Kitchen Table Forums Ideas collected and what we learned

COMMON THEMES THAT EMERGED Connect Ed is very popular (and could be used even more) Clearly and constantly communicating new expectations at each level is extremely important Welcoming environment is extremely important. Parents don’t always feel welcomed when they come to our schools. Want real person answering phones

COMMON THEMES THAT EMERGED Parent-teacher communication is critical. There was common sentiment that teacher communication is good at the elementary level but falls off at higher levels. Parents sometimes feel they have to initiate contact after elementary school and occasionally are unaware of what is happening at school and with their child. Impacts both issues: Family involvement and transitions

COMMON THEMES THAT EMERGED OPEN HOUSES Schedule open houses at more convenient times for families, i.e. weekends or evenings Parents want more one-on-one time with teachers Especially for transition grades—Open House at END of previous year when school looks more normal and families can get flavor of new environment

COMMON THEMES THAT EMERGED SHARING GROUPS FOR PARENTS and STUDENTS Have parents do orientation for other parents at the transition grades so they can share their experiences and help new parents feel more comfortable Same as above for students

Responses to Question 1: Why are transitions so hard for some students? Have to learn new teachers, students, and locations Students don’t always know the expectations at the new school They have to make new friends and learn to adapt Lack of bi-lingual forms and bi- lingual helpers

Responses to Question 1: Why are transitions so hard for some students? As students move through the system, schools get progressively bigger, which leads to nervousness Students go from being the big dog at their old school to being a little minnow in a bigger school Bullying can take place as kids try to establish themselves in new roles and new surroundings

Responses to Question 1: Why are transitions so hard for some students? With change comes fear—getting lost, being late to class, etc. Students aren’t prepared for the next level Lack of communication from school to family Big change to be thrown in with students from other elementary schools

Responses to Question 1: Why are transitions so hard for some students? No time to interact with friends from elementary school Larger class sizes Different rules and expectations Different environment (less nurturing) Move from 1 teacher at elementary school to multiple teachers at KIS

Responses to Question 1: Why are transitions so hard for some students? Kindergarten: Speak different language at home, English at school Levels of individual maturity

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? More English classes for Spanish- speaking parents More orientations for every class at the end of the school year Have more detailed information coming from schools in Spanish Have staff members available who can speak Spanish

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Create sharing groups where students can share experiences with other students Explain new things that students will experience such as how to work the lockers 4 th grade field trips to KIS are helpful Have better communication from teachers (communication decreases as students get older)

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Send Connect Ed and written information at END of school year regarding uniforms and other matters so families will have all summer to prepare for new school and new expectations Conduct Open House at END of school year when schools still look normal Send more Connect Ed messages

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Mail progress reports and report cards to make sure parents actually receive them Offer Spanish classes to KCS staff so more employees can be bi-lingual Do something enjoyable for kids before transition such as a dance, scavenger hunt, etc.

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Have consistency among schools and from class to class in same schools (i.e. cell phones) Walk-thrus at all levels—good experience at KIS this year Have Running Clubs or other clubs for students (more interesting intramurals)

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Parent orientation to KIS, KMS, and high school as students transition Parents visit each teacher not just homeroom teacher. Also need more time with teachers. Having intermediate and middle school on same campus might help ease the transition

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Group students by learning level so class ability is more similar More professionalism—dress code among teachers Do some changing of classes in elementary school to prepare students for KIS

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Freshman Academy is helpful Later Open House in September at A.L. Brown is helpful Having teachers fully explain expectations during Open House Buddy system for new students Early engagement of parents very important

Responses to Question 2: What can schools do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Parents’ Night—have mini class that mimics what children go through on daily basis (parent and child experience classroom together) Homework in English and Spanish Provide day care for teacher work days when students are not in school

Responses to Questions 3: What can parents do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Have parent volunteers from Hispanic community give orientation to each other Develop social groups among Hispanic students Parents needs to check with their children every day to find out how things went at school Learn technology that students will be using

Responses to Questions 3: What can parents do to make transitions easier for students and parents? Use school handbook in Spanish— read to understand Speak positively about school to their children Visit school more often Get to know their children’s teachers and communicate with them often Teach their children to behave

Trust that teachers have their children’s best interest at heart and are there to help their children Mentor other parents and share lessons learned Volunteer in the classroom Establish routine prior to school starting Maintain some work during summer (reading) Responses to Questions 3: What can parents do to make transitions easier for students and parents?

Responses to Question 4: What is working in family/community involvement? Schools announce events in the community and send flyers home Serving dinner is appreciated Connect Ed messages are very helpful (mentioned multiple times) Strong PTO presidents Smart decisions being made for children (i.e. full-time bus drivers) Valentine’s Dance at Jackson Park

Responses to Question 4: What is working in family/community involvement? Strong church alliances. Encourage more “adoptions” of schools Parents are informed so they can stay involved Volunteering—shows value of school and community Knowing school administrators. Parents feel welcomed—especially at elementary schools Administration open door policy

Responses to Question 5: What are the barriers family/community involvement? Language / Culture Financial Work schedules Lack of transportation Single parents Child care Limited materials in Spanish No access to technology / Internet

Responses to Question 5: What are the barriers family/community involvement? Bad experiences for parents when they were in school If parents don’t understand their children’s homework, they tend to throw up their hands and give up helping their children When teachers don’t update Schoology, there is no point of contact for parents Literacy level of parents

Responses to Question 5: What are the barriers family/community involvement? As students age, parents feel they don’t have to be as involved (children are old enough to be autonomous) Leadership changes after school starts Parents not feeling welcome at school Families not sure what they can do (don’t know time commitment)

Responses to Question 6: Name 3 things schools can do to improve family involvement. Develop parent organizations for Spanish speaking families. They could communicate with each other to determine who has access to transportation and collaborate to get to events More materials in Spanish Hold more cultural events that include music, food, and folklore of various countries and cultures

Responses to Question 6: Name 3 things schools can do to improve family involvement. Welcoming environment at schools Not all Latino families speak only Spanish. Make sure materials sent home are in appropriate language Schedule parent conferences far enough in advance that an interpreter can be available Offer computer workshops for parents

Responses to Question 6: Name 3 things schools can do to improve family involvement. Offer résumé workshops for parents Provide more and better communication from schools Hold Open Houses at 6 p.m. or later or on weekends Have real person answer phone More meetings like Kitchen Table Forums (transportation, child care, Saturdays)

Responses to Question 6: Name 3 things schools can do to improve family involvement. Send family survey asking “What’s important to your child?” Teacher/student engagement (foster relationship between teachers/students) Meetings between parents & teachers: Face-to-face Adequate time to interact Ask often about family & info changes

Responses to Question 6: Name 3 things schools can do to improve family involvement. Improve Open House experience More times (flexible times) More personalized Answer question: What should parents focus on at the various levels? (Example: What classes should parents focus on? Requirements for graduation & college prep?)

Next steps Will work to implement ideas from Kitchen Table Forums Adjust Open House schedules Develop Bridging Programs at transition grades Create common forms in Spanish Evaluate and adjust Welcome Center Develop sharing groups for students/parents Get input from KCS Parent Council Conduct additional surveys at KIS Repeat Kitchen Table Forums next year