Family Involvement doesn't "just happen" A PLANNING GUIDEThere are lots of ways to make a good plan. This planning guide is just what it says--a guide. Whether you use it with a big group or small, feel free to adapt it to meet your needs. The bottom line is: think through what you want to do and why, figure out who will do it and how, follow through, and then find out how you can do it even better the next time.
Using the grid below, record the programs, projects and outreach your school is currently doing in each of the di fferent family involvement areas.
List (individually, then as a group) family involvement programs, projects and outreach activities that you would like to see happening in your school.
Determine as a group which current and possible activities you would like to focus on. Try to be realistic in what you can do, keeping in mind your available time, energy, help, and resources.
For each activity you select, write a goal statement (i.e., "Increase attendance at the kindergarden parent/teacher brunch by 15"). Consider breaking into small groups--each focusing on how to accomplish a specific activity-for this and the following steps. Or have each group meet separately to complete steps 4 through 8 before your next meeting. This gives each small group a chance to invite others to join in the planning.
For each goal that you set, make a list of things that you could do to successfully reach your goal. Remember the rules of brainstorming: include everything, don't evaluate or criticize, build on each other's ideas, make sure everyone gets to participate, and have fun!
Decide which brainstormed strategies will best fit your needs. Then list the specific steps it will take to do each item.
Working backwards from when you want to hold your event, start your activity, or complete your project, set a time table by assigning each action step a beginning and a completion date.
Decide who will have the responsibity for making sure each action step gets done.
GO FOR IT!
It is important to pay attention to what is going well and to find out what could be working better. Periodically reevaluate your goals and action plans to keep on target and in focus. Ask families who participate in activities--and families who don't participate--for feedback. Look for the barriers that get in the way of family involvement and learn what it would take to remove or get around them. Be willing to make changes when necessary. 1995. This is an adaptation of an information sheet developed by The Family Connection for Family, School & Community Partnerships, Marion College, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis IN 46222. It may be copied in part or in whole to further advance the involvement of parents in their children's education, providing credit is given to The Family Connection of St. Joseph County, Inc., and to the Family, School & Community Partnerships, Marion College, as sponsor.
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Step 1: CURRENT ACTIVITIES