Friday, June 22, 2012

How Family Friendly Is YOUR School?


Building Relationships
Family center is always open, full of interesting learning materials to borrow
Teachers contact families once a year
Better educated parents are more involved
Families do not ‘bother’ school staff

Linking to Learning
Parents and teachers look at student work and test results together
Teachers explain test scores if asked
Parents are told what students will be learning at the fall open house
Curriculum and standards are too complex for parents to understand

Addressing Differences
Translators are readily available
Office staff will find a translator if parents ask in advance
‘We can’t deal with twenty different languages’
‘Those parents need to learn English’

Supporting Advocacy
Student-led parent-teacher conferences are held 3 times/year for 30 min
Parent-teacher conferences are held twice/year
Families visit school on report card pickup day and can see a teacher if they call first
Parents don’t come to conferences

 
Sharing Power
Parents and teachers research issues such as prejudice and tracking
Parents can raise issues at PTA meetings or see the principal
Principal sets agenda for parent meetings
Principal picks a small group of ‘cooperative parents’ to help out

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