Families appreciate when teachers and school staff take the time to get to know them. Understanding your families’ backgrounds and cultures helps build a foundation for strong, positive and trusting relationships. This module includes several strategies for getting to know your families.
Activities
Informal parent-teacher conference
Considering planning an initial parent conference to welcome the family and to find out as much as you can about the student and his or her home culture
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/welcoming-second-language-learners
http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/welcome/welcome.pdf
(Module 1, Lesson 2 – How Diverse Are We?: Reflecting upon the challenges of cultural and linguistic diversity – Resource #3)
Ask parents about their goals for their child
1) At the beginning of the year, meet with parents ask them questions about their goals for their child with the intention of building a partnership to support their child’s learning. This resource provides 7 questions to consider asking parents.
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/7-questions-ask-parents-beginning-year-elena-aguilar
(Module 2, Lesson 3 – Strategies to Improve Communication with Families: Phone Calls)
2) Ask parents how they would define their role in their child’s education
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/encouraging-and-sustaining-ell-parent-engagement
(Module 2, Lesson 5 – Ways to Familiarize Families with the School System: Learn About Others Strategies to Help Families Gain a Better Understanding of the School System)
Ask what events they want to attend
Ask parents what kinds of school events they would be interested in attending, as well as what obstacles may prevent them from attending those events.
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/encouraging-and-sustaining-ell-parent-engagement
(Module 2, Lesson 5 – Ways to Familiarize Families with the School System: Learn About Others Strategies to Help Families Gain a Better Understanding of the School System)
Learn families' interests
Learn families’ hobbies, expertise and traditions, and invite them to share those things with the class. Additionally, learn about students’ heritage and build it into the curriculum. These approaches can be especially useful when working with culturally diverse families, and help them know that their culture does not have to be left at home but instead can be incorporated in the classroom.
http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/pt_ch1.pdf
(Module 2, Lesson 7 – Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers: Acknowledge the Unique Ways that Minority Families are Involved in Their Children’s Education)
Classroom projects
Classroom Quilt
Create a classroom quilt by following the “suggested procedures” in module 3, lesson 4 – Ways to Engage Families at School: Classroom quilt. Involve families by explaining the project and how they can help their child design their square. This PBS webpage shares how teachers have used quilts in their classrooms.
http://www.pbs.org/americaquilts/classroom/elementary.html
(Module 3, Lesson 4 – Ways to Engage Families at School: Classroom quilt)
Culture Box
Have students create a Culture Box with their family by following the “suggested procedures” in module 3, lesson 4 – Ways to Engage Families at School: Culture boxes. Invite families to attend the students’ presentations.
Home visits
1) Home visits can be a helpful way to learn more about students’ families and their community. If parents are not comfortable with you visiting their home, ask if you can meet at another place, such as a park, favorite restaurant or a grandparent’s home.
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=359
(Module 2, Lesson 3 – Strategies to Improve Communication with Families: How Positive is My Communication with Families?)
2) “Forge a strong partnership with parents by meeting them on their own turf.”
http://www.nea.org/home/34090.htm
(Module 3, Lesson 3 – Ways to Engage Families at Home: Home visits)
3) Become familiar with your students’ neighborhoods by following the “suggested procedures” in Module 3, Lesson 3 – Ways to Engage Families at Home: Neighborhood Inventory. Use this resources as a guide for understanding your students’ neighborhood history and how it has changed over time
https://edsitement.neh.gov/after-school/mapping-change-your-neighborhood
(Module 3, Lesson 3 – Ways to Engage Families at Home: Neighborhood Inventory)
Get to know your students
Send out parent surveys two-three weeks after school starts with questions about their child in order to get to know them more, such as, “What was your child like as a baby? What are your child’s strengths and weaknesses? What does your child do in his spare time?” Students will also enjoy hearing what their parents wrote about them!
(Module 2, Lesson 3 – Strategies to Improve Communication with Families: How Positive is My Communication with Families?)