CAPTURE YOUR PARENTS!

1. CAPTURE YOUR PARENTS! TEXAS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT CONFERENCE OCT. 2011 Presented by: Gloria Canada, Ed. D. Founder of Circles of Purpose

2. THIS IS A PEOPLE BUSINESS… A) KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY B) ELIMINATE BARRIERS C) DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS C) LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE

3. Every Family has a Story …

4. Definitions Low Income Poor Families & children are defined as low-income if the family income is less than twice the federal poverty threshold. Data taken from slides (1-10): National Center for Children in Poverty “Putting Research to Work for Families & Children” Families & children are defined as poor if family income is below the federal poverty threshold. The federal poverty level for a family of four with 2 children was: $22,050 in 2010 $22,050 in 2009 $22, 200 in 2008

5. High Risk for Low-Income Risk Factors: • Low level of Parental Education * primary risk factor • Single Parent Families • Having Immigrant Parents • 20% of our children have at least one foreign born parent. • 58% of children whose parents are immigrants are low-income

6. Parental Education Children in Low-Income Families in Texas, by Parents' Education, 2009 86% (1,092,573) of children whose parents do not have a high school degree live in low-income families. 67% (980,498) of children whose parents have a high school degree, but no college education live in low-income families. 30% (1,223,328) of children whose parents have some college or more live in low-income families.

7. Child’s Race/Ethnicity Enlarge Child’s Race/Ethnicity Children in Low-Income Families in Texas, by Race, 2009 25% (606,873) of white children live in low-income families. 59% (446,194) of black children live in low-income families. 66% (2,116,861) of Hispanic children live in low-income families. 28% (62,609) of Asian children live in low-income families. 40% (6,296)* of American Indian children live in low-income families.

8. Child’s Age Children in Low-Income Families in Texas, by Age, 2009 53% (1,275,038) of children, under age 6, live in low-income families. 46% (2,021,361) of children, age 6 or older, live in low-income families.

9. Residential Move Children Who Have Recently Moved in Texas, by Income Level, 2009 23% (755,933) of children in low-income families moved last year. 13% (463,281) of children in families that are above low-income moved last year.

10. A) Know Your Community

11. Cause & Effects Instability & Unpredictability Profound Effects on Children Missed Rent Payments Frequent Moves Utilities Shut Off Minimum/No Access to Health Care Unstable Child Care Arrangements Running Out of Food Impedes Children’s Cognitive Development Exacerbates Poor Child Health Poor Nutrition Adolescent Drop-Outs Low Self-Esteem Lack of “Normal Experiences” Contributes to Problems: (linked to parental stress & depression) Behavioral Social Emotional

12. Creating Change Parents Need: Positive Outcomes: Financial Resources Social Capital Education Social Networks Basic Life Skills Health Care Adequate Housing Adequate Food Stimulating Early Learning Connection with Schools Involvement with Children Reading Attendance at Conferences Homework Hope for the Future

13. The Invisible Fence • Do you have seating for parents to gather outside? • Is there ample seating in the front office? • Does the receptionist smile easily? • Do staff members say, “hello” in passing? • Are parents encouraged to come onto the campus? • Are “non-academic” events scheduled for families as well as academic events? • Do you know where your students live? • Are home visits made? • Are classes for parents made available on campus? • Is acceptance of diversity evident?

14. B) ELIMINATE BARRIERS

15. Breaking the Fence • Have non-threatening parent involvement activities • Provide high-interest parent classes • Hold meetings at locations accessible to families • Provide child care during activities • Schedule parent/teacher conferences during convenient times for parents • Provide reading material (open the library) • Magazines on parenting issues • Books parents to read to their children • Have meetings at local library so everyone gets a library card • Serve snacks during activities

16. More… • Offer parent incentives to attend – door prizes • Host parent clubs – crafts, computer, knitting, cooking • Establish a parent resource room on campus • Make home visits • Line the walls with photos of your students • Make your telephone greeting friendly and bilingual • Call to give “good news” • Greet parents outside or in the halls

17. Why? Family involvement may be directly linked to positive student outcomes such as: • Students’ mental health • Lack of truancy • Prevention from dropping out of school. (Cook, Herman, Phillips, & Settersten, 2002)

18. The Gap The achievement gap closely mirrors inequalities in aspects of schooling, early life, and home circumstances that research has linked to school achievement. • (Barton, 2004)

19. C) Develop Relationships

20. Non-Threatening School Involvement High Interest Parent Classes

21. Jingle Bell Walk Promotes healthy activities for family wellness Provides an opportunity for parents to participate in a nonthreatening, non-academic activity

23. Family Movie Night • Watch a G-rated movie on a big screen, provide popcorn and drinks • Community building • Incentives for: • Honor roll • Perfect attendance • Grade level recognition

25. Parent/Child Book Club Home/School literacy connections make a difference on children’s achievement & reading acquisition ______________________________________ • Choose high interest books – have students vote on a book to read • Provide opportunity for parents & child to select the next book • Post their names/pictures on bulletin board or newsletter • If possible, allow for family to “keep” book when finished

27. Festivals and Carnivals • Teachers/committees run the booths • Games • Face Painting • Food • Invite the entire community • Provides a non-threatening social and fun environment for teachers and their families to mingle with students and their families

28. Reading Café • Students prepare a tasty selection of books and writing samples from the year to share with their families. • Light snacks are provided while the parents select menu items they would like to hear read to them. • Faculty & staff make sure to stop by and listen to students read (whose parents did not/could not attend)

33. The Power of Family

34. Don’t Assume … 1) Don’t assume students have access to magazines, references & resources 2) Don’t assume students can study at home 3) Don’t assume families will contribute to fund drives or sales. 4) Don’t assume families will call if they have a question. 5) Don’t assume families will confide in school personnel if you have not established a relationship.

35. Be Tolerant of … • Irregular attendance • Disorganization • Unreliable transportation • Financial crisis • Disruptions in normal family relations

36. The Next Generation…

37. D) Look Toward the Future Between the years 2004 through 2040 the need for programs which specifically address the needs of the economically disadvantaged will grow 119.9% (Steve Murdock, Texas State Demographer, 2007)

38. Benefits – Reaching out to Families Circles of Purpose provides families with tools to create a strong foundation for the purpose of student success. • Strengthen the Family Foundation • Increase Communication • Establish Good Health and Wellness Habits • Implement a Positive Behavior Management • Identify Achievable Goals • Strengthen Organization Skills

39. Benefits to the School The diversity in families can span cultures, languages, socioeconomic status and levels of education. Developing a partnership which is purposeful for the families, the children and the school creates a sense of shared opportunities and achievements. • Increase in Communication • Increase in Attendance • Increase in Parent Participation • Increase in Student Achievement • Decrease in Student Discipline Referrals

40. THIS IS A PEOPLE BUSINESS… A) KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY B) ELIMINATE BARRIERS C) DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS C) LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE

41. “If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.” Maya Anglou

42. Back to the Future… EVERY FAMILY HAS A STORY

43. Do Not Let Demographics Determine Destiny

44. Circles of Purpose Gloria Canada 210-274-7950 gcanadabrett@gmail.com gcanada@circlesofpurpose.com www.circlesofpurpose.com