"Welcome to EdTechAfterDark! Our community was born out of discussions for a rich EdChat type gathering for those of us who are thinking about the digital edu-landscape long after the sun has gone down. For us night owls, when the clock strikes 10PM EST, you’ll find us on Twitter over at #edtechafterdark. All are welcome! Our discussions range from our philosophies about EdTech, digital best practices, and simply sharing our stories." --www.edtechafterdark.com
Whats up #edtechafterdark ! Mike, Elementary AP from Brooksville FL. My favorite TV parents.... The Winslows were always ready to teach a life lesson!!
PS Thanks @alexstubenbort for the tag earlier! reminded my old behind to stay awake for this awesome topic!! lol
Ryan here from Fort Worth, TX. I'm a 6th Grade Global Studies instructor at @TVS_Trojans. Favorite TV parents would have to be the trio of Danny Tanner, Uncle Jesse, and Uncle Joey. #edtechafterdark
Jeremy, here as a parent (who does education stuff, including @ParentCamp), and it's hard to pick one set of TV parents. "Everybody Loves Raymond" is one. #EdTechAfterDark
A1. Parental involvement~ active participants in events, part of decision-making, supportive of instruction via projects, homework etc. #EdTechAfterDark
A1: To me, Parent Involvement is nothing more than knowin your child. Too many parents mistake helicoptering as involvement. Knowing your kid, their desires, their goals, and their triggers is being involved in my book. #edtechafterdark
A1) So... I spend a lot of time steering people away from the notion that "parent involvement" is all volunteering and helping with homework. So I focus on "family engagement," which is families as partners in the education of their children. #EdTechAfterDark
A1: Parent involvement often means us telling parents "how to" help us at the schools. I rather them be engaged and work with us in achieving a goal. Involvement for some odd reason makes me think of helicopter parents. #edtechafterdark
A1: When I think of parent involvement I think of a parent that supports their students in all their endeavors. This doesn't mean that the parent is always around campus (while that is surely welcomed). Just a parent that cares #Edtechafterdark
A2 as a parent, I believe my job is to mold my child’s character and support the learning in the classroom ... integrity, morality, equity ... my job is to understand the teacher so that I can help the edu process #EdTechAfterDark
Q2 I think parents role is to advocate for their student and work with their teacher to insure they’re learning. A parent is part of the team. #edtechafterdark
I believe that, in relation to curriculum, the role of the parents is to encourage, engage, and partner with their student in the learning process. On top of that I believe parents should support school initiatives, administration, teachers, policies, etc. #edtechafterdark
A2: Parents should be fosterers of curiosity, challengers of norms, and believers in dreams. The biggest mistake a parent can make is naysaying the long shots of their kiddos. Childhood is meant for dreaming. #edtechafterdark
Yet, lately in my history classes I find myself incorporating more "life lessons" in character because it's not often being taught at home. #edtechafterdark
A2) Parents/families are a child's first teacher and are the ones with the child throughout their schooling, through different teachers and schools. So families are partners with those schools and their own children in ensuring a positive educational experience. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Parents/guardians are the first teachers, so laying that foundation in education is crucial for success. As Ss progress in their academic journeys, the family's job is to support the school with educating the child and act as AN advocate but not the only one #edtechafterdark
Also the reality check ... I pray that my children”may always get caught” ... better to learn as a child than as an adult when the price becomes too great to endure #EdTechAfterDark
A2: support and partnerships with the village your child is growing up in. If children know they are being supported by a team rather than getting mixed messages from adults, they’ll be more likely to buy into what we’re selling them (education). #EdTechAfterDark
A2: The parent or families role in education is to support their Ss and their needs and their learning. We absolutely want them to support the school and our initiatives but I think that many times we try to force that support. #Edtechafterdark
Love this first sentence. And I know that parents can get overly focused on how their children will earn a living, but kids get naysay'd by a range of adults in their lives. It may be the parent having to convince the school that their child can. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Parents should be fosterers of curiosity, challengers of norms, and believers in dreams. The biggest mistake a parent can make is naysaying the long shots of their kiddos. Childhood is meant for dreaming. #edtechafterdark
A2: saw a roomful of parents fulfilling their role recently @ the LSA incoming freshmen welcome event - they were intrigued, engaged, supportive, & proud. It warmed my heart & made me think of my own parents who never missed an open house! #EdtechAfterDark
Create a digital place where you can showcase your students and their work: Twitter, Facebook, Webpage, Instagram, etc. Not only create, but be ACTIVE! #edtechafterdark
A3 we need to ensure that some of our events fit their schedules ... no longer do all parents work 9-5 ... manu of mine with 2-11 yet conf nights are convenient for me not them ... can we blame them? Meet or ⚡️ #EdTechAfterDark
A3: Easier said than done, but building a working relationship focused on listening. Listening to the goals that need to take place in the school/classroom and listening to the concerns/goals/dreams parents have regarding their child. #edtechafterdark
A3: Communication is key! I’ve been in touch with so many parents this year & I’m making it a goal to reach out to even more next year. It completely changes the dynamic & relationship with the student - for the better. #EdtechAfterDark
A3: email Ps to keep them in the know. Share links to Ss work so Ps don’t have to pepper Ss after school trying to get details about the day #EdTechAfterDark
Q3 Communicate, include parents anytime you can. Instill curiosity in students and be the teacher they talk about at home. As a parent, that’ll get ya a plate of cookies and all the support you can handle. #edtechafterdark
A3: be a catalyst for the type of engagement you wish to see. Invite them into the classroom process. Make “parent peek” videos that allow parents to be part of the learning and provide them digitally. #edtechafterdark
A3) Welcome them in from the start. Share constantly what's going on in your classroom. So "parents aren't on Twitter"? Build it and they'll come. Invite conversation, online and off, just as we're having here. Involve them in the discussion about involving them. #EdTechAfterDark
A3: Positive Communication!!!!! I find so many time that my teachers that have open lines of positive communication with their parents are the ones that have the highest amount of parental "engagement". #EdTechAfterDark#MakeThosePositivePhoneCalls#ItMakesADifference
A3: Consider engaging in other ways besides families coming to events. Use social media to make the school walls transparent. Show them their child’s journey at school. Help them understand what we do each day to empower kids. #edtechafterdark
Q3 Communicate, include parents anytime you can. Instill curiosity in students and be the teacher they talk about at home. As a parent, that’ll get ya a plate of cookies and all the support you can handle. #edtechafterdark
A3: Meet them where they are. Be on social media, at the grocery store, accessible via cell... meet them in these spaces and express explicitly what they can do. Invite them to Guest speak, share what supplies you need, give them tips for reaching their kid... #edtechafterdark
A3: Educators should get to reiterate to the parents that, they're partners, working for the same goal. Educators need to know what the concerns/intents of the parents are for their children. Educators should ask the parents questions about their children
#EdTechAfterDark
I called all my parents the first semester and gave them my cell number ... rarely do any use it except in Response to my call or text ... but they feel empowered and connected by that 1 simple act 💜 #EdTechAfterDark
A3: Educators can build relationships by removing the "intimidation" factor. Speak openly and friendly to parents... many parents are doing their very best to present the best version of themselves. #edtechafterdark
Get their email addresses/phone numbers on day 1. Send email updates or text updates. Contact them in the home language. Call home for good things, not just for disciplinary reasons. #edtechafterdark
Yes! And educators should not fear admitting their own shortcomings. Enter the dialogue humbly and seeking grace; parents respects honest mistakes more than feigned perfection #EdTechAfterDark
A3: Educators can build relationships by removing the "intimidation" factor. Speak openly and friendly to parents... many parents are doing their very best to present the best version of themselves. #edtechafterdark
Interpretation hotlines are the best. "Nobody ever called us before!" said a family that spoke 4 languages and had never been contacted by a teacher before. They came to conferences. All of them. #edtechafterdark
I've shared this on Twitter before, that our third grader's teacher texted us to share something kind our daughter had done. Taking that time means the world. #EdTechAfterDark
A4: I think I saw it posted earlier, but meeting the parents where they are and use social media, have conferences more conducive to their work schedules, etc. Find more ways to invite parents into the learning process at school #edtechafterdark
A3: Consider engaging in other ways besides families coming to events. Use social media to make the school walls transparent. Show them their child’s journey at school. Help them understand what we do each day to empower kids. #edtechafterdark
A4: 1 thing we did this year with the help of @rwebster33 and @DevonMinch was to hold parent focus groups and asked them what they would like to see in forms of positive comm. Their responses have given us some good insight and some great ideas moving forward. #edtechafterdark
A4: Shifting the mindset from parent involvement to family engagement is HUGE! Just the word ‘parent’ targets one type of guardian. There are grandparents, fosters, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc raising kids. Inclusiveness is vital so all guardians feel safe. #edtechafterdark
A4 I believe scheduling needs to be revamped ... we need a morning conference day ... adjust the schedule so that our hourly wage parents don’t have to choose but can do both #EdTechAfterDark
A4: Shifting the mindset from parent involvement to family engagement is HUGE! Just the word ‘parent’ targets one type of guardian. There are grandparents, fosters, aunts, uncles, siblings, etc raising kids. Inclusiveness is vital so all guardians feel safe. #edtechafterdark
Q4 To Know better is to do better. Parent Camp is a great way to show parents how to be engaged in their students education and give them the tools to be the kind of parent teachers want to work with. #edtechafterdark
#EdTechAfterDark 👋🏽
🤔Parents.
A3: share my credentials with Parents so they know I actually have experience, an Education 🍎 and make Parents feel like their kids have a “good” Teacher.
A5 if it impacts the child’s being, learning, or social, emotional, physical needs, then we must share ... there are some things that we may miss, but collectively if we are a team we must let them know 💜 #EdTechAfterDark
A5: Deposits made (sharing +s about a child) balance when withdrawals (hard convos) need to take place. The child’s needs & family’s needs depend on the level of communication and what is communicated. We need to ask them how they like to receive communication. #edtechafterdark
A5: I've been at this crossroads a few times as a HS teacher. If it means harm to the child, then I must share. It's a hard decision, but ultimately when those kids are in Room 213, they are my responsibility and I need to look out for them #edtechafterdark
A5 Put yourself in their shoes and be solution oriented. I’ve never heard a parent say they were shocked by something a teacher told them. #edtechafterdark
A5) I actually don't think about this too much as a parent, but I think this also comes down to building a relationship with families. A serious incident shouldn't be the first time you're talking to us at length. #EdTechAfterDark
A5: This is where we get to prove that we're actively involvedwith the child and their parents. Knowing a child and the home he/she is from will enable educators know what should be shared.
#edtechafterdark
A5: There are some things educators can work out with the child rather than sharing with their parents and by that, it builds trust in the educators, knowing the educators are out for the child's safety and that will get the child closer to the educator.
#EdTechAfterDark
A5 ALL THINGS POSITIVE 🤓
should be reported to Parents.
🍎🤨Parents like hearing good and positive things about their
little 😇 angels.
It’s also a good way to begin conversation about the more difficult topics.
#edtechafterdark
A5 As a former nurse, I feel changes in behavior are important to convey. Quite a few students take meds for depression and anxiety. A change could mean meds are or aren’t working. #edtechafterdark
Our schools has a SAC committee (School Advisory Committee) ... usually short on parent participant... while we guide the meeting, they get a voice ... would like to include the community a bit more - esp businesses that would hire our sts #EdTechAfterDark
A6) I can't answer the question in the last sentence, but they should. I'll put in another plug for @ParentCamp here, but you can also provide these opportunities in a range of in-person and online forums (such as a Facebook group). With tech there are no limits. #EdTechAfterDark
A6: It is tempting to keep the status quo, but as schools and the learning process are changing, parents need to be part of the process. We need to shift the conversation from a one-way to a two-way if we want to build a stronger partnership w/ families. #edtechafterdark
Actively solicit feedback - and not only in person. Send a letter and invite email responses. Also, notify parents that interpreters will be available at a mtg to discuss whatever topic has come up. Send a mtg summary for those who couldn't attend. #edtechafterdark
A6: loaded ?! We need to change the way we approach families. Change parent teacher conference to community education and forum. Better yet, go to the families that cannot come to you. #EdTechAfterDark
