Dealing with Differences : Addressing Diversity in Family Engagement

1. Dealing with Differences: Addressing Diversity in Family Engagement Presented by Pamdora Williams LaSPDG Staff @laspdg www.laspdg.org

2. Roll Call • If you have not already done so, please use your chat pod and type your district/LEA that you are representing • If multiple people are in the room with you viewing this webinar, please type their names as well

3. Considerations • This webinar is being recorded and will be available for viewing at www.laspdg.orgunder Family Engagement Webinars 2014-2015 • If you need to ask a question, please use the Chat Pod on your screen (NOTE: everyone can see your question) • You can download all of today’s materials in the FILES 2 Pod on your screen at any time during the presentation • Click on the selected file • Choose “SAVE TO MY COMPUTER” • Select the destination where you would like to save the file

4. People First Language “People First Language puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a person is.” Full People First Language webinar available at www.laspdg.org under Inclusive Practices Webinars 2012-2013

5. Let’s Chat! Using the Chat Pod… share the types of diversities represented in your district, classroom or in your school.

6. Family Engagement is: A Shared Responsibility Schools and other community organizations and agencies are committed to working with families in meaningful and culturally respectful ways, and families are committed to actively supporting their children’s learning and development. Cradle to Career From birth to college and career Across Contexts Throughout contexts in which children learn – at home, in schools, in afterschool programs, in faith-based institutions, and in community programs and activities. Weiss, H., & Lopez, M.E. (2009). Redefining family engagement in education. FINE Newsletter I(2). Retrieved from http://hfrp.org/RedefiningFamilyEngagement

7. Shifts in Perspectives about Family Engagement        This is excerpted from an August 2010 meeting of the National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group.

8. Harvard Family Research Project. (n.d.). Achieving Excellence and Innovation in Family, School, and Community Engagement Webinar Series. Building Strategic Partnerships to Foster Community Engagement in Education. Retrieved September 11, 2012 from http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/projects/achieving-excellence-and-innovation-in-family-school-and-community-engagement-webinar-series/webinar-5-building-strategic-partnerships-to-foster-community-engagement-in-education

9. Domains of Family Engagement

10. Quality Indicators • Family Support strategies and practices that: • acknowledge and respect diversity of families. • aid families in supporting academic needs

11. Quote “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” -Maya Angelou

12. Addressing Diversity • Helps build relationships • Misconceptions are addressed • Conflicts are minimized • Improves morale of families that may feel marginalized • Creates an inclusive and culture rich learning environment for all

13. Diversities to Consider • Cultural Diversity • Ethnic Diversity • Language Diversity • Religious Diversity

14. Strategy 1: Time to Reflect “People would like to see our diversity problem disappear. And the way they think it’s going to disappear is by not talking about it. But the real way you make it disappear is by talking about it, learning about it, and understanding it, and then you’ll see a change, not just by ignoring it.” a 12th grade student

15. Revisit Family Engagement Policy

16. Reflect on Personal Assumptions

17. Communicate using plain terminology and sensitivity Insert pic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsIW6mRgcWk

18. Communicate using plain terminology and sensitivity

19. Strategy 2:Differentiate Initiatives “Acknowledging and valuing diversity means more than celebrating food or holidays. It means making room for a range of voices, perspectives and resources, and styles of interacting.” -Adger, 2001, Lopez, Sanchez and Hamilton 2000

20. Tiered Approach to Planning Events Intensive: 3rd Tier Selective: 2nd Tier Universal: 1st Tier Special efforts for a few families. Additional supports to boost some or smaller groups of families. Opportunities afforded to all families.

21. Tiered Approach Planning Template

23. Is family engagement more effective when personalizing strategies? Conducting Home Visits http://www.pthvp.org/index.php/trainings-a-events/watch-our-video

24. Is family engagement more effective when personalizing strategies? Capitalize on family strengths http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf1rlf2myCA

25. Is family engagement more effective when personalizing strategies? Individualize Outreach Efforts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxhFeQ79bjw

26. Poll Which is a tier one activity? • Back to School Meet and Greet • Donuts with Dads • ESL Family and Friends

27. Poll Select which tier? -Lunch and Learns by grade level -Behavior strategies for parents of students with disabilities -Understanding Common Core workshop -Community outreach at a local churches -Follow-up phone call(s) after a literacy night • Tier one • Tier two • Tier three

28. Strategy 3: Evaluate outreach efforts “School is where children learn to appreciate, respect, and collaborate with people different from themselves.” - Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education3

29. Feeling welcomed motivates families to become engaged! Families feel welcome when: • The “welcome mat” is out • Family is included in the school community • The school feels warm and friendly • People are accessible • Balance of big events and small events

30. How Welcoming is Your School ?

31. Poll True or False? Addressing diversity will help build relationships with families.

32. Improving family and school partnerships require a shift in how schools think about family engagement.

33. Building Capacity • When you leave today, what will you do with this information? • How will you share it with others in your district? • When will you share it? (Timeline) Note: If you are on the district leadership team, this information will be useful in completing your district’s LASPDG 5 Year Plan

34. Questions? • Please use your chat pod if you have questions related to this presentation • After this webinar, you may email questions to Pamdora Williams pwilli@lsu.edu

35. Reminder(s): Virtual Bookshelfhttp://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=198 Archived webinars Missed Webinar Wednesday? http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=308 Next Webinar Wednesday for Family Engagement March 4, 2015 at 10:00

36. We Want Your Feedback! • We are going to open the survey on your screen for you to offer feedback regarding this webinar • If you have pop up blockers enabled, it may not show on your screen, so you can go to the link directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FEdiversityOct2014

37. www.laspdg.org The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H323A110003. However those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.