CreativeConnectionsP resentation5Web

Creative Connections: Communication Strategies to Reach Diverse Families : 

Creative Connections: Communication Strategies to Reach Diverse Families Presenter: Victoria Moreland Center for the Improvement of Student Learning OSPI Summer Institutes 2007 Spokane/Vancouver/Auburn Auburn Co-Presenters: Trise Moore and Sue Wolf

CISL: 

CISL Increase access to information and resources Improve learning and teaching Promote academic success and equality for all students CISL, OSPI 2007

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

WHAT TO EXPECT Understanding of communication strategies for creating family friendly schools for all What are your expectations? CISL, OSPI 2007

RESEARCH SAYS…: 

RESEARCH SAYS… Effective communication with families is essential in building partnerships, and serves as the foundation to build other home-school activities. CISL, OSPI 2007

OSPI: 

OSPI Nine Characteristics of a High Performing School 1. Clear and Shared Focus 2. High Standards and Expectations for All Students 3. Effective School Leadership 4. High Levels of Collaboration and Communication 5. Curriculum, Instruction and Assessments Aligned with State Standards 6. Frequent Monitoring of Learning and Teaching 7. Focused Professional Development 8. Supportive Learning Environment 9. High Level of Family and Community Involvement For a complete listing, definitions, explanations and implementation suggestions of all Nine Characteristics of a High Performing School, visit www.k12.wa.us CISL, OSPI 2007

JOYCE EPSTEIN: 

JOYCE EPSTEIN Six types of involvement: Parenting Communicating Volunteering Learning at home Decision making Collaborating with community CISL, OSPI 2007

HENDERSON AND MAPP: 

HENDERSON AND MAPP Partnership School All families and communities have something great to offer Open-Door School Families can be involved at our school in many ways Come-If-We-Call School Families are welcome when we ask them, but there’s only so much we can offer Fortress School Families belong at home, not at school CISL, OSPI 2007

COMMUNICATION TIPS: 

COMMUNICATION TIPS Various grade levels- different strategies Ask how families wish to keep in touch Keep it simple Communicate in various styles Communicate in an understandable and uniform format—no educational jargon Address communication DEAR FAMILIES CISL, OSPI 2007

COMMUNICATIING: DIVERSE FAMILIES: 

COMMUNICATIING: DIVERSE FAMILIES Communicate in families native language Identify best approach strategy Sensitivity and understanding Have patience- takes time for families to build trust All cultures want success for their child CISL, OSPI 2007

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES: 

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES EPSTEIN HANDOUTS BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOLS Conduct effective communications from school to home and from home to school about school programs and children’s progress DESIGN EFFECTIVE FORMS School-to-home and home-to-school communications about school programs and children’s progress TEACHER AND STAFF HANDBOOK GETTING PARENTS INVOLVED CISL, OSPI 2007

EXAMPLES: 

EXAMPLES Trise Moore, Family Partnership Advocate, Federal Way School District Sue Wolf, Title I/LAP/ELL Parent Involvement Liaison, Renton School District CISL, OSPI 2007

Sue Wolf – Renton School District Parent Involvement Liaison for Title I/LAP and ELL: 

Sue Wolf – Renton School District Parent Involvement Liaison for Title I/LAP and ELL Of the six types of involvement - I’ve focused on: Parenting Communicating Volunteering Learning at home Decision making Collaborating with community Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

Slide13: 

YOU ARE INVITED! School Name: _______________________________ Invites our families to: [] A Family Event [] A Parent and Teacher Conference [] A Parent Workshop Topic: ___________________________________ [] A Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Meeting [] Another Important School Meeting or Event: __________________________ [] A Classroom Event Teacher Name: _______________________________ Date: _______________ Time: _____am/pm to _____am/pm Place: At the School or Other Location: _____________ In the Gym or In the Cafeteria or In Room#_____ Cost: Free or Cost: $__________ Parents Only Event? Yes / No Children can participate? Yes / No Childcare provided? Yes / No Food is provided Free? Yes / No Food is available to purchase? Yes / No Interpreter is provided? Yes / No School Address: __________________________________ School Phone Number: (____)________________________ *More information from the school about this event may be attached in an English format for you to have translated. Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

CREATIVE EXAMPLES: 

CREATIVE EXAMPLES My goal was to provide tools that schools could use to improve communication with family members – starting with important information that staff expressed was needed. Families will know that they are “Invited” to a school event and feel welcome and encouraged to come. To give them important school information to keep handy as well as to understand attendance rules and early arrival or late pick up guidelines Finally, to have a chance to get comments and homework information from their child’s teacher. Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

Slide15: 

Your Child’s School Information: (Please keep this important information for future reference) Your Child’s School: ______________________ Phone number: 425 -___________ School address: ____________________________________________________ Classroom Teacher: _______________________ ELL Teacher ________________ School STARTS at: ____________ am and ENDS at: ____________ pm If it is a Half Day at school, it starts at: __________ and ends at __________ (Please refer to the School Calendar for scheduled Half Days and No School Days) If your child rides a school bus, the Bus Route Number is #__________ Children not riding the bus or walking must be dropped off and picked up at the appropriate school start and end times. (Unless attending a scheduled school program) Attendance Information: Please be sure your child is at school every day, on time. Attendance is very important. Any time your child is absent from school, please call the school and inform them of the reason for your child’s absence. School Office Phone 425 -________________ If your child is absent more than 2 days in a row, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office to request missed school work to do at home during illness. Parent - Teacher Conferences: Parent - Teacher conferences are very important for you to attend. Conferences are held during November. You will receive a notice of the date and time. The teacher will meet with you to talk about your student’s progress, curriculum class expectations and they will answer your questions. You may bring a friend or family interpreter, or request an interpreter from the school. Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

CREATIVE EXAMPLES: 

CREATIVE EXAMPLES Resources for ELL families have been added as needed: Spanish Hotline for parents to call and ask questions and get answers in Spanish ELL Brochures translated in top 5 languages Kindergarten information in Spanish and Russian for Kindergarten Round up and registration days District weapons letter translated in 10 languages Adult ELL classes at 3 school sites (the highest ELL populations) *local community grant supported Learning at home flyers in English and Spanish American Red Cross Language bank information for families and for some generic translations Bilingual Volunteer program for schools to connect with volunteers – especially for conferences (non-serious) Volunteer translations for school event flyers and information *Written translations are still important to families whose children are no longer in ELL, since the parents English reading skills may be below our level of print information (remember clear and concise) Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

CREATIVE EXAMPLES: 

CREATIVE EXAMPLES Resources overlap to all families too: Take home book programs for all Title I/LAP and ELL elementary programs Special workbook packets for summer learning for Title I/LAP and ELL elementary students Title I/LAP Parent Involvement group workshops for parents to learn about homework help strategies, how to deal with math “today”, internet resources, volunteering and communicating with school staff. Individual school parent groups WASL score letters translated in Spanish and Russian WLPT (ELL testing) letters translated in Spanish and Russian Extensive “Big List” of educational and resource websites TransAct Forms for: NCLB required information and generic forms needed in other than top 5 languages Connect schools with community resources for parents (libraries, parks department, after school programs) City, school and community members ESL group involvement to support Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

SMALL ways to do BIG things!: 

SMALL ways to do BIG things! Identify the diverse communication needs (for each school) Top languages families speak at home Ask families what types of communication they want and need Get staff involved in family communication strategies Gather teacher and office staff input about individual family and staff needs Identify bilingual staff members and set guidelines for using staff to help with interpreting or translations Identify key communications to have translated for families Registration, Home Language Survey School Handbook, calendars, newsletters Teacher communication notes School orientation DVD in various languages Parent – Teacher conference interpreters Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

SMALL ways to do BIG things!: 

SMALL ways to do BIG things! Plan for building relationships with families through communication Engage the entire staff in the conversation of relationships with families Keep it simple and connect with as many resources as you can – glean ideas Sue Wolf, Renton School District 2007

KEY RESOURCES: 

KEY RESOURCES