1. Presenter Hodan Khalif Engaging Somali Parents

3. Picture of Somali parents

4. Education in Somalia School environment Administrators Teachers Students Parents

5. Rural classroom

6. Education in Somalia cont…. School environment cont…  Class room  Expectation  Discipline

7. Typical Somali classroom

8. Education in the United States School environment  Administrators  Teachers  Parents  Students

9. American classroom

10. Education in the United States cont… School environment cont…  Class room  Expectation  Discipline

11. Somali Parents Interacting with American Schools Barriers and Challenges  Cultural differences  Language  Parents avoid assimilation

12. Somali parents in America Somali parents in America Reasons parents do not come to school  lack of communication  lack of transportation  large families  single mothers  lack of financial support  time

13. How Can Teachers Help? Understand the perspective of Somali parents Need more interpreters in the classroom or office Parents learning English language After school tutoring for K-2 ESL students

14. How Can Teachers Help cont… Parents attending tutoring sessions Bi-lingual assistant for tutoring sessions

15. Suggestions for Somali Parents Discipline (listening, following directions and sting focused) Attending school functions/conferences Be willing to take English classes

16. Suggestions for Somali Parents cont… Making sure that homework is completed Being supportive of the classroom teacher For parents of elementary students, check book bags daily for homework, reading logs, and communications from school

17. Suggestion for Somali Parents Making sure parents are checking for homework Make time every night for homework Consistent More father involvement

18. Suggestion for Somali Parents cont.. Concept of time  Parents need to understand time is viewed differently in American culture  Parents should make appointment and not just show up in classrooms  Parents should come to their appointment on time

19. Effective strategies Create Somali parents network  Find parents who can speak English  Donate their time  Organize monthly meeting  Market—find parents who are in need

20. Awareness of Teachers is of Utmost Importance Cultural relativism/respect for other cultures Education of lifeways of large immigrant population in Columbus Encourage parents to be involved

21. Questions?