The Breakfast Club β #BFC530 β is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri β 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
*Yawn!* Hey all! Happy Tuesday! #bfc530 Learned something new last night - these things actually have a name?? Who woulda thunk it? How did I not know this? Wait til I share with the kids today! #isthisfakenews?
Giving students lots of performance opportunities connects families to school. Our coffeehouse, concerts, school play all flood the school with families #bfc530@MuppetJazzer@mambrosinicb@mrickertCB
While I think we do a great job with the families of our students its all kind of reactionary. We only ever deal with families when they come to us. #bfc530
It starts with the view that families are part of our learning community, not a an external group that we engage only when needed. Constant, intentional, & proactive interaction, including asking for ideas and feedback is essential. #bfc530
Family reading nights, after school science field trips, volunteer opportunities, inviting parents to speak about careers, principal's coffee gatherings, information meetings about issues in the community, inviting parents to visit classrooms... So many things! #bfc530
Great question! We engage families through school council representation, through learning sessions, celebrations, open and regular communication, tapping parents gifts and talents by having them make classroom visits. #bfc530
Use of social media is critical. We work hard to manage and tell our school story though Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You have to think of your school as a brand with an image to be cultivated. #BFC530#brandEd
My school puts out a weekly newsletter to families with articles about each of the divisions, and we recently started having βassembly after darkβ with a repeat performance of speakers or films the students saw during the day. Itβs more about PR than collaboration.
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Morning #bfc530
Our Art & Technology showcase comes to mind. Late in the year we host a gallery of student work. Kids are over the moon showing ff all the awesome stuff they created:)
In the past, we had odds & ends for family engagement. Under new admin, there is now a systematic plan to engage families, first socially (Spring Carnival). Meeting them as fellow human beings. It is working, per a conversation I had w/one of our parents. #bfc530
We have Family Fridays once a month. Parents can see an assembly, βsit inβ on classes and attend a meeting run by administrators (ie Executive Functioning, Social Media Safety, #SBG) #BFC530
As a new school, this is a big part of our bldg plans. Our cmittee started an annual picnic this yr, we have a mthly Hispanic prtnrshp evening, we just had PD with a professor of cultural somethingorother to learn diff cultural attitudes towards ed. So much more to try #bfc530
Steve Hall Principal at Piney Creek School in Alleghany County. We invite our parents and community in on a regular basis. We had a Literacy Night last night. We also do home visits in PreK and K to help them feel welcome and comfortable early. #bfc530
The issue is two fold. We need a way for teachers to build connections with parents directly and make them partners in teaching. We also need schools to have systems in place to reach out and help the community surrounding them. #bfc530
Through the blog, families discover the many possibilities of engaging with our school on a regular basis.
Coming up in two weeks is our annual student film festival and Oscar-style red carpet pre-event.
So much fun for the community!
@jchstweets#bfc530
My research showed about 50% of Ps will reach after being alerted by Ts. 30% won't, and 12% are pretty close to doing what Ts consider ideal... #bfc530 how do we change that so they're coming to us first?
Excellent! Just like it's essential for students to have a strong voice, it's equally important that the relationships one builds with parents (and the larger community) includes a voice at the table. Even as simple as asking "How are we doing?" #bfc530
One thing we have implemented in "Parent University" where parents come in to learn the tech, tools, and skills their kids our learning so they can connect better at home #bfc530
I would guess sports and plays are probably the top contenders for getting parents into high school, right V? I think to when my son was in HS, and there weren't really other opportunities besides that for visiting. Maybe awards nights. Sad. #bfc530@VtheLearner
Personally - I send a weekly update email to my 6th grade families. Host a couple of class open houses where the kids are hosts and complete a scavenger hunt to show their families around. I love it and so do they! #bfc530
Hi Patty! I use @Seesaw to communication with parents of my students. As a school, almost all parents are signed on for e-mail blasts that come out from admin. Phone calls are a regular part of our reality...stressing βhighsβ, as well as βlowsβ. #bfc530
One thing we have implemented is "Parent University" where parents come in to learn the tech, tools, and skills their kids are learning so they can connect better at home #bfc530
We have Somali- & Arabic-speaking staff that can help translate when our ELL parents come in.
But we have trouble getting our parents to come attend performance & events π
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Seeing all this positive parent connections leaves me a bit sad that my own kids school does NOT try and reach out in fact we are hardly ever invited in. Only for concerts...
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I want to know more about the film festival. Is there a theme? Is it connected to an academic topic, or just part of drama program? Sounds cool. #bfc530
Thatβs why I think reaching out to them on a social level first is important. It shows we value them and their children. They also get to see us outside our βteacherβ roles. Being silly, having fun. It builds trust and community. #bfc530
Excellent point! Being sure your school has a positive brand in the marketplace - one with student fingerprints all over it - is something one can't take for granted. It's about staying relevant and meeting the needs of the community. #bfc530
Trust is the key term. It feels sometimes like its us against the parents. I hate that. We need to push past it and make it obvious that we are all on team student. #bfc530
It starts with the view that families are part of our learning community, not a an external group that we engage only when needed. Constant, intentional, & proactive interaction, including asking for ideas and feedback is essential. #bfc530
Trust is the key term. It feels sometimes like its us against the parents. I hate that. We need to push past it and make it obvious that we are all on team student. #bfc530
Agreed. That student fingerprint is critical. The person over school social media should have a public way for teachers AND students to submit things to be showcased.
And, don't just focus on things that are above and beyond normal. The everyday is what parents want. #bfc530
Yes, I totally agree. I tried to get a couple of my administrators to understand that. It didnβt work. They seemed to like having a line dividing the families from the school. They didnβt seem to understand that it is about building relationships. #bfc530
Well I get it. I have, at different moments in my career, resented parents for various reasons. But we need to treat those moments like anomalies not the norm. #bfc530
Engaging families in their neighborhoods and communities is something some schools in my district have started doing in the summer with bookmobiles. #bfc530
When I taught MS, at our GLT meeting we would pick SS who had been doing great work or making improvements and we send home a physical certificate w the student and then an email and e-certificate to the parents. It was amazing how appreciated it was and community built. #bfc530
We have a website, Facebook page, Twitter feed & Snapchat with announcements for students & parents.
Many Ts use Google Classroom which allows parents to receive updates.
+ emails & calls home as needed.
#bfc530
Sometimes I feel my bldg wants to tightly control a narrative instead of having authentic dialogue where we might be forced to grow, examine, etc. #bfc530
One of the big takeaways from my paper was that Ps don't feel it's their place to take an active role in their child's education. Like, leave it up to the experts at school. But they're experts of their kids! #bfc530
Works really well when run by the Ss teachers and at a time when parents can attend after work, but have to lay ground rules that it is not parent conferences, but rather parent edu :) #bfc530
Use of social media is critical. We work hard to manage and tell our school story though Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You have to think of your school as a brand with an image to be cultivated. #BFC530#brandEd
Sad! And I'm sorry! I don't like hearing this...my kid is also in school and if I'm not pushing & asking there's little communication...band however, I get a weekly email from our band parent mom! Every Sunday!! β€οΈ that!
We also made sure to meet with every parent during conferences. We sometimes did team conferences if deemed necessary but then split the kids who werenβt coming and called the parents to invite them. #bfc530
We do βInside the Classroomβ where parents experience activities, discussions, and lessons as if they were students. But againβPR, not collaboration. A parentcamp would be collaboration. #bfc530
In reply to
@seanrussell311, @DrKnicki, @cpoole27, @wheeler_laura
The parent part was super important as it made the kid feel even more important and celebrated. It also made the parent feel like they were doing something right π. #bfc530
UGH! I had a 15 minute conversation in a store with one of our parentsβshe asked me what was happening from my perspective. She told me that she likes what is happening, but as a parent who has had to deal w/years of the school/family divide, sheβs cautiously optimistic. #bfc530
I will send out weekly/bi weekly emails detailing everything weβre doing in class. A parent should never guess whatβs happening in the classroom. I also co-run my depts. FB page which engages our community whenever possible. #bfc530
Iβm all for sharing stories, but I respectfully disagree with the rest. Schools are not brands. Thinking that way contributes to transactional communication that can marginalize families and teachers. #bfc530
I am in the MS as well Patty! It really is designed to be done throughout the year if possible but def more than one. I agree, 6 classes or more sounds right! :) #bfc530
In reply to
@DrKnicki, @LaurenPorosoff, @seanrussell311, @wheeler_laura
Building relationships creates engagement. As a P, I speak w/ parents regularly re the school, their child, etc. They often apologize for taking up my time. I always say that we are all part of a team working for the success of the kids. Their calls keep us focused. #bfc530
We keep our website, Twitter & Instagram up to date. Many Ts use websites & Google classroom as well. Also, we have lots of room in our Auditorium so parents are always invited to sit in on school assemblies & they often do. Itβs great to have them join us! #bfc530
Our annual film festival is the culmination of a almost a years worth of student made productions. We look at it as βcommunity building through filmmakingβ with most of our faculty playing roles in it too! Check us out in our YouTube channel. https://t.co/aaGrT86VRv
Our school doesn't do this, but I've heard of schools having a free spaghetti supper in conjunction with parent/teacher night. An amazing idea. I think lots of families would come! #bfc530
First, our principal @MaroonWay201, has reminded us of contacting parents. Without his leadership, I believe most of us Tβs would not see it as part of our culture. Second, we host events besides Open House like Financial Aid discussion to get Pβs in the door. #bfc530
One thing we have implemented is "Parent University" where parents come in to learn the tech, tools, and skills their kids are learning so they can connect better at home #bfc530
Dads and Donuts, Moms and Muffins, Family Literacy Program, Multi-Cultural Night, full time Social Worker and a Community Laision on staff, our schoolβs whole mindset/culture . . . Too many to list. Check out #SiglerNation#bfc530
All the Principalβs Iβve worked for had a rule. All communication with Parents got dealt with within 48 Hours and preferably the same day. Not returning calls or emails isnβt just impolite but leads to the βButterfly Effectβ. #bfc530
All the Principalβs Iβve worked for had a rule. All communication with Parents got dealt with within 48 Hours and preferably the same day. Not returning calls or emails isnβt just impolite but leads to the βButterfly Effectβ. #bfc530
The reality Debbi, If you donβt know or have the information they seek straight up, most parents appreciate an initial phone call, clarifying the issue and stating that you need to check records for them and then make a time to phone or have sent an email the next day. #bfc530
Our Evening of Excellence takes place in April and it is an opportunity for students to show off their science fair projects, wax museum characters, author chair, art fair, and an opportunity to stump parents with 6th grade math problems. #bfc530
