Engaging Stakeholders: Involving Parents in EducatioN
Although, I am not a teacher who assigns much homework, making the home-to-school connection is a priority. Students lead their parent conferences, and I send out regular newsletter to help keep parents connected to what their student is learning. In each newsletter, I provide what I call "Table Talk Discussion Questions." Here is an example of a recent Parent Newsletter. |
Full Transparency with PArentsInstead of traditional conferences, I encourage student-led conferences, and I hold parent information sessions periodically. As a mother myself, I know that parents want to feel a part of their child's school experience.
Because I was aware of the controversy surrounding teaching Islam in Tennessee, I hosted an information session before the unit began. I invited a college professor to deliver a lecture, and it was covered in the newspaper here. |
STudent-Led-ConferencesI believe that parents want to feel to connected. It is not about grades, but about connections to their learning. Both the learning and the connections are strengthened with student-led conferences.
STudents TExt their Parents an Invite to schoolI use the power of social media and smartphones. Parents will read a text from their son or daughter inviting them to conferences
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Student Museum ExhibitA Project Based Learning experience culminated with students acting as docents for the student-produced exhibit on empires and religions of World History.
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