Sign in or 
Location: Beyond The Bake Sale
Discussion: Chapter 9
Category:
Discussion Forum /
General Discussion
Share this
adolin001 |
Chapter 9
Jun 10 2008, 9:26 AM EDT
Elements of the Parent Involvement Policies of Boston, N.Y., and San Diego are discussed in detail. There are many great ideas that we could implement in our district and our school. Well worth reading this entire chapter. Complete the checklist on pgs 247-250. Provide three (3) improvements you could make in your program to improve parental involvement and provide high academic student achievement.
Do you find this valuable?
Keyword tags:
parent involvement
|
BrNa15025WV |
1. RE: Chapter 9
Aug 16 2008, 11:02 PM EDT
What I found different about this survey was that it asked if parents attended faculty meetings and took part in professional development. I don't know that our parents would want to attend faculty meetings maybe I am wrong I don't really feel that they should be allowed to attend. I liked the idea of rewarding schools with the highest parent involvement. I think more home visits would help with parent involvement. Not just visits by the Title I but by all the teachers and principal. If nothing else just to stop by and say HI and introduce themselves as their students teacher. If more parents were involved with the school then the students would take more pride in their work.
Do you find this valuable?
|
pamcampbell |
2. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 14 2008, 12:07 PM EDT
Some of the things mentioned in Chapter 9 are things we already do. It seems harder to make your school seem welcoming with all the safe school mandates. I know at Ramage this year we held a technology workshop where we showed parents how to use Edline, educational software, andhow to help their child do online research. This was one of the suggestions from New York. The walk through listed on page 230 lets parents walk through the school and offers suggestions for making your school more welcoming. During our parent club meetings parents talk about concerns they have. Do you find this valuable? |
Mrs.Boram |
3. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 14 2008, 9:33 PM EDT
As in the New York Story, we are following mandates to make our schools safer. This sometimes does not seem like a welcoming evnironment for our parents. I do not think that parents should attend faculty meetings. The discussions should be kept confidential to maintain a professional environment. In the past, our school has had Parent Club Meetings to discuss concerns and programs in our school. I will have my first Parent Club Meeting this Tuesday. Needless to say I am very nervous about conducting tmy first meeting.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
leticialovejoy |
4. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 14 2008, 9:49 PM EDT
Deborah, Just keep in mind that parents believe everything you say because you are the professional so don't be nervous. I don't think parents belong at faculty meeting either. I believe most parents wouldn't have concerns for the whole school but rather for their own child. We had our parental involvement committee meeting this past week and were pleasantly surprised to have a teacher among us. She asked the best questions and spoke for the other parents because she has insight into the education system. This parent was had questions about why Madison Elementary became a Title I school. She was sure other parents were going to be concerned and have questions. We changed some items in the parental involvement policy and made a few addtions to better clarify the message. It was a very beneficial meeting. Your meeting may prove to be very enlightening and help to make your school programs even better.
Do you find this valuable?
|
ddbell85 |
5. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 17 2008, 10:35 PM EDT
# 11 jumped out to me, because just like we want to get to know our students and thier needs and wants, we should want to get to know our parents' needs and wants as well. I feel that they should be surveyed more than once a year, maybe each nine weeks, because as our students' needs change, so do our parents'. Once we find out what they want and need, we can move more in the direction of getting them more involved.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
amabbott |
6. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 19 2008, 9:52 PM EDT
"# 11 jumped out to me, because just like we want to get to know our students and thier needs and wants, we should want to get to know our parents' needs and wants as well. I feel that they should be surveyed more than once a year, maybe each nine weeks, because as our students' needs change, so do our parents'. Once we find out what they want and need, we can move more in the direction of getting them more involved. "The same parents would respond to the surveys. However, their needs and wants may change more often than once a year and we need to address those desires. That probably would be an opportunity to get them more involved if they think we care about their suggestions and are willing to adjust our school accordingly. We should make additions and tweak things when needed. Do you find this valuable? |
MaryAnnBaisden |
7. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 24 2008, 6:29 PM EDT
I don't agree with the idea that federal programs bury parent involvement. Our Title I Program avidly supports parent involvement. Parent workshops and numerous other activities are held. Also, school and county parent meetings are held for parent input and concerns. Yes, I am one of Title I's greatest supporters. Title I has done a great deal for our students and our schools. It provides funding for teachers and a great deal of resources we wouldn't have to teach and be competitive in our global society in which we live.Our school goes a step beyond Title I Home Visits. Our teachers board the school bus the evening of Open House and visit parents at the bus stop. Teachers introduce themselves and invite parents to come to our school. We've had parents get involved at the school that were never at school before, since we began this visits. These visits have really opened the door to our parents. Parents feel more at ease, welcome to come to our school and to participate. Welcome them and they will come! Do you find this valuable? |
noradot |
8. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 24 2008, 10:23 PM EDT
"I don't agree with the idea that federal programs bury parent involvement. Our Title I Program avidly supports parent involvement. Parent workshops and numerous other activities are held. Also, school and county parent meetings are held for parent input and concerns. Yes, I am one of Title I's greatest supporters. Title I has done a great deal for our students and our schools. It provides funding for teachers and a great deal of resources we wouldn't have to teach and be competitive in our global society in which we live.Well said! I love your enthusiasm! I would love to have a child in your school. I believe Nellis is a light in the community! Do you find this valuable? |
|
BrNa15025WV |
9. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 25 2008, 9:46 AM EDT
We started Breakfast with the Principal last week. The first one was ok but not a lot of people showed up. I asked some parents why they didn't attend and their answer was we had no complaints. I assume parents think the only time they can show up at school is when there is a problem. We are working on this. I also went on two bus runs in the morning to get to know more about some of our new students and where they live. This is a great way to get out in the community. The students loved it.
Do you find this valuable?
|
bdeal |
10. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 27 2008, 8:42 PM EDT
This chapter offers many good suggestions on how we could involve parents in a greater way! One idea I liked was "Get dads involved," found on page 238. We seem to have more dads getting involved in conferences and our parent meetings lately. I always make it a point to compliment them on their involvement. I liked the idea of specifically recruiting them to serve as leaders. I have worked closely with many dads in Cub Scouting over the years, we have some pretty good dads out there. We need their input. Another idea is creating a "parent center" found on page 241. One of the best grant I ever wrote was for a parent resource center several years ago. The grant was not funded, but it was and still is a great idea. Parents need reources they can check out and use to help their children. They also need to know the school will support themin their efforts. I have found that parent want to help, but often lack resources and knowledge of what to do. Finally, the "leadership" described on page 241 is what it will take to make the ideas in Beyond the Bake Sale a reality. By making parent involvement a priority, we can take the steps necessary to improve our program. The WVDE and the county also need to address this important issue and help the schools reach out to parents. Leadership is key! Do you find this valuable? |
|
lisalowe |
11. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 27 2008, 9:05 PM EDT
As Ramage, Sherman Elementary does many of the things mentioned in chapter nine also. One activity I would like to mention is the computer availability to parents daily. Parents are permitted to use the computers from 8:00 - 8:30 pm and 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Uses would be to check edline, tutorial lessons for various programs or research on the Internet. Parents that take advantage of this are appreciative.
1
out of
1 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
kdharris |
12. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 28 2008, 9:27 PM EDT
I like the idea of Breakfast with the Principal. This has to be a great way to get parents to come to school and become more involved.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
kdharris |
13. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 29 2008, 11:02 PM EDT
As we all have always heard, there's always room for improvement. Under the topic of support and resources, I would love to see more professional development and technical assistance on all aspects of family and community engagement, not only for the teachers, but especially for the parents. Under the topic of accountability, we have decided at Whitesville to create a new and improved survey to distribute to our parents at the end of the school term. We have been discussing items we would like to place on the survey in order to assess families' opinions about the school and the various programs which take place throughout the school year. As far as the topic of family engagement, I think it's great to allow parents to sometimes observe classrooms and definitely take part in professional development which will enable them to gain a greater understanding and become more trained in different things which involves their child's everyday education. However, I do not think it is a good idea to invite or allow parents to sit in on faculty meetings. That policy may work for some districts, but I don't think it is a wise idea. I believe the school faculties need meetings which only involve the administrator and the teachers.
Do you find this valuable?
|
|
kdharris |
14. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 29 2008, 11:05 PM EDT
Lisa,I like the idea of making computers available to the parents. Do you find this valuable? |
|
acasto |
15. RE: Chapter 9
Sep 29 2008, 11:35 PM EDT
Having taught at both a small school and a large school, I see such a big difference in parent involvement. A small school is more personal. You get to know each family. You are regarded as a part of the community no matter where you live. The parents know how much you care and you learn how much they care as well. This can often be surprising. In a large school, you see a lot of the same faces and not usually the ones of the struggling students. Parents of at-risk stay away feeling inadequate. Home visits would be a great way to bridge the gap. Mary Ann gave the idea of sweeping the community with home visits. Tish and I did this at Ashford with great results. It puts you face to face with the parents and gives you a connection the next time you meet. We have wonderful memories of these times. In a large school the addage is how can we visit every student? So let's think. How could we? We could each take an area, check off students names, see who we missed. We always made contact so if we didn't visit them, we called. I even counted a home visit if I saw them in the grocery store. This is something I would like to see improve in our school.
2
out of
2 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
tcocheran |
16. RE: Chapter 9
Oct 1 2008, 8:34 AM EDT
Wharton has had a Family Resource Center for many years, but the focus has gradually shifted to a resource for teachers. We hope to refocus the Center as a "Family Resource Center" and to provide materials and information of community and educational resources, etc. We are in the process of trying to determine how many of our families have computer access and internet access and whether they would utilize the computer lab during set times. We, too, are making more of an effort to involve the dads (check out the free publications at ed.gov-one's for dads) and will have a special meeting with the principal for them. I reallly like the idea (whether bottom-up or top-down) of having personnel on the district level, high school and/or county, to oversee parental involvement.
1
out of
1 found this valuable.
Do you?
|
|
leticialovejoy |
17. RE: Chapter 9
Oct 3 2008, 11:02 PM EDT
With home visit week approaching, I wonder how it will be in a larger school as compared to Ashford or Nellis. Amy and I went to the ends of each hollow to find parents or other relatives. Prior to the home visits, we sent a notice to parents informing them of where we would be and when. We asked them to contact us if they didn't want us to come to their home. The last year, we only had one family to ask that we not come. This message came from a mother who was very involved with the school and their children's education. Yes, we made contact with 100% of the families in our school. If we didn't catch them at home, we grabbed them in the parking lot. We were so proud. We could share some stories, funny, strange, wonderful, sad. But we did open a door for many people, and learned so much about our kids. Mary Ann and I also made contact with 100% of our families. It was Mary Ann who taught me to just go on a home visit, without notice or permission. We sometimes sat on the porch but were usually invited into the home,, no matter how good or bad. Throughout the 3 years, we made hundreds of visits and were never, not one time, offered a cold drink!!
Do you find this valuable?
|
