assume that not all families effectively engage with their child at home. Not all parents have the time or are uninterested in participating. The students produced quality work that proved their parents assistance.

In the future… Incorporate creative working with family activities in our future classrooms for positive child outcomes. Send a reflection form for parents to complete and return. Send out a participation form with the option to participate or opt out.