Andrew, elementary principal in Denver - still in Orlando for some free time after #NAESP18 - my girl is only 18 months so no school yet! Soon! #edcochat
Keri from NYC. ESL teacher/coach. Frequent updates and photos via an app. Video feed of classroom. Responsive via messaging. Speaking 3 languages to my kid. #edcochat
Anyone from #NAESP18 looking for a cute to the hangover of a great conference - join us at #edcochat right now as we chat family involvement in schools! It's like the hair of the dog!
My youngest son’s school is hosting a Kindergarten Family Play Date at the park. Great time for parents to meet families and students other kiddos. #edcochat
A1: Call/email/text positive updates. Don't make parent engagement a punishment. Make it something positive. I hate getting bad calls from my kid's school. She acts up on purpose to get sent to the office so she can be "rewarded" with a call to mom. Not good. #edcochat
I'm HS math & my sons are grown, but I always felt, as a parent, I was welcome to help with classroom parties and to help w/fundraisers. I wanted to help my sons excel @ academics but was never given tangible ways to do that. #Edcochat
A1: We must must know the differences between parent engagement and parent involvement. Simply, parent involvement is often more "doing to", whereas engagement is "doing with". #EdCoChat
#Edcochat Family science STEAM night, coffee house night with Ps, invite them on field trips, class activities and keep an open dialogue with Ps. The more we involve parents the better. They are our allies & if we build relationships with them their support will be boundless
A1. One of the first things I need to do when I first start working with a parent/family is to gain their trust. I approach this as a collaborator with a ton of understanding, empathy and compassion. They need know that they are accepted and not judged for who they are. #edcochat
A1. Invite to different events, parent surveys, PAC, volunteering opportunities, good news calls, being available and visible before/after school #Edcochat
a1: I call Parents during the 1st wk of school to introduce myself. I also try to send home positve notes home on a weekly basis. i also use @ClassDojo to share what we are doing in the classroom #edcochat
I love to send positive postcards home weekly to different families. I also use @Remind to keep parents up to date with current events and @CanvasLMS to post grades, assessments and podcasts #Edcochat
A1: Engagement focused schools and districts listen to parents and community members. A genuine partnership is formed when we elicit input from our parents and community members, hearing from them what works best for their children.
#EdCoChat
I agree. As a teacher, I make every contact personal. I don't do newsletters unless I have time to translate them myself. But I do call and email home all the time. #edcochat
A1: Be transparent. “Communicate kindly, directly, personally, and clearly .” # treat them as if they matter in schools, in decisions, and building culture. make sure all staff treat them like they matter. Including office staff. #culturize#Edcochat
Yes & providing specific ways they can help their children excel, identify warning signs, etc. Fluffy newsletters train parents to ignore them. #Edcochat
A2: my daughter's school uses an app to send pictures, updates, and important information all day long. They also give parents access to the school's cameras so we can watch our kids during the day. It's awesome but it's expensive lol #Edcochat
#EdCoChat I invite them in for frog dissecting and other cool labs. My door is always open. Having them volunteer on field trips etc. keeps them involved and Interactive with the classroom dynamic. Plus they love to come play in our class makerspace
A2: 1 thing that i want to do this year is letting my parents respond and comment about learning using @flipgrid and the class twitter account im going to create. Also letting S's bring q's or thoughts in from their parents and share it to the whole class. #Edcochat
A2: @GustafsonBrad and @TechNinjaTodd had great ideas about bringing parents in as guest readers - and virtually with bedtime stories and bookchats via the school FB page! #edcochat
A2:livestream #passionprojects for one. Invite parents as experts in fields to discuss how they use science, process skills, even social skills in their job! Ask to help come in for labs. #Edcochat
A2. We engage parents from day one...they are a part of our initial meetings so that we know how to best help them & their student (most parents know their child better than anyone else)...we become a part of their team to help them & their student to be successful. #edcochat
A2: As Joe_Sanfelippo says, “In the absence of knowledge, people make up their own.” Be present, make connections, build relationships, and tell people your story! #EdCoChat
A2: As @Joe_Sanfelippo says, “In the absence of knowledge, people make up their own.” Be present, make connections, build relationships, and tell people your story! #EdCoChat
I’ve used periscope. Great tool for live streaming. Google hangouts to live stream and keep a recording for others to see later also a possibility for after school events such as a concert. #Edcochat
#edcochat A2: I used to offer Fluency Fridays where parents came in to watch their child perform poems/readers' theater. The parents loved it. Since my move to middle school I have dropped this and want to find a way to get into it. Poetry Slam maybe? Thoughts?
#EdCoChat@CanvasLMS@RemindHQ - but most importantly the phone- a positive phone call means much more than a positive email. Pick up the phone and parents will appreciate the time and consideration
A3: hands down, the translation hotline. Even if I speak the same language as the parent, nothing is better than a certified interpreter. Instead of worrying about how to decline a noun in my 4th language, I can let someone else do it. #edcochat
As a parent myself- I appreciate early notification of any issues with grades so I can handle it swiftly & anytime I get a positive phone call- wow! That makes me respect the teacher so much more #edcochat
A2: I love the idea of parents sharing why they love the school and how it’s helped their child. Post video clips on social media or do FB Live parent interviews. #EdCoChat
A3. I have an open door policy for my parents. No appointment necessary. Many take me up on this, knowing we are there to address any barrier that gets in the way of their child's education - not just what happens within the 4 walls of our school. We are there for them! #edcochat
#EdCoChat A Science night at our STEAM center, SCICON with parents involved in the projects and lots of parent involvement in makerspace activities and genius hour projects
Do more of if via email or text. This way, parents can initiate conversations more easily than calling the school and realizing I'm teaching and can't pick up the phone. #Edcochat
Start early and often! Since I’ll be at a new school, an intro letter was sent yesterday. Next is Popsicles with the Principal at the end of the month #Edcochat
Communication should be relevant and reliable. @ClassDojo is an incredible resource that connects parents on so many levels, in a 21st century way! #EdCoChat
Bonus: Our goal is to have more parents attend and participate school functions to support their student - pot luck luncheons, plays, debates, cafe days, drop-in lunch time. #edcochat
#EdCoChat A3: Being honest with parents and not being afraid to invite them into the classroom. Most parents are just waiting for the invite in . . . so do it. Invite them in. Let them be apart of your classroom.
