Key+Principles+and+Parts

Key Principles:
 * Student achievement is the focus
 * Must have high tech and low tech methods to match parent needs
 * Focus on language development in early years and literacy in school years
 * Piecemeal strategies not workshop based- consistent delivery of meaningful activities spread out over the school year
 * Focus on building relationships
 * Barriers are the reality for families- bring solutions to their reality
 * Tools are needed for older children helping with younger children in the family
 * Build leadership capacity in parents and school staff.

Three Key Parts: 1. School and System Changes
 * Centralized Back to School Event-
 * One stop place open for a long day to meet the needs of families.
 * How to- electronic communication
 * Select donated school supplies/clothes
 * Hot lunch program
 * Latch-key child care programs
 * Community resources
 * School Classroom Back to School Event
 * Classroom time to focus on student achievement
 * Curriculum- what will be taught and what should your children learn
 * Expectations
 * Trust building
 * Methods for communication- parents sharing their needs
 * Resources that will come home to support instruction

2. Specific teacher strategies and tool kit
 * Greetings that demonstrated parent/teacher/student educational team commitment
 * Understand that involved parents does not mean volunteers in the classroom or school wide activities.
 * Importance of building relationships with parents
 * Place parent on equal level- physical location, ie: chair/desk and verbiage- do not use education jargon
 * If having the family come in for a meeting with more than one person educate them on what to expect prior to the meeting.
 * Special Ed- This usually is intimidating to all parents. Take time to prep parents ahead but to also pace meeting to allow them time to think and ask questions. Stop and check for understanding along the way. Explain all special ed jargon do not assume the parents know.

3. Specific family strategies and tool kit