Family Engagement

1. Family Engagement

2. The WHY for Family Engagement and Partnerships Welcoming and including families has benefits for all Students Families Our Program Families more likely to... • Help, donate, or participate • Respond positively when approached about attendance, behavior, or academic concerns • Support at home with continuity and boundary setting regarding behavioral expectations We want students to have... • Continuity • More consistent boundary setting • Importance of school emphasized when adults make it a priority as well We want families to feel... • Increased sense of belonging • Trust in where they leave their student • Trust in judgement of staff when issues arise In what ways can what we do before, during, and after a behavioral incident shape our relationships with families and our students to the benefit of all?

3. Module 1: Proactive Family Engagement

4. The WHY for Being Proactive Meeting families early and being a source of positive information puts “money in the bank” for when you have to talk about things like attendance or behavioral issues. To support students’ sense of belonging through intentional community building activities To develop policies and structures that support positive behavior To develop a progressive response to challenging behavior QAP GOAL CONNECTION

5. Criteria for Successful Family Engagement • What is one way you engage with families? • Does it meet these criteria? • If not, how can you modify to meet these criteria? Activity • 2 min write time • 1 minute each to share during turn-n-talk with a partner • Post on the strategy board Proactive Consistent 2-way Communication Includes strategies to involve working families

6. Challenges of Proactive Family Engagement Hearing what families want in a productive way... Sharing information... Languages Time... Getting families to participate...

7. Meeting Family Engagement Challenges

8. The same newsletter idea can also be made into a bulletin. Why a bulletin? Families can easily see things missed if a newsletter is lost. Different groupings can be made so that pictures and info can be posted by group which you may not have space for on the newsletter School day staff can also see the amazing things you are doing in after school Constant updating can occur for last minute needs or events Help the school look good so they will help you! By any other name...

9. Ease of use... • Upload pics from phone • Update frequently • Can connect quickly with parents who do not pick-up Student Involvement... • Students can update the site and be involved in selecting and editing material • Can be a privilege or special project • Use it to keep in touch with former students who may want to come back and mentor Family Access and Feedback... • Quick access for families • Updates can show up directly on family member feeds • May be a consistent contact for families who repeatedly change numbers or addresses More Information: http://www.sfusd.edu/en/family-and-community-support/family-partnerships-toolkit.html Using Technology

10. What are three ways families can help you? Give a little…..Take a little... Take 3 min to write your answer to the two questions below on a post-its. We can be a resource to each other by connecting with families in ways we did not think about before. What are three ways you can be a resource for families?

11. Module 4 Parent Conferencing

12. Why Celebrate Parents as Partners? ●It is an opportunity to learn more about each student’s family and identify ways the school can support partnerships between home and school. ● Partnership provides an opportunity to connect with families from the outset and build relationships based on two-way communication: staff have an opportunity to hear about what matters most to families regarding their children’s education, and families have an opportunity to hear from staff.

13. BEFORE THE CONFERENCE • Check in with School Day Staff • To get BASIS information • Mirror school day behavior modification (if applicable) • Build rapport with parents PRIOR to conflicts • Say “Hello” and their name • Say something positive about their child • Be clear on goals the purpose of conference • Plan ahead • Give ample time for all parties to schedule to be present

14. During Parent Conference Start By • Strengths of the child • What the child offers to the program • What the staff value in the child Hear From • Family • Afterschool Staff • School Day Staff (if applicable) Collaborate on Supports • Checking with student on a (daily, weekly basis) • Behavior Charts/Contracts • Daily reflection • Buddy system Involve the Student (e.g. “What I can do next time…”) ·Rho Sham Bo, ·Ask for help by raising hand ·Student helper or ambassador

15. Follow up with Student and Family by.. Set Up Deadlines for Action Items: • For agreements from student, staff, parent(s) • Consequences or praises for modeling desired behavior Follow up date (if necessary) Check in with School Day Staff ·Basis ·Mirror school day behavior modification *Make it a practice to check in with parents with notes or phone calls when student is doing a great job or demonstrating desired behavior

16. If Harm Occurs, Have Restorative Conversations! A restorative conversation is any conversation in which an issue is approached with an open mind to: 1. Truly understand what happened 2. Authentically listen and provide a space where everyone involved authentically listens to one another 3. All voices are heard 4. Focus on the impact the situation/actions had on others and the larger community 5. Identify any unmet needs (especially for those harmed), and 6. Determine what needs to happen to make things as right as possible moving forward.