Comments for Engaging Parents In School... http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org Going Beyond Parent "Involvement" Wed, 15 May 2013 18:47:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://edublogs.org/?v=3.4.1 Comment on A Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Using Technology To Help Engage Parents by little R and R http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2013/05/03/a-beginning-list-of-the-best-resources-on-using-technology-to-help-engage-parents/comment-page-1/#comment-1325 little R and R Wed, 15 May 2013 18:47:50 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=3363#comment-1325 I like this idea of using technology as an outreach to parents. We live in the digital age and I need ever resource available. Some of the parents for my pre-k class are very hard to read or communicate with. perhaps the use of technolgy is the answer. I like this idea of using technology as an outreach to parents. We live in the digital age and I need ever resource available. Some of the parents for my pre-k class are very hard to read or communicate with. perhaps the use of technolgy is the answer.

]]> Comment on “Engaging Parents in the Learning Process” by Kyle Willkom http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2013/03/25/engaging-parents-in-the-learning-process/comment-page-1/#comment-1293 Kyle Willkom Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:56:19 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=3260#comment-1293 This was a great article! Parental engagement can make a huge difference in the development and educational success of youth! This was a great article! Parental engagement can make a huge difference in the development and educational success of youth!

]]> Comment on Chart: Useful Summary Of The Differences Between Parent Involvement & Parent Engagement by Celia Burn http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2013/03/06/chart-useful-summary-of-the-differences-between-parent-involvement-parent-engagement/comment-page-1/#comment-1290 Celia Burn Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:29:41 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=3216#comment-1290 I like the contrasts you've drawn between involvement and engagement. For me, it needs to go a bit further. Engagement in what? Parent involvement is as you indicate very teacher and schools driven. They set the agenda and define the limits to parent action. Engagement is much more challenging. It suggests a reciprocal relationship which challenges teachers to step outside their comfort zone and into the world of the student's family and community. The extent to which teachers are able to do this is a measure of engagement. The key objective which should never be forgotten is that when parents are truly engaged in their children's education they achieve more. I like the contrasts you’ve drawn between involvement and engagement. For me, it needs to go a bit further. Engagement in what? Parent involvement is as you indicate very teacher and schools driven. They set the agenda and define the limits to parent action. Engagement is much more challenging. It suggests a reciprocal relationship which challenges teachers to step outside their comfort zone and into the world of the student’s family and community. The extent to which teachers are able to do this is a measure of engagement. The key objective which should never be forgotten is that when parents are truly engaged in their children’s education they achieve more.

]]> Comment on Report From Last Month’s Parent/Teacher Home Visit Project National Conference by Larry Ferlazzo http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/11/07/report-from-last-months-parentteacher-home-visit-project-national-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-1269 Larry Ferlazzo Tue, 05 Feb 2013 06:02:06 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2953#comment-1269 Lyn, I'd suggest going to the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project website and contact them directly. Larry Lyn,

I’d suggest going to the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project website and contact them directly.

Larry

]]> Comment on Report From Last Month’s Parent/Teacher Home Visit Project National Conference by Lyn Story http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/11/07/report-from-last-months-parentteacher-home-visit-project-national-conference/comment-page-1/#comment-1268 Lyn Story Sun, 03 Feb 2013 22:01:45 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2953#comment-1268 Hello, I am a student teacher in my internship at a small rural jr. high in Northern Idaho. Your program sounds amazing. I did notice that you do not have any affiliates in Idaho as yet. What can I do at this point to further the possibility of that happening in the future. Do you have some information that I could forward to the principal at the school where I am interning? Please let me know. Regards, Lyn Story Hello, I am a student teacher in my internship at a small rural jr. high in Northern Idaho. Your program sounds amazing. I did notice that you do not have any affiliates in Idaho as yet. What can I do at this point to further the possibility of that happening in the future. Do you have some information that I could forward to the principal at the school where I am interning? Please let me know.

Regards,
Lyn Story

]]> Comment on I’m A Bit Wary Of Harvard’s Plan For Online Parent Surveys by Jamie Billingham http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2013/01/16/im-a-bit-wary-of-harvards-plan-for-online-parent-surveys/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 Jamie Billingham Sat, 19 Jan 2013 19:08:03 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=3093#comment-1260 Hi Larry, First I want to say that I am a fan and have used many of your articles to support my own positions on parent engagement, personally, professionally and as an MA student focusing on family engagement in education. So thank you for the great information! Regarding this post, the company I work for recently published a short case study on the efficacy of engaging parents online in a decision making process regarding school boundary changes. http://blog.thoughtstream.ca/school-boundary-changes/ In this case school superintendent chose a tool that worked for the families in his catchment and the topic was a good match for the tool. I think the danger occurs when administrators begin to reach for only one tool in their engagement tool box at the exclusion of all others. The IAP2 Spectrum of Public Engagement and Sherry Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation provide guidelines and suggest methods for engagement. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we used these to guide our engagement efforts? What if we began the engagement planning process with a goal of more than just informing or consulting? What might it be like to begin with the goal of at least collaboration? jamie Hi Larry,

First I want to say that I am a fan and have used many of your articles to support my own positions on parent engagement, personally, professionally and as an MA student focusing on family engagement in education. So thank you for the great information!

Regarding this post, the company I work for recently published a short case study on the efficacy of engaging parents online in a decision making process regarding school boundary changes. http://blog.thoughtstream.ca/school-boundary-changes/ In this case school superintendent chose a tool that worked for the families in his catchment and the topic was a good match for the tool.

I think the danger occurs when administrators begin to reach for only one tool in their engagement tool box at the exclusion of all others. The IAP2 Spectrum of Public Engagement and Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation provide guidelines and suggest methods for engagement. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we used these to guide our engagement efforts?

What if we began the engagement planning process with a goal of more than just informing or consulting? What might it be like to begin with the goal of at least collaboration?

jamie

]]> Comment on Guest Post: Did the Tech fail or was there a failure to connect to the Tech? by ejucomm http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2013/01/03/guest-post-did-the-tech-fail-or-was-there-a-failure-to-connect-to-the-tech/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 ejucomm Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:29:15 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=3063#comment-1248 From my educator perspective I can tell you that many campuses and districts do a very poor job of informing parents of the tech tools that are available to them including parent portals. This could be for many reasons including insufficient personnel or family participation not being of high importance in the campus plan. I have had so many parents tell me they had no idea they could check on their child's grades and attendance at home. In the end, schools need to do a better job about informing parents of technology initiatives but above that parents that are disengaged from meaningful conversations with teachers are unlikely to engage in parent portals either. However, family engagement from afar-usually found in secondary schools, can be successfully implemented using parent portals. Secondary family engagement can be successful using technology such as e-mail and checking in through parent portals because students don't always want their parents on campus but need the additional support. Lastly, as a founder of eJucomm, my tech start-up, I assist our schools in helping market our Family Kinex app to ensure maximum exposure. We try and help every way because we know what it's like to be on a campus and having 100 initiatives and not enough time. We help our schools so more families can be connected through our app with the most important information for family engagement through tech. From my educator perspective I can tell you that many campuses and districts do a very poor job of informing parents of the tech tools that are available to them including parent portals. This could be for many reasons including insufficient personnel or family participation not being of high importance in the campus plan. I have had so many parents tell me they had no idea they could check on their child’s grades and attendance at home. In the end, schools need to do a better job about informing parents of technology initiatives but above that parents that are disengaged from meaningful conversations with teachers are unlikely to engage in parent portals either. However, family engagement from afar-usually found in secondary schools, can be successfully implemented using parent portals. Secondary family engagement can be successful using technology such as e-mail and checking in through parent portals because students don’t always want their parents on campus but need the additional support.
Lastly, as a founder of eJucomm, my tech start-up, I assist our schools in helping market our Family Kinex app to ensure maximum exposure. We try and help every way because we know what it’s like to be on a campus and having 100 initiatives and not enough time. We help our schools so more families can be connected through our app with the most important information for family engagement through tech.

]]> Comment on Tech May Have A Role, But Is Not Cure-All, For Parent Engagement by Myrdin Thompson http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2013/01/02/tech-may-have-a-role-but-is-not-cure-all-for-parent-engagement/comment-page-1/#comment-1245 Myrdin Thompson Wed, 02 Jan 2013 19:15:05 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=3060#comment-1245 We have parent portal in place in our large urban district (110k students, Louisville, KY) and while it is an extremely useful tool for helping families, students, and schools to connect and partner (for middle & HS) it can only be effective if everyone feels it is beneficial. Since teachers are not required to use, you can have a school where some of the teachers utilize & have built substantial relationships with their student's families and also families that feel completely disconnected. But I do not rely on this as the only way I connect with my schools, and nor should it be. I would say that if this is the only method and it has proven ineffective, the district should reasses how they have marketed it to families: have they encouraged parent groups to offer workshops? Have they partnered with the public library system (which have computer accessibility) to encourage use of the system? Do all the teachers participate or only some? I would say the disconnect occurred prior to the adoption of this program, because the vast amount of information is so beneficial to creating healthy home school partnerships which we all know can increase student success. We have parent portal in place in our large urban district (110k students, Louisville, KY) and while it is an extremely useful tool for helping families, students, and schools to connect and partner (for middle & HS) it can only be effective if everyone feels it is beneficial. Since teachers are not required to use, you can have a school where some of the teachers utilize & have built substantial relationships with their student’s families and also families that feel completely disconnected. But I do not rely on this as the only way I connect with my schools, and nor should it be. I would say that if this is the only method and it has proven ineffective, the district should reasses how they have marketed it to families: have they encouraged parent groups to offer workshops? Have they partnered with the public library system (which have computer accessibility) to encourage use of the system? Do all the teachers participate or only some? I would say the disconnect occurred prior to the adoption of this program, because the vast amount of information is so beneficial to creating healthy home school partnerships which we all know can increase student success.

]]> Comment on Good Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers by Heidi http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/11/21/good-parent-engagement-advice-for-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-1220 Heidi Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:57:05 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2984#comment-1220 Hi Larry, Thanks for sharing my post! And I'm glad that you found the suggestions useful. I truly believe that the relationships between teachers and parents are powerful and transformative! Hi Larry,
Thanks for sharing my post!
And I’m glad that you found the suggestions useful.
I truly believe that the relationships between teachers and parents are powerful and transformative!

]]> Comment on Is Spending $20 Million On Parent Centers In L.A. The Best Way To Increase Parent Engagement? by Larry Ferlazzo http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/11/04/is-spending-20-million-on-parent-centers-in-l-a-the-best-way-to-increase-parent-engagement/comment-page-1/#comment-1208 Larry Ferlazzo Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:16:13 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2938#comment-1208 Great points, Melissa! Great points, Melissa!

]]> Comment on Is Spending $20 Million On Parent Centers In L.A. The Best Way To Increase Parent Engagement? by Melissa Whipple http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/11/04/is-spending-20-million-on-parent-centers-in-l-a-the-best-way-to-increase-parent-engagement/comment-page-1/#comment-1207 Melissa Whipple Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:38:51 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2938#comment-1207 Hi Larry and Engaging All Parents Fans, Here are some pluses to having a Parent Center: 1) It establishes a dedicated space for parents to come together on the campus--which sends a message that the school values parents enough to provide them with a space. Not all spaces are created equal--it needs to be easy to find--near the front of the school and NOT hidden in the back of the school in a substandard space (this sends an entirely different message). 2) It can also be used to offer space to community groups, immigrant and refugee services, and other non-profit groups on a regular basis (bi-monthly or more often as needed)--as a way for parents to be able talk directly to those agencies who provide meaningful resources and assistance without having to find a way to get across town. 2) If it is equipped properly with a a suggestion box and family interest surveys, appropriate child care space, books on parenting, culturally relevant materials and family- focused magazine subscriptions, home learning activities, current local resources posted in the languages present at the school, AND A PAID WELCOMING STAFF PERSON who knows how to build positive and reciprocal relationships, leverage those relationships into deeper engagement and coordinate activities IDENTIFIED by parents as the type of support they find helpful. NOTE: An empty space with no one there will not magically do anything. It isn't about the building or the room--it is all about the relationships. Hi Larry and Engaging All Parents Fans,
Here are some pluses to having a Parent Center:
1) It establishes a dedicated space for parents to come together on the campus–which sends a message that the school values parents enough to provide them with a space. Not all spaces are created equal–it needs to be easy to find–near the front of the school and NOT hidden in the back of the school in a substandard space (this sends an entirely different message).
2) It can also be used to offer space to community groups, immigrant and refugee services, and other non-profit groups on a regular basis (bi-monthly or more often as needed)–as a way for parents to be able talk directly to those agencies who provide meaningful resources and assistance without having to find a way to get across town.
2) If it is equipped properly with a a suggestion box and family interest surveys, appropriate child care space, books on parenting, culturally relevant materials and family- focused magazine subscriptions, home learning activities, current local resources posted in the languages present at the school, AND A PAID WELCOMING STAFF PERSON who knows how to build positive and reciprocal relationships, leverage those relationships into deeper engagement and coordinate activities IDENTIFIED by parents as the type of support they find helpful.
NOTE: An empty space with no one there will not magically do anything. It isn’t about the building or the room–it is all about the relationships.

]]> Comment on Is Spending $20 Million On Parent Centers In L.A. The Best Way To Increase Parent Engagement? by Eric Roth http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/11/04/is-spending-20-million-on-parent-centers-in-l-a-the-best-way-to-increase-parent-engagement/comment-page-1/#comment-1206 Eric Roth Sun, 04 Nov 2012 20:10:28 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2938#comment-1206 Given the huge financial problems facing the district, this $20 million focus on 'parent centers" seems like more optics and public relations than a practical plan to engage parents. Creating and distributing a simple, focused brochure on how parents can help their children learn more might be both far cheaper and more effective - especially if translated into the appropriate home languages. Or so it seems to me. Given the huge financial problems facing the district, this $20 million focus on ‘parent centers” seems like more optics and public relations than a practical plan to engage parents. Creating and distributing a simple, focused brochure on how parents can help their children learn more might be both far cheaper and more effective – especially if translated into the appropriate home languages. Or so it seems to me.

]]> Comment on California PTA Sets Back Parent Engagement Efforts In State by David B. Cohen http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/10/26/california-pta-sets-back-parent-engagement-efforts-in-state/comment-page-1/#comment-1197 David B. Cohen Sat, 27 Oct 2012 05:31:52 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2920#comment-1197 Thanks for sharing your detailed analysis - very interesting. Thanks for sharing your detailed analysis – very interesting.

]]> Comment on Molly Munger Initiates “Murder-Suicide” Pact To Devastate CA Schools by mcdez http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/10/10/molly-munger-initiates-murder-suicide-pact-to-devastate-ca-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-1191 mcdez Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:43:56 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2892#comment-1191 Prop 38 is the only initiative that helps restore funding after $20 billion cut from education over the last four years. CA is currently 47th in the nation in what we spend per pupil. The governor's budget will make us dead last. Prop 38 is the only initiative that helps restore funding after $20 billion cut from education over the last four years. CA is currently 47th in the nation in what we spend per pupil. The governor’s budget will make us dead last.

]]> Comment on “Scale to Measure Parent-Teacher Communication at the K-12 Level” by Dalinda Alcantar http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/10/06/scale-to-measure-parent-teacher-communication-at-the-k-12-level/comment-page-1/#comment-1188 Dalinda Alcantar Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:56:31 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2879#comment-1188 Tried looking for the scale as well and was unsuccessful. I can tell you that the primary purpose for creating our Family Kinex app was because we surveyed parents and they also stated they wanted a convenient way to e-mail teachers. This, of course was highlighted in the findings. Tried looking for the scale as well and was unsuccessful. I can tell you that the primary purpose for creating our Family Kinex app was because we surveyed parents and they also stated they wanted a convenient way to e-mail teachers. This, of course was highlighted in the findings.

]]> Comment on “Parents As Partners” New Season Of Webcasts Is Starting by Lorna Costantini http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/09/22/parents-as-partners-new-season-of-webcasts-is-starting/comment-page-1/#comment-1174 Lorna Costantini Sun, 23 Sep 2012 01:57:19 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2834#comment-1174 Thanks for sharing and supporting our webcast Larry! Thanks for sharing and supporting our webcast Larry!

]]> Comment on Australian Parents Organization by informationforu http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/08/31/australian-parents-organization/comment-page-1/#comment-1166 informationforu Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:15:30 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2774#comment-1166 Parent engagement in educational institutions is rather very helpful for creating favorable doing work relationships with all the educators which will be dealing with your son or daughter. This may be primarily beneficial and useful for fogeys of kids with specific demands. Setting up and maintaining communication using your child's teacher, provider suppliers and circumstance supervisor assists build rapport and rely on. Making an exertion to attend back again to school Night, Parent/Teacher Conferences and IEP Meetings will help you be informed and communicates your dedication towards your kid's education. Educators tend to look on volunteering to assist in a roundabout way incredibly positively. https://www.parent-portal.com/ Parent engagement in educational institutions is rather very helpful for creating favorable doing work relationships with all the educators which will be dealing with your son or daughter. This may be primarily beneficial and useful for fogeys of kids with specific demands. Setting up and maintaining communication using your child’s teacher, provider suppliers and circumstance supervisor assists build rapport and rely on. Making an exertion to attend back again to school Night, Parent/Teacher Conferences and IEP Meetings will help you be informed and communicates your dedication towards your kid’s education. Educators tend to look on volunteering to assist in a roundabout way incredibly positively.
https://www.parent-portal.com/

]]> Comment on The Best Posts & Articles On Parent Trigger Movie “Won’t Back Down” by Terry Stetson Wilson http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/08/23/the-best-posts-articles-on-parent-trigger-movie-wont-back-down/comment-page-1/#comment-1158 Terry Stetson Wilson Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:02:32 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2747#comment-1158 Great resource, Larry. There is also a facebook page: Americans Against the Parent Trigger> http://www.facebook.com/StopParentTrigger Terry in Florida Great resource, Larry. There is also a facebook page:
Americans Against the Parent Trigger>
http://www.facebook.com/StopParentTrigger

Terry in Florida

]]> Comment on Useful Analysis Of Parent Involvement Research by Laura Zieger http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/06/12/useful-analysis-of-parent-involvement-research/comment-page-1/#comment-1153 Laura Zieger Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:56:41 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2545#comment-1153 Thank you for your kind words and inclusion in your resource. Thank you for your kind words and inclusion in your resource.

]]> Comment on “Partnering with Parents: 12+ Resources for the School Year” by Shelly Terrell http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/2012/08/15/partnering-with-parents-12-resources-for-the-school-year/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 Shelly Terrell Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:44:40 +0000 http://engagingparentsinschool.edublogs.org/?p=2720#comment-1146 Thank you Larry! Thank you Larry!

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