176 Ways to Involve Parents : Practical Strategies for Partnering with Families

by Betty Boult

• ISBN13: 9781412936682
• ISBN10: 1412936683
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-05-18
• Publisher: Corwin Pr
• More Book Details

Summary

"This very accessible book is filled with practical, doable activities and ideas that will enhance the learning of students by involving parents in respectful, meaningful, and productive ways." -Judy Chapman, District Principal, Curriculum Instruction & Assessment, School District #34, Abbotsford, BC "Dr. Boult has written the ultimate guide for helping school administrators and teachers create an effective partnership with parents. Any educational stakeholder (parent, teacher, administrator) will benefit from its content." -Connie Brownell, Teacher Lester B. Pearson School Board, Montreal, QC Use these practical strategies to engage parents and create more successful outcomes for students! Would you like to see children score significantly higher on reading tests? Stay in school longer? Excel in academics? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, youa??re not alone! These goals, obtainable and achievable, are directly linked to parent involvement. By taking a committed role in their childrena??s education, parents make a direct, positive impact on academic achievement. With decades of research to support this claim, 176 Ways to Involve Parents, Second Edition , presents ready-to-use ideas to fully engage parents in the school community. Containing numerous new strategies for building bridges between schools and families, this updated edition provides practical ways to: Welcome parents as vital members of the school community Sustain ongoing communication with families Include parents in school governance Develop parent volunteer programs Foster shared ownership of the educational process By including parents as educational partners, schools can create a rich environment that fosters positive student self-esteem and academic success.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Publisher's Acknowledgments	xi
About the Author	xiii
Introduction	xv
Part 1: Making It Happen	1	(36)
Starting the School Year	3	(5)
Supporting the Whole Family	8	(3)
Creating Safe Havens for Students	11	(3)
Recruiting Volunteers	14	(4)
Meeting the Needs of Volunteers	18	(4)
Training Volunteers	22	(3)
Developing Staff	25	(4)
Placing and Supporting Volunteers	29	(3)
Acknowledging Volunteers	32	(5)
Part 2: Creating the Climate	37	(22)
Projecting a Positive Image	39	(5)
Marketing the Message	44	(4)
Using Technology to Communicate	48	(3)
Communicating Effectively	51	(3)
Creating the Context for Change	54	(5)
Part 3: Sustaining the Involvement	59	(26)
Celebrating Diversity	61	(5)
Using Community Resources	66	(3)
Developing Community Relationships	69	(3)
Promoting Learning Across the Curriculum	72	(5)
Building Character	77	(2)
Talking Person to Person	79	(3)
Fundraising	82	(3)
Part 4: Venturing Beyond the Bake Sale	85	(22)
Establishing Connections	87	(2)
Cross-Fertilizing Ideas	89	(7)
Fostering Effective Advisory Councils	96	(6)
Developing Parent Capacity	102	(3)
District Initiatives: Setting the Example	105	(2)
Resources	107	(6)
References	113	(4)
Index	117