Encouraging Involvement

1. Encouraging Involvement Engaging All Families Series Module 6 of 10

2. Engaging All FAmilies Series:Strategies & Tools to Strengthen Family Partnerships 9 10 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Content for this series is derived from an analysis of research from the family engagement field (i.e. Joyce Epstein, Anne Henderson), family support organizations, and state agencies that support family partnerships.

3. Icons Used in Presentation Indicates files that can be saved to your computer from the FILES POD while watching the webinar Indicates a website link that will be useful related to the content discussed Indicates a webinar can be watched related to the content discussed

4. This Module Addresses: • Volunteer and Participation Opportunities • Parent-Teacher Compacts

5. Be Aware of: Participation & Volunteering

6. Expand the Definition…. Volunteer (vol-un-teer): a person who does work without getting paid to do it Actual examples of VOLUNTEER from Merriam-Webster.com: “Volunteers are needed to help with the bake sale” “The school was built by volunteers” While there is no doubt that volunteers and schools go together, it is time to update the traditional definition of volunteers to realize the different skills, abilities, and interests that families offer

7. Volunteers Over Time The Past The Present The Future • We used to think of volunteers as – • Fundraisers • Chaperones • Parent Organizations • Now, we see volunteers as – • Room Parents • Committee Members • Office Administrative Assistance • How will we view volunteers next? • Parent/Family Tutors • Data Collectors • Community Liaisons • Interpreter • Social Media Contributor

8. Develop Opportunities Greeting  Filing  Answering Phones  Field Trip Chaperone  Copying  Media Center Assistance  Sports/Clubs  #2 –What are our needs as a school? #3 – How do we identify families’ skills/interests? #1 – How are families currently volunteering? Subject Area Tutors  Translators  Student Mentor  Guest Speakers  Data Collection  Committee Representative  General Care  Classroom Assistance  Surveys  Flyers School Meetings  Letters  Text Messages  Door Hangers  Community Outreach  Class Meetings  Phone Calls 

10. Examples of Family Participation • Class Projects/Events • Career Day • Clean up/paint classroom or school

11. Additional Ideas • Sporting events • Volunteers in office; copies • Reading Buddies • Committees (PTA, Clubs)

12. Recruit Families Directly Target all, or specific families, through various methods of contact and communication Parent Letters Applications Phone Calls Drop-Off/Pick-Up Invitations Neighborhood Visits Feedback Forms DIRECT

15. http://youmightbeafirstgrader.blogspot.com/2012/07/parent-volunteer-form.htmlhttp://youmightbeafirstgrader.blogspot.com/2012/07/parent-volunteer-form.html https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

16. ptotoday.com http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2011/07/meet-teacher-ideas-downloads.html

17. Recruit Families Indirectly Share and post information about opportunities where families will notice Website Link in Brochures/Handouts, Bulletin Boards, School Classrooms, Sporting Events, Churches, Community Centers, Teacher and School Websites

18. Recruit Others Who Else Can Help? Church Leader/Member Local Business Member Alumni Grandparent Retired Teacher Community Member

19. Offer Support • Provide frequent updates and alerts • Publish a calendar of all opportunities • Advertise current and ongoing opportunities • Post training videos, resources • Specify if training is needed • Develop a training schedule • Follow-up with specific details when families offer to help http://www.gadoe.org/School-Improvement/Federal-Programs/Pages/Parent-Engagement-Program-Workshop-Templates.aspx

20. Is Training Needed? Questions to consider: Will they be working with students? Will they be using school resources? Will they represent the school in an official capacity? Will they be responsible for other volunteers? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then training can help provide the skills and confidence to make sure volunteers are comfortable and knowledgeable

21. Ways to Thank Your Volunteers Courtesy: Pinterest

22. Be Aware of: Use of Parent- Teacher Compacts

23. School-Parent Compacts • a written agreement of shared responsibility • a catalyst for collaboration and better communication between school staff and parents by translating goals for student achievement into shared action statements

24. School-Parent Compact RequirementsTitle 1 Section 1116 • Jointly develop with parents a school-parent compact • Outline how parents, the entire school staff and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement • Outline the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state’s high standards

25. What Should Be Included?Title I, Section 1116 • Describe the school’s responsibility to provide high quality curriculum and instruction • Describe the ways parents will be responsible for supporting their children’s learning • Address the importance of communication between teachers and parents on a continuous basis • Annual parent-teacher conference • Frequent reports on academic progress • Reasonable access to staff • Opportunities to volunteer and participate

29. Resource Videos for Compacts http://ctschoolparentcompact.org/about/

31. www.ksdetasn.org/kpirc Special thanks is given to the Louisiana Department of Education in the development of this module and additional resources.