Parent Involvement Session : Effectively Engaging Parents “A Coach for Cinderella”

1. Parent Involvement Session: Effectively Engaging Parents “A Coach for Cinderella”

2. Welcome & Overview“Effectively Engaging Parents” • Meet your presenter, Cathy Richards Georgia PTA Building Successful Partnerships Chair • Why am I here? Tell what you hope to gain from attending this session. Georgia PTA

3. Presentation Overview“Effectively Engaging Parents” • Defining Parent Involvement and Engagement • Identifying the Parent • Identifying Roles • Effectively Engaging Parents • Getting Started • Question & Answer Forum & Sharing Georgia PTA

4. Defining Parenting“Effectively Engaging Parents” Cinderella’s Step-mother was a caregiver. • Involvement - Overseeing every facet of the child’s development by the caregiver. • Engagement - The participation of the caregiver in every facet of the development of the child. Georgia PTA

5. Defining Parenting“Effectively Engaging Parents” Cinderella’s Step-mother was a caregiver. • The Good – Positive Child Rearing Practices. • The Bad – Negative Child Rearing Practices • The Ugly - Abusive Child Rearing Practices Georgia PTA

6. Identifying the Parent“Effectively Engaging Parents” Who were Cinderella’s Parents? • The term “Parent” is used to refer to those people who are raising a child and supporting his/her development. • The traditional and non-traditional family and others that influence the development of a child. • Determining who the parent is through student interviews. Georgia PTA

7. “Effectively Engaging Parents” Understanding Roles Each character has a role to play and must play their role. • Director’s Role – The Coach • Supportive Role – The Parent • Starring Role – The Student Georgia PTA

8. Effectively Engaging Parents USING THE STANDARDS • Standard I. Communicating between home and school is regular, two-way and meaningful. • Standard II. Parenting skills are promoted and supported. • Standard III. Student Learning - Parents play an integral role in assisting student learning. Georgia PTA

9. Effectively Engaging Parents USING THE STANDARDS • Standard IV. Volunteering - Parent support and assistance are sought. • Standard V. School Decision Making and Advocacy - Parents are full partners in decision making. • Standard VI. Collaborating with Community - Community resources are used to strengthen student learning. Georgia PTA

10. “Effectively Engaging Parents” Developmental Assets • Surveys of over 2 million middle and high school students show that young people who experience more Developmental Assets are more likely to make healthy choices and avoid high-risk behaviors, including alcohol use, sexual activity and school failure. By Search Institute -Minneapolis, MN Georgia PTA

11. “Effectively Engaging Parents” Developmental Assets • External Assets Support, Empowerment, Boundaries/Expectations, and Constructive Use of Time • Internal Assets Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies, and Positive Identity By Search Institute -Minneapolis, MN Georgia PTA

12. “Effectively Engaging Parents” Developmental Assets The Parents Role – Build Your Team • Check in — Talk with your children about adult family members who are important to them as well as adults in the community. If needed, develop a plan together to expand their contacts. • Strengthen your partner relationship — Regularly set aside time to strengthen your relationship with your spouse or parenting partner. • Build relationships in the neighborhood — Get to know your neighbors, such as community parties, meetings, clubs. • Connect with other parents — Get to know other parents with children the same ages as your children. • Stay involved during stressful times — Stay connected and involved with supportive people and places for you and your family—particularly during times of stress or transition. Georgia PTA

13. Three Levels Immigrant Family Experiences in the U.S. Elida Perez Knapp Family & Community Liaison Georgia PTA

14. Level One • Family has recently migrated to the United States. Most likely traveling with a visa or undocumented. The goal is to earn money and return home within 1-2 years. • Needs: Shelter Childcare • Interest: Work Georgia PTA

15. Issues Not familiar with American culture, expectations, language. Realization that things are not as they perceived from afar. Life in the US is very difficult and strange. If they are undocumented they live in constant fear of being “caught” and send back. Georgia PTA

16. How Can YOU Assist • Connect to the family via Spanish speaking staff and establish a relationship. Provide information about school requirements such as, attendance, homework, parent/teacher conferences, etc. One way is to use a power point or orientation video placed in a specific area. Keep in mind: • Oral communication is the key connector. Many recent immigrants have low literacy skills in their native language and at first might be overwhelmed with paperwork. Let them know that they and their children are in a safe environment. Georgia PTA

17. Level Two • Family has been in the United States for three years or more. They might have one or two children born in the U. S. and/or attending public schools. • Needs: • Childcare • Social Services • Knowledge of U.S. School System • Knowledge of legal system • Interests: • ESOL/Spanish Literacy • Stable Environment/Home • Steady work Georgia PTA

18. Issues Enormous grief caused by separation/loss of former life, discrimination, not fitting in, children at risk of losing original culture and language. If undocumented, dealing with frustrations and complexities of getting “papers” in order. Georgia PTA

19. How Can YOU Assist • Same techniques as level 1 and: • Encourage the family to get involved in school activities by providing information about regular and after school events. Introduce them to returning immigrant families. Ask them to assist in planning a school event that reflects their cultural. Provide information on how to involve the children in sports or clubs and include scholarship information if available. Georgia PTA

20. Needs: Childcare Community resources Immigration classes Adult Education Job Training Level Three Family has been in the U.S. for five years or more. The goal is to make the U. S. their permanent home. At this level the family has accepted that they will settle in the U.S. and will not be returning “home”. • Interests: • Stable Employment • Children’s education • Buying a house • ESOL/ABE • Acculturation to U.S. Georgia PTA

21. Issues • Family is constantly separated by work and school responsibilities. Over time the parent roles have changed/reversed. Work keeps the father away from home much of the time while the mother takes on the leadership role making many family decisions. She might work outside the home. Children have adopted American behaviors and customs and prefer speaking English over Spanish. Georgia PTA

22. How Can YOU Assist • Same techniques as level 1 & 2 and: • Connect the parents with local community agencies that offer adult educational classes. Encourage parents to join the PTA/parent groups and to take leadership positions in the school. Ask if they will plan, lead or participate in an orientation session for new immigrant families. Georgia PTA

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24. “Effectively Engaging Parents”Where Do I Start? Cinderella’s fairy godmother used what was available to prepare her for the ball. • Meet with your parents • Conduct Assessment Interviews • Form Parent Support Teams of six families with diverse student education issues. Georgia PTA

25. “Effectively Engaging Parents”What is Needed? • Identify what is needed of the parent and the student. • Identify what the parent needs from you and the student. • Identify what the student needs from you and the parent. • Write a parent, student, coach compact. Georgia PTA

26. Five Action StrategiesCreating a World Where All Youth are Valued and Thrive Georgia PTA

27. “Effectively Engaging Parents”Hunting for a Princess Cinderella’s Prince had the job of finding the right foot for the right slipper. • Question and Answer Forum • Sharing of Ideas Georgia PTA

28. Resource List Georgia PTA