Supporting the Success of All Students T hrough Effective Family Engagement and Communication

1. Supporting the Success of All Students Through Effective Family Engagement and Communication Presented by Seena Skelton, The Equity Alliance at ASU and Mel Lewis, Davis Joint Unified School District August 10, 2011

2. OutcomesParticipants will…

3. Agenda

4. Compose a “Tweet”140 characters or less. Who are you?What does appreciating diversity mean to you?

5. District Equity Goal Staff and students will respect and understand the importance of diverse cultures by consciously creating inclusive and equitable learning environments and systems that value and engage all students and their families. District Responsiveness Goal The District will provide a culture and processes that are open, proactive, equitable and responsive to student needs and interests, (and that acknowledge the) contributions and concerns of families and the community.

6. Family-school connections and partnerships are important

7. What doequitable learning communities look and feel like? Equity Alliance at ASU

8. Cultural Responsiveness is…

9. In culturally responsive schools, teaching and learning occur in a culturally-supported, learner-centered context, whereby the strengths all students bring to school are identified, nurtured, and utilized to promote student success.

10. Understanding Culture as the Dynamic Ingredient in Human Interaction Cultural Histories What people bring with them What’s already there The work people do together The Institutional Culture The Culture We Create Equity Alliance at ASU

11. Understanding Culture as the Dynamic Ingredient in Human Interaction Cultural Histories What people bring with them Equity Alliance at ASU

12. What is Culture?

13. Exploring personal identities Activity Education Equity Alliance at ASU

14. Understanding Culture as the Dynamic Ingredient in Human Interaction What’s already there The Institutional Culture Equity Alliance at ASU

16. Power, Privilege and Difference Privilege & Power

17. Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Power & Privilege Activity In small group: Discuss the article Key points Provocative statements Generate a list of conditions of privilege that your assigned group may experience.

18. Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack Group Discussion • Groups • White • English Language Proficiency • Middle Class SES • Male

19. Understanding Culture as the Dynamic Ingredient in Human Interaction The work people do together The Culture We Create Equity Alliance at ASU

20. An Appreciative Perspective of Family Diversity

21. All families and students feel… Equity Alliance at ASU

22. Why is family and school partnership important for student success?

23. Socio-Historical Context

24. Challenges Facing Schools and Families

25. Explanations for Achievement Disparities Au, 1998

26. Gapsin opportunities present challenges for students and families. Lack of information “The student’s parents don’t speak English. I can’t communicate with them.” Educators’ Beliefs Parents who care about their children’s education attend parent-teacher conferences. School/District Practices Housing New Comers Program in one school in the district. Students attend that school, irrespective of their neighborhood. School/District Policies Identification procedures for Gifted Programs that include cut of scores on standardized test. Access to Resources AP and IB Course Fees.

28. Diverse Perspectives About Parent – Teacher Role

29. Barriers to School-Family Partnerships

30. What is my role in creating an inclusive learning community?

31. Equitable change is enacted through… Equity Alliance at ASU

32. Culturally responsive family engagement includes three key qualities: Focusing on building trusting, collaborative relationships among teachers, families, and community members Recognizing, respecting, and addressing families' strengths and needs, as well as class and cultural differences Embracing a philosophy of partnership where power and responsibility are shared

33. Transcending Barriers

34. Establishing a welcoming and family friendly school community • Inviting facilities • Availability and Time • Two-way communication with Families • Varied and frequent opportunities for positive interactions • Engaging families in their students’ learning experiences

37. Capacity to address language diversity Understanding differences in communication styles

38. Increasing families’ accessibility to information

39. Increasing families’ accessibility to information

40. Culturally Responsive Strategies to Increase Family-School Partnerships

43. Tools for Learning

44. Equity exists, in part, to the degree that all students feel they belong, are included, and are empowered.