1. The Home Literacy Environment: Parent Involvement
Special Efforts to Engage Families Make a Difference
Jorge E. Gonzalez, Ph.D.
Project WORLD
Texas A&M University
August 20, 2013

2. School Success Largely Determined by Age 3
Basic language and communication skills are formed during a child’s first three years
Language experience before age 3 is an excellent predictor of reading ability in third grade
After 3 years of age, it is increasingly difficult to make up for differences in earlier experiences

3. Importance of Early Engaged Home Literacy Environment (Hart & Risely, 1995)

4. The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement
Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs
Be promoted, pass their classes and earn credits
Attend school regularly
Have better social skills, show improved behavior and adapt well to school
Graduate and go on to post-secondary education
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (2002)
Students with involved parents, no matter what their income or background, are more likely to:

5. Higher Performing Schools Effectively Involve Families and Community
Schools that succeed in engaging families from diverse backgrounds share three key practices:
Focus on building trusting, collaborative relationships among teachers, families and community members
Recognize, respect and address families' needs, as well as class and cultural differences
Embrace a philosophy of partnership where power and responsibility are shared
(Mapp, 2002; see also Chrispeels and Rivero, 2000 )

6. Parent and Community Organizing Efforts are Improving Schools
Recent studies have found that community organizing contributed to these changes in schools:
Upgraded school facilities
Improved school leadership and staffing
Higher quality learning programs for students
New resources and programs to improve teaching and curriculum
New funding for after-school programs and family supports
(Mediratta and Fruchter, 2001)

7. Benefits to Parents
Greater knowledge of education programs and how schools work;
Knowledge of how to be more supportive of children;
Greater confidence about ways to help children learn;
More positive view of teachers; and,
Greater empowerment.

8. Outdated Thinking on Parent Involvement
Parents should come to school only when invited;
Stay-at-home mothers serve as “homeroom mothers”;
Parents visit school mainly for children’s performances and open houses;
Parents help raise money for school.

9. Barriers to Parent Involvement
Lack of a school environment that supports parent/family involvement;
School practices that do not accommodate the diversity of family needs;
Child care constraints;
Families’ past negative experiences with schools and/or feelings of uncertainty about “treading on school territory.”
Cultural differences (language barriers, attitudes toward professionals, lack of knowledge of the American education system);
Primacy of basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter take precedence over educational needs);

10. Barriers to Parent Involvement
Feelings of inadequacy associated with difference in income or education;
Safety, especially in inner-city school neighborhoods;
Uncertainty about what to do; and,
Lack of time

11. Hold High Expectations for Parents
Believe that parents are key partners to your work.
Communicate to parents and all staff the critical role of parents.
Hold mandatory Parent Orientations prior to the start of your program, during which expectations are clearly communicated.
Require that parents sign a pledge that commits their support.
Invite parents to be involved (i.e., volunteer in school, visit any time, attend field trips and other events).

12. Family Involvement Pledge Example
AS A PARENT/FAMILY MEMBER, I PLEDGE THAT, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, I WILL:
show my child that I value education;
read with my child and encourage my child to be a reader;
take time every day to talk with my child about his/her school and Summer Advantage work;
visit the school and meet the principal, teachers and staff;
visit the Summer Advantage site and meet the staff;
participate in classroom/school/ Summer Advantage activities; and
become actively involved in the decision-making processes within the classroom/school/ Summer Advantage that affect my child’s education.
I pledge to become involved and stay involved, for education is a key to success and is one of the greatest gifts I can give my child.
____________________________________________________________
Scholar‘s Name
Guardian

13. Five guiding principles for involving parents in schools
Offer parents opportunities in the context of a well-organized and long lasting program
Allow parents to choose from a range of participation options
Engage parents in decision making at all available levels
Intentionally design a parent friendly environment
Communicate regularly and acknowledge parent involvement

14. Five Guiding Principles for Parents Who Want to be Involved
Share attributes, strengths and skills that could support your child’s classroom or school
Communicate with your child’s teacher
Ask to participate in school improvement and decision making opportunities
Support classroom curriculum and activities at home
Participate in a positive, collaborative and trusting manner

15. Getting to the “CORE”
True collaboration occurs with CORE - when these ingredients are present:
Connection
Optimism
Respect
Empowermen

16. CORE Connection: Optimism: Trust building Shared goals Common vision
Conflict resolution
Optimism:
Problems are system, not individual, problems. (interface)
No one person is to blame. (non-blaming, solution-oriented)
All concerned parties are doing the best they can. (non-judgmental, perspective taking)

17. CORE Respect: Empowerment:
Each person brings different, but equally valid expertise to the problem-solving process.
Respect requires acceptance of differences, especially perceptions about a child’s performance.
Empowerment:
Both parties have strengths and competencies.
Both parties believe they can help.
Both parties have a role for which they feel comfortable.
Both parties see that their efforts make a difference in the success of students’ education.

18. Train Staff
Provide professional development for staff regarding how to effectively partner with parents.
Ensure all staff are knowledgeable about your program’s parental engagement policies.
Provide teachers with “scripts” to guide them through various scenarios and have them practice these scenarios, including calls home, with positive or negative news.
Have all staff make a call home prior to start of the school year; the purpose of the call is to introduce oneself, learn more about your scholar’s interest, and welcome the parent to contact regularly and participate in school events.

19. Parent Involvement Activity
Sticky board
Markers
Groups of teachers (no more than 5-6 per group)

20. Practices Which Promote Emergent Literacy in the Home
Children's books, magazines, newspapers, and other reading materials are found in the home.
Children see adults reading for their own information and pleasure.
Children are read to on a daily basis.
Children are encouraged to ask questions and talk about the stories read to them.
Children have writing supplies readily available to them.
Examples: markers, pencils, crayons, playdough, paper, scissors, paste
Children see adults writing for real purposes, such as making a grocery list or writing a letter.
Adults and older children point out words in the environment, such as those on food containers and restaurant signs.
Adults and older children take the time to answer young children's questions about reading and writing.
Children see their names in print on their belongings and in the home.
Adults and older children talk with young children about objects and events taking place in and out of the home.

21. Ideas for Using Environmental Print in the Home
Children can help put away groceries reading each label as they put it away.
Make a matching game or word book from words they recognize, such as Sesame Street, Kmart, Subway. The words can be cut out of ads and glued onto cards.
Children can help make a picture grocery list. A large sheet of paper can be put on the refrigerator. Each time an item is emptied and needs to be replaced, the child can place the label onto the paper. The paper can then be taken to the store. The child can match the picture list with labels in the store.

22. Daily Activities Which Promote Literacy
Make a game of labeling. Verbally label objects and events for the child. For example, "where are your eyes?" helps children learn vocabulary as well as pronunciation.
Ask questions of children during outings to encourage them to think and use vocabulary. Allow children to control the conversation and help them with new words.
Connect content from books with the child's life. Talk about the connections. For example, with Just Grandma and Me, talk about what the child's grandmother would do or whether she has been to the beach.
Encourage children to read to an adult. Help them by prompting children to say something about the book. Children may also be encouraged to read to their pets or toys, such as dolls or stuffed animals.
Talk to children during bath time, meal time, and car rides to help their language development. These are opportune times to have meaningful conversations with children.