1. Full Participation Institute – Camille Catlett Family Engagement: Evidence-based Investments for Tangible, Long-Term Outcomes

2. Why engage families?

3. Higher preschool performance and promotion to next grade More positive engagement with peers, adults, and learning Buffers negative impact of poverty on academic and behavioral outcomes (Harvard Family Research Project, 2006; Izzo, Weissberg, Kasprow, & Fendrich, 1999; McWayne, Hampton, Fantuzzo, Cohen, & Sekino, 2004) Family Engagement Helps Children to Succeed

4. When families are engaged, children improve in early literacy skills Print familiarity and letter recognition Identifying beginning and ending sounds Word reading and vocabulary Reading comprehension (Durand, 2011; Lin, 2003)

5. When families are engaged, children improve in cognitive & language development Attention Task persistence Receptive vocabulary skills Oral language skills (Fantuzzo, McWayne, Perry, & Childs, 2004; Farver, Xu, Eppe, & Lonigan, 2006; Raikes, et al, 2006; López, Barrueco, & Miles, 2006)

6. When families are engaged, children improve in academic achievement Greater motivation to learn Higher preschool performance and promotion to next grade More positive attitude toward learning Greater academic competence (Yan & Lin, 2002; Suizzo et al, 2012)

7. When families are engaged, children improve in social-emotional development Better social functioning in school More self-control More pro-social behaviors (cooperation, responsibility) (Lin, 2003; Fantuzzo et al, 2004; McWayne, Fantuzzo, & McDermott, 2004)

8. Full participation means involving families and communities as partners and decision makers

9. Families can become lifelong partners or lifelong bystanders based on how we engage them in the process of supporting their child’s full participation.

10. Choose your words wisely Use people first /person first language Cognitive or intellectual disability instead of mentally retarded Individual with autism instead of autistic person Ask individuals what they prefer

11. NM Preschool Toolkit People First Language - page 7 http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf Person First Language – page 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stT_y77EWGw

12. Switch from parents to family or parents & family

13. Evidence-Based Family Practices Family practices refer to ongoing activities that: 1.promote the active participation of families in decision-making related to their child (e.g., assessment, planning, intervention); 2.lead to the development of a service plan (e.g., a set of goals for the family and child and the services and supports to achieve those goals); or 3.support families in achieving the goals they hold for their child and the other family members.

14. Evidence-Based Family Practices Where do you see attention to culture, language, inclusion, and promoting social relationships?

15. Tools You Can Use to Support Family Engagement

16. What might it be like to survey teachers and families about these practices, then compare the answers?

17. Making Full Participation Work At your school there are... K-5 classrooms A PED PreK classroom A special education preschool classroom Moms and Dads HOLD THE DATE for The Harvest Festival “ Lunch and Learning ” 12 – 2 Next Wednesday Come support your K-5 child! PLEASE: Bring enrolled children only.

19. CONNECT Module 4 Video 4.4 Starting a Relationship http://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect- modules/resources/videos/video-4-4 http://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect- modules/resources/videos/video-4-4

20. Action Item: Become aware of child and family experiences, cultures, beliefs, languages, and circumstances, and engage in interactions that respectfully, responsively, and authentically support full participation

21. When children do not see themselves represented in an environment, it can harm their self-concept and sense of belonging. Children who are not represented may not be as readily accepted by their peers. (Favazza, LaRoe, Phillipsen, & Kumar, 2000)

22. Action Item: Provide information and materials to families about the research, legal foundations, and benefits of inclusion. Share videos that will help them know what a high quality inclusive preschool looks like. Page 10

23. Action Item: Work together to learn about the resources of your community to facilitate connecting families with them when needed.

24. Action Items: ● Use a checklist to see if what you're doing reflects evidence-based and recommended practices. ● Use a checklist to survey families and staff. Compare the results. If there are differences, target them in your continuous quality improvement plans.

25. Educators come and go, but the family is the constant in a child’s life

26. There’s always much more to families than what you see

27. My Beautiful Woman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txlR6C2N0fg