INVOLVING FAMILIES:

BEGIN WITH THE BASICS

Aim to keep in touch with families instead of waiting until problems arise ~

Build a classroom web site for families to "visit" ~ Create a "How Families

Can Help" handout with practical suggestions for home activities ~ Develop a

parent library with books, videos and other materials to help parents guide their

children's learning ~ Establish a daily homework hotline for parents to call ~

Find times for parents to contact you beyond the school day ~ Give families

clear information on school policies, programs and goals ~ Hold conferences at

the workplace or a neighborhood site convenient to parents ~ Include parents in

school committees and other decision-making groups ~ Join with other grade-

level teachers to host a brunch for parents ~ Keep classroom newsletters going

home on a regular basis ~ Listen respectfully to the families of your students ~

Make home visits ~ Notice the good things your students are doing and share

these frequently with their families ~ Offer workshops on parenting children

and teens ~ Provide opportunities for parents to share their skills and to learn

new ones ~ Quell distrust by being culturally sensitive ~ Remember that all

families want the very best for their children ~ Survey parents to learn about

their ideas, concerns, observations and opinions ~ Take advantage of any

training on building family-school partnerships ~ Use parent volunteers to help

in the classroom, make learning games, or recruit other parents ~ Videotape

classroom activities or field trips that families can view at home ~ Welcome

families to your school with banners, posters and smiles ~ Xerox copies of

articles to share with parents ~ Yak with other teachers about good involvement

methods they have used ~ Zero in on jargon --include a glossary of terms in

newsletters or handbooks (and avoid it whenever possible)

Please feel free to reproduce and distribute this handout with the following credit: Developed by The Family Connection of St. Joseph County, Inc. for the Indiana Center for Family, School & Community Partnerships under a grant from the Department of Education to the Indiana Parent Information Network, Inc. The content does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. For more information, contact Kate Gill Kressley at: FSC Partnerships, 4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 105, Indianapolis IN 46205 · 317-205-2595 · fax: 317-251-7488 · email: fscp@indy.net (3/98)