#ukedchat Archive
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Thursday February 4, 2016
Hello everyone from the southeast.
Does your school value home/school relations? How does your community know? get involved in the convo!
A1 Not teaching in school at the mo, but have found experiences varying in schools
A1 Home-school relations need to be defined. Schools use diaries/emails to communicate. That is not what I understand as relations
Finding schools not wanting to have parents in school, for fear of being judged?
hello from the East Midlands.
For me it is about sharing resources and making use of each other's resources
communication need to be valued. Open days. Teachers available before and after school
What kind of resources are you thinking about?
But also allowing parents to offer what they can
Is 'being available' practical and/or always possible? True for every staff member?
new letters, text message service also we have a community centre on site so parents take part in classes etc.
eg parents' skill - that may be helping with reading or maths, or it may be woodcraft, or special talks
agree, we accept helper etc.
Resources, not in the narrow sense, but as skills and abilities
What are the advantages of the 'arm's length' tech over face to face interactions?
as we are 3 form entry, hopefully 1/2 members are available each evening etc.
Parents can be involved through something as simple as teachers phoning home to deliver not only bad, but good feedback too
I agree. Tech feels like keeping distance
is just starting if you are interested. :-)
mass coverage. We can send 600+ people message and they are more likely to read it. Newsletter are often discarded.
parent sessions at diff times, late parent evenings, open afternoons evry small term,weekly blog + other communications
both should be used. Some messages are suitable for face to face only etc.
What mechanism do you have to get a reply en masse too? Is one way comms valuable?
A2 Being available and having open door and open ear for suggestions, not seeing parents as way to get to kids
very good question. I believe most would ring etc.
. I love what do with their parents & community! Valuable & rich activities to bring the outside in!
a1 yes we invite parents in to watch teaching. Open door...always available to parents.
also good because we are able to send message via tech using alternative home languages. If needed.
I agree. Getting outside in is very helpful. Not keeping distance but trying to close gap
. I love whatdo with their parents & community! Valuable & rich
. easy ways to share classroom stories such as & are great but nothing beats a chat on the yard!
Getting to open door on Q5 :-)
blogs work well, tchrs/chn write each week,Twitter account for School, lots of opps for parents to see inside!
I can see benefits for schools, but for parents it's distancing.
The DFE said the claim that the curriculum was "prescribed by politicians" was "completely untrue". https://t.co/BfNCqzCfgi
Parents know they can speak to us. I guess it's easier in FS and KS1 as we see them at the door.
More than 1 parents' evening a year 1 isn't as engaging as it could be & doesn't always give enough time for feedback back & forth
distracting in which way?
Personal contact is key. Taking interest in pple's lives
Are they well attended? What does everyone get out of them?
I find using tech gets parents more involved. For example: etc. This encourages home conversations.
do they watch own child's class? How do you organise - can they make appt anytime to observe?
do parents etc. Not want to know what is going on at their child's school
Distancing not distracting. Personal contact important not paper or email
How can personal contact be achieved regularly with so many pupils and even more parents?
A2: Meetings each term, have a parents' breakfast or coffee session where teacher & parents can chat & really talk
Have you heard about Zzish, education platform?
Have you heard about Zzish, education platform?
Regular school blog posts get a lot of positive feedback from our parents https://t.co/2BmquBlPdM https://t.co/WuOPT1XtRc
blogs work well, tchrs/chn write each week,Twitter account for School, lots of opps for parents to see inside!
Yes, but from personal contact, not impersonal emails and newsletters
. clever use of time! Before school, after school is sometimes rushed. Open up your classroom during the day..
I agree, it is hard work, but just 10mins before and after school will do
. .. & plan regular times parents can visit the classroom that *aren't* parents eve! Share success!
Calling home is an imteresting one. Do -ers think we do this enough for positive reasons?
Yes, it works better in primary, but no reason to stop it in secondary
love this idea. You need to find a way that works for the parents you have.
Yes! Being approachable. Great to get to know families on trips and coffee mornings
Parents learn who teaches their child day in & day out & it's beneficial for teachers to meet parents. Can influence collaboration
Do we think their truly are 'reluctant to engage' parents, or has the system (as a child or as an adult) put them off?
. professional snobbery! Get out, get to know your community & embrace them! Local walks open up so many ops!
Sometimes its actually getting to see the parent- not the cousin/neighbour/friend who picks then up each day.
we also run classes to support adults via the community centre we have in site.
Tip one: Use the right hashtag ;-) >
Get involved in local events and don't try to move out of area because you could meet kids....
Excellent! But variety is key. I found many talks are about ICT & reading
it's been a long day <-least that's one right
Lack of outside agency cohesion, we get tarred with same brush. It's our listening ear that gets chewed!
probably not. That's a very good thought and point. Secondary do this quite often but primaries not so much.
A3: Having a time limit. 10 minutes per teacher (11 teachers in total) has never been enough
Termly workshops about how to make learning fun and relevant at home, then time for tea, coffee and chat after
primaries tend to invite parents to assemblies to celebrate good events
A3 we ask pupils to write home at the end of each term describing their favourite things about the term. Works well
we have done maths, topic as well.
My friend does this in her Reception class and had led to volunteers
Or schools brushing parents with same brush....
also do a curriculum coverage meeting every term. What are we teaching.
But why not continue in Secondary?
Are the workshops well received?
we have done this. Does help as it allows teacher to demonstrate correct strategies
Has anyone tried to reverse workshops? Get parents to teach staff something? [I haven't be thought just cross my mind]
But this doesn't get done in secondary
Just wondering if have thought about doing anything regarding workload and primary assessment farce this year?
I met with a parent this week, just wants some help. Find myself trying to find ways to help them 'play the system'.
true, but getting parents to talks is crucial! How to engage?
A3 Barriers is the health and safety rules and hysteria about "strangers" on school grounds
Always popular! We keep them practical and always send a goodie bag of fun and easy to use resources home.
Engage in their interests, art and craft, sport, music events.
I have also seen a school doing speed dating but with teachers and parents.
great! The ones that are not well received are more like lectures....
Does this work re keeping to timings?
link to areas that might grab the community. Sports, local venues being used. Take it outside the school. https://t.co/rrLhgr4fNn
true, but getting parents to talks is crucial! How to engage?
Definitely, home/school agreements mean parents & teachers can work together & motivate one another. Ultimate end goal is the same
What are the main bugbears of parents needing to 'see the teacher'? Homework issues? Behaviour or friendship concerns?
mostly I believe, obviously some do not but most do.
yeah, a time to chat and get to know each other.
What if the parent doesn't agree with the terms? Should every agreement be bespoke for each child?
a time to air minor concerns.
I agree. These contracts aren't all that great as they don't consider individualities of kids
GO GO-KARTING with us! It helps children learn to support their peers & recognise their achievements! https://t.co/PAFmVqCczb
There's always room to compromise & negotiate. At the end of the day, both parties have child's best interests at heart
My experience is people want to see that you know their child and that is more than everything else
Time constraints. Even 5 mins per parent means no food, drink or loo for the number of times they want to ask questions.
a3 barriers are parents own bad experiences of school, sometimes parental illiteracy, time constraints.
Another important factor is the child him/herself. What would work best for them, what support do they need...
Sounds like fun :-) (depending on which teacher/parent!)
Not in reality. In reality there is one standard form and everybody expected to sign.
Desirable and achievable if appointments can be made in advance...
Not really. Most seem to sign without reason
. No. Some abuse it. Those who need it don't use it. It's a shame!
A5 desirable, but not doable with all the locks & keypads everywhere. You need appointment to just say hello these days
...Sometimes I think parentd expect to turn up there and then. If all 30 did that it would be impossible
Hi all I'm not a teacher but I'm really passionate about youth rights and I specialise in carrying out research with them
Thing is if this is allowed all the time, it would space out over weeks
But if new the yes initially everyone would turn up
I try to maintain an open door policy but it is often abused by the oversensitive and not by those you need in
I agree if this is the case but with hundreds of children in tens of subjects, not realistic. 1/2
2/2 Agreements would have to take into account differences for subjects too
By the needly? Is it possible to provide a targeted open door? :-/
A6 Absolutely yes. just because they are older we don't lose interest in our children!!
. make your classroom more than 4 walls
By the needy? Is it possible to provide a targeted open door? :-/
why change practise that works. Most can be transferred to KS2
This is where you'd look to the child & consider where focus & attention are needed
a5. It is possible and can be so beneficial for many parents.
But parents *do* tend to fade away. How can this be stopped/lessened?
as a parent I would like to have some involvement, in a way that supports and promotes independence etc
I agree. But in reality there is a time constraint for that. They struggle with target setting
Ah! Not you're talking :-)
a6 def. desirable. Parents need to know that their input is just as important with older children.
I agree. And parental skills can be of great use to Ks4 & 5 - work experience talks 1/2
' is key because only then will our assumptions, reasoning, and conclusions be challenged.'
https://t.co/7NMsShyYQD
biggest danger is road outside school with cars parked on pavements, double yellows, fewer lollipop patrols
Anyone want to open their door to to see open door policy in action? https://t.co/D8a4sKZuTf
Personally, never been keen on an ‘Open Door’ policy but never seen it in practice so may be convinced. 1/2 Feel it would not ...
Exactly. And if children taught well about stranger danger, we can open doors
2/2 help my teaching or the children’s learning. Has there been any proof that it engages parents or improves education?
q6 Getting them involved, school garden, volunteers, assemblies, coffee groups. Building a positive parent culture
I think this is more to do with creating trust and not hiding....
What about 9-5 working parents? :-)
I agree that building trust is important but I would be concerned at the disruption it would cause to the class.
Good point. A tricky one. First choice re trips and events well in advance for them to book time off?
I think they fade away because their views not vlaued. Eg Had a teacher tell me that my skills not wanted to help kids
You could structure it and only invite a few number each time, not everyone will be there either...
Planning for weekend family events, summer fete, or just bring along picknick or tenting
volunteer groups sound good. Building respect with parents def builds respect with and from children.
Our school has an open door policy, chn & staff are used to adults/SLT coming in, love being in class
exactly any opportunity then when they can't get in use technology •
Is there a positive/negative impact on learning?
a7 through website, school app, info pod in playground and using Marvellous Me programme.
Do you get parents to sign anything before entering? A ‘Code of Conduct’? Have there been problems?
To me it is not about the immediate learning effect but the long-term relationship
No, you just trust people. Tell them what they will see and what you want them to do andthen trust
A8 Communication, Imagination, Appreciation and then real Transformation = aspects of the crucial dialogue!
Invite parents in to see chn's work, productions, parents eve, Blogging, Twitter, why undo all the hard wrk?
a8. Be patient and calm and acknowledge parental concerns. Feedback on any issues reported by parents.
Q8-bit late tonight! Be clear. Think about what you're going to say, how best to say it & what they'll hear.
Be honest, polite and listen, do not just talk, listen!
Not always easy. Often get caught on the hoof.
q7 still baffled at the lack of social media being used in schools-schools need to be current!
Not used Marvellous Me but the others are good. Also use Facebook and Twitter.
. remember that the 1/30th of your class is their world. Know your children, be interested & build rapport!
Just like in a discussion! :-)
I don't think so, those you want hang back whilst the ones who 'just thought you should know' provide a newsfeed!
Often people hear but do not listen.
q6 Definitely-Parents need to be engaged-otherwise there's little to motivate a child from home! Open dialogue!
Be prepared. Know the children. Start with the positives. Take notes for further actions and follow them up.
Thank you for hosting. Very interesting!
