THE FAMILY CONNECTION of ST. JOSEPH COUNTYTHE FAMILY CONNECTION of ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
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There 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.
Step 1: CURRENT ACTIVITIES (5 minutes)
Using the grid below, record the programs, projects and outreach your school is currently doing in each of the different family involvement areas.
Step 2: POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES (10 minutes)
List (individually, then as a group) family involvement programs, projects and outreach activities that you would like to see happening in your school.
Step 3: SELECTED ACTIVITIES (10 minutes)
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.
Step 4: GOAL-SETTING (10 minutes)
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.
Step 5: BRAINSTORMING (10 minutes)
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!
Step 6: ACTION STEPS (15 minutes)
Decide which brainstormed strategies will best fit your needs. Then list the specific steps it will take to do each item.
Step 7: TIME TABLE (5 minutes)
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.
Step 8: RESPONSIBILITY (5 minutes)
Decide who will have the responsibity for making sure each action step gets done.
Step 9: IMPLEMENTATION
GO FOR IT!
Step 10: EVALUATION (on-going)
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.
AN ACTION PLANNING GRID
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(Step 1) CURRENTLY DOING: |
(Step 2) WOULD LIKE TO DO: |
(Step 3) WILL FOCUS ON: | |
PARENTING Helping all families provide a supportive and healthy home environment where learning can take place |
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COMMUNICATING Insuring comfortable two-way (school-to-home; home-to- school) communications that increase understanding about the school, its programs, and each child's progress |
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VOLUNTEERING Providing opportunities for families to help with school or classroom-related activities, programs, and projects; individual students; or other parents |
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LEARNING AT HOME Helping families support children's learning at home through homework and other learning activities that families can do with their children |
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DECISION-MAKING Developing parent leaders who play a decision-making role in councils, organizations, planning committees, and advocacy groups at both the school and district levels |
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COLLABORATING Focusing on ways that businesses, service-providers and others in the community can support families and schools to strengthen student learning and development |
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(Step 4) GOAL: ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ |
Two frogs were sitting on a lily pad. One decided to jump off. How many frogs were left?
You've got a good grasp of reality if you answered "two." There's a big difference between planning to act and taking action. Planning only works when action steps are completed.
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ACTION STEPS: |
(Step 7) TIME TABLE: Begin by: / End by: |
(Step 8) RESPONSIBILITY: |
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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.