# data[].attributes.body
Ask a few parents you know are having success in helping their children do well in school to participate in a session on parent involvement with other parents. Almost all of them have some technique or idea that works well for them and, given the opportunity, will eagerly share with others. Because parents see other parents as having the highest credibility, the “If I can do it, so can you” effect can be a powerful motivator.

# data[].attributes.headline
Family Involvement Activity: Parent Pledge

# data[].attributes.subject
Family Involvement Activity: Parent Pledge

# data[].attributes.body
Parents/guardians take a Parental Involvement Pledge a learning compact to commit to helping your children and the community. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
AS A PARENT, GRANDPARENT, OR CARING ADULT I hereby give my pledge of commitment to help our community's children achieve a truly independent future. My declaration of responsibility and commitment to my public schools is stated in these five self-evident truths that echo the words of President Woodrow Wilson:

THEREFORE AS A PARENT,GRANDPARENT, OR CARING ADULT , I take personal responsibility for my child's safety and education and the safety and education of the children in this community.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Title I Learning Compact Section 1116, (d) Shared Responsibilities For High Student Academic Achievement

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parental Involvement Pledge | Project Appleseed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
AS A PARENT, GRANDPARENT, OR CARING ADULT I hereby give my pledge of commitment to help our community's children achieve a truly independent future.

# data[].attributes.headline
Family Engagement: Back to School Parent/Teacher Conference

# data[].attributes.subject
Family Engagement: Back to School Parent/Teacher Conference

# data[].attributes.body
Conferences at the start of the school year encourage open communication and the sharing of ideas and thoughts on the child’s academic journey.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Family conferences are an essential touch point at the start of the school year. You meet students' families, share classroom expectations, and ask parents how to best partner for student success. As one teacher described it to me, "Family conferences are simultaneously the most energizing and exhausting days of the quarter!"

But without clear expectations, pre-planned discussion topics, and tight follow-up, conferences can quickly fall prey to classic pitfalls: a long line of families out your door, meeting cancellations, or forgetting a student's key strengths and areas of development. There are tons of wonderful resources available to help you think about what to discuss during the conference (I like the Flamboyan Foundation), but we also need to think about how to best prepare for these critical conversations.

Here are nine tips to help you prepare for and facilitate a great family conference:

1. Ensure that everyone is clear on its purpose.

Morgan Carter, a principal in Rhode Island, delivers a professional development session with her team to make sure that all are aligned on the conferences' goals. Without clear goals, you may end up not being prepared or blindsiding a parent. If you're unsure about your school's goals, ask your principal!

2. Put on your parent hat.

Elizabeth Simpson, a high school principal in Washington, DC, shares her team prep: "We role-play different parent calls and meetings during our 'think like a parent' pre-season session. We specifically call on our team members who are parents to give feedback about how they'd feel from a parent perspective. Having these conversations paves the way to more open communication." Whether your principal organizes practice sessions or you need to arrange your own rehearsals with colleagues, it always helps to put yourself in your parents' shoes.

3. Schedule efficiently.

Stephanie-Lee Morgan, a principal in Boston, explains her middle school's approach to conferences: "We structure conferences by advisor. Each teacher meets with ten or so families for 5-10 minutes each. The week or two before conferences, teachers meet and share important notes on students with the advisor. They track these, as well as the notes from the conferences themselves, on a Google Doc so that everyone can access the information." An alternative is the "speed-dating" approach described by Nilda Soloman, a Brooklyn middle school leader: "An entire grade team sits in one room at different stations. Families take a number, and there is a rotation across each station lasting 3-5 minutes each. This means families need to wait in only one place and are likely to meet with many more teachers. It's a lot easier logistically than having families roam to individual classrooms." And Mekia Love, a Washington, DC elementary school principal, polls families for their time preferences -- while not guaranteeing the slot.

If your school leaves the scheduling to you and if your families have technology access, you could also try tools like Doodle. Meghan Dunne, an instructional coach in Washington, DC, takes an extra step to ensure that families remember the appointment: "I send home a student-made invite with the decided time and then follow up with a text. I also text them a reminder on the day before or day of the conference."

4. If appropriate, send questions in advance.

Many teachers that I interviewed cited this survey from the Flamboyan Foundation as essential to investing families on the front end. As a parent of an elementary student myself, answering these questions would feel like an excellent use of my time.

5. Create "student snapshots" beforehand.

Sara Cotner, an executive director in Texas, supports her teachers' preparation by sharing the agenda template below. She explains, "The process of preparing for conferences with families can feel overwhelming. Teachers add their notes before sitting down for a conference, and then they continue to add to the agenda during the conversation. Teachers send home a copy of the document with the child after the conference, so the family has a record of the next steps."

6. Set up a waiting area for early arrivals.

Claire Steinbeck, a pre-K teacher in Washington, DC, creates a waiting area outside her door: "I set up books at my students' reading level, some light snacks, and/or handouts that are relevant and interesting to read, and some chairs. I also have sheets printed so parents can jot down what they want to discuss with me when we meet." This is a great alternative if the pre-work questions are not appropriate!

7. Have student materials at hand.

Amy Napleton, a first-year teacher in Minneapolis, reports, "My school holds one ten-hour-straight day of conferences. I print out each of my 100 students' grade reports and put each class in a color-coded folder so I can find them quickly. I jot down some notes directly on grade reports if there's anything I don't want to forget to tell parents. The best thing I do before conferences is reflect on the aggregated information I want from parents. I keep my laptop on the table and fill out the Google Form below so I can collect next steps in one neat place and follow up in the communication style that works best. I see so many parents in one day, which is awesome, but it also means that I need to be as organized as possible to actually keep track of what we talked about!"

8. Set expectations for conference length.

Nothing throws off family conferences like starting 15 minutes late! Managing time for conferences is oh-so-tricky. Claire also tells parents up front, "I have another family scheduled for a conference at _______, so we'll need to wrap up by then. If that's not enough time to address everything you want to discuss, we can definitely arrange another conference or phone call. I'm available on _______."

9. Manage your energy carefully.

Whether your family conferences are speed-dating style, all packed in one day, or spread out over two weeks, managing your energy is crucial. Keep a water bottle and healthy snacks nearby. If possible, give yourself hourly breaks to take a breath, eat a bite, stand up, and stretch.

We must get the content and tone right for our first meeting with families. But we also cannot ignore the less sexy parts of conferences -- preparation, note taking, logistics, and follow-up. When you have a plan for all this up front, you'll get so much more out of your conferences -- and so will your families!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
9 Tips for Organizing Family Conferences | Edutopia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Family conferences are an essential touch point at the start of the school year. You meet students' families, share classroom expectations, and ask parents how to best partner for student success. As one teacher described it to me, "Family conferences are simultaneously the most energizing and exhausting days of the quarter!"

# data[].attributes.headline
Family Engagement: Parent Involvement Survey

# data[].attributes.subject
Family Engagement: Parent Involvement Survey

# data[].attributes.body
A survey to help parents begin the process of being more vested in their child’s education as they know their child the best and can share family dynamics to improve classroom management and academic gains.

# data[].attributes.body
Parents know their children better than anyone else and can be vitally important school partners if allowed to be. Anne Bouie, a consultant with many years of experience working with parents and schools says, “The answer is to stop treating parents like ‘clients’ and start treating them like ‘partners’ in helping children learn.” That simple attitude can make all the difference.

# data[].attributes.body
Design effective forms of school to home and home to school communications about school programs and their children’s progress.
*Allows exchange of questions, suggestions, and concerns
* Increases parent’s awareness of school programs, policies, and student activities.
* Enables students higher achievement, and positive attitudes and behavior through the family and school support.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Establish a team for identifying strengths and needs for the school in practices and policies that embrace effective family-school communication.

Use the School Level Starting Points Family, School, and Community Partnerships Inventory to begin discussion related to how the school embraces healthy two-way communication between the school and all families, and plan for action steps.

Use the Action Plan Template as part of your purposeful and informed planning for action steps that lead to a vision of family, school and community partnerships in your school community.

Effective Family-School Communication

Effective family-school communication emphasizes the value of communication between home and school that is ongoing, two-way, meaningful, and focused on student learning. It also points to communication as the foundation of solid partnerships and the fact that when parents and school staff communicate effectively, positive relationships develop, problems are more easily solved, and students make greater progress.

Many ways that schools deliver information, such as handouts, newsletters, handbooks, and websites, do not always provide an easy and routine way for families to respond. Even parent group meetings are often seen by school leaders merely as a way to get the message out to families. The most effective way to build a real partnership is to create regular opportunities for open, honest dialogue.

There is one main goal for Effective Two Way Family-School Communication

Share information between school and families.

All families should feel that the school keeps them informed on important issues and that it is easy to communicate with teachers, the principal, and other staff. The focus is on healthy two-way communication between the school and all families, regardless of language, time or other barriers that may exist. Key questions to ask include:

Does your school offer many different ways to communicate every day?

Does the school or parent group survey families at least once a year to find out what's on their minds?

Are the principal and other school administrators easily accessible to any parent

Does the school and parent group make it easy for parents and families to build connections and communicate with each other?

Is the school website useful and easily accessible to families?

Action Steps

What Parents and School Staff Can Do to Improve Effective School-Family Communication

Establish a team for identifying strengths and needs for the school in practices and policies that create a family-friendly school.

Use the School Level Starting Points Family, School, and Community Partnerships Inventory to begin discussion related to how the school embraces healthy two-way communication between the school and all families, and plan for action steps.

Use the Action Plan Template as part of your purposeful and informed planning for action steps that lead to a vision of family, school and community partnerships in your school community.

Quick Tips for Improving Effective Communication

The goal of sharing information and building trusting relationships between school, families, and communities is reflected in the practices listed here.

Reflection/Assessment Rubric for Parent Leaders and School Staff: Supporting Student Success

Use this rubric to help evaluate how well your school partners with families and community to support student success. Think about where you see yourself in the process and strategies you use to improve communication by marking the box that most clearly matches what you are doing now. Reflect on the results as you plan and focus efforts on effective communication.

(coming soon)

11 Questions that Parents of ELL Students Should Ask

Students are identified as English Learners through a process that starts with a home language survey upon registration at the school and the language assessments used to determine the strengths and needs of the students.

More information and 11 questions are included for all parents of ELL students to ask their child's teacher or school administrator to ensure that students they have everything they need to stay on the path to success.

Family Friendly Schools Walkthrough Checklist

The checklist is designed to allow schools to assess their "family friendly" practices. This tool gives school leaders the opportunity to evaluate how inviting and "customer friendly" their school is to families and the community. It can also help to point out various areas that may have been previously overlooked and can be easily addressed. Also being translated.

Clave al Éxito

http://exito.univision.com
This web-based resource can be very useful for school wide use and inclusion on web site. Everything is in English and Spanish and it includes grade guides, reading log tools, a parent-teacher translator communicator tools, multimedia parent academies, current tips and news, resources for parents and teachers with EL students and students with learning exceptionalities in special education.

Examining Assumptions About Families

This tool provides a guide to examine assumptions about families understand that for family-school communication to be effective, particular concepts need to be examined carefully by school staff. This tool can be used for an activity during professional development and reflection on practices.

Reaching Out to Diverse Populations: What Can Schools Do to Foster Family-School Connections?

by Chris Ferguson (Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, 2005), recommends that schools build on cultural values, stress personal contact, foster communication, and offer accommodations such as child care, translation, and transportation.

Teacher and Family Grams

Use these grams as a simple and concise way to stay in touch with families. In English and Spanish.

Half and Half Letters

Review these two sample half and half letters and consider how you could use these with families in your school and community? In English and Spanish.

More Coming soon:

Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Practices and Policies for Family Engagement

Tips for Developing a School and District Policy on Family-School Partnerships

Family Engagement in Title I, Indian Education, Special Education, Bilingual Education: Alignment with State and Federal Requirements

Ideas to Promote Trusting Relationships Between Schools and Every Family

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Guidance and Resources

Fatherhood Initiatives: Make Room for Dads and Grandads

Photos, Videos, and Featured Effective Practices

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Effective Two Way Family-School Communication - BU

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Establish a team for identifying strengths and needs for the school in practices and policies that embrace effective family-school communication. Use the School Level Starting Points Family, School, and Community Partnerships Inventory to begin discussion related to how the school embraces healthy two-way communication between the school and all families, and plan for action steps.

# data[].attributes.body
The purpose of this activity is to enhance current two-way communication strategies to share information with family members in an effort to support student learning.

PAGES 1-5

# data[].attributes.body
Your Half (parent) would like you to help us improve our school, on “your half” gives us suggestions about the idea or topic from Our Half. Letting us know what you think helps us make the right decisions about our school.

PAGE 6

# data[].attributes.headline
Plan Activities At The Beginning Of The School Year

# data[].attributes.subject
Plan Activities At The Beginning Of The School Year

# data[].attributes.body
Plan programs and activities early in the school year for parents and school staff to get acquainted in social situations, such as back-to-school barbecues, game nights, or other events where participants can step out of their roles as parents or teachers. Getting acquainted before problems arise lays the foundation for working together if problems develop later.

# data[].attributes.body
A pre-back to school night with a casual atmosphere. It is a get together of families and school staff with hot dogs and chips on the agenda. Set it up with both indoor and outdoor seating. A causal non intimidating way to introduce students, parents and teachers away from the usual classroom setting before the new school year gets started.

PAGE 6

# data[].attributes.body
This strategy will allow parents to provide strategic support within the classroom setting.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Family engagement events are hosted at schools to help parents and students develop strong connections with the school team. School events targeted to families can be fun, educational and support school systems. Family engagement events can give parents key information about school policies, orient parents in navigating school systems and provide a great opportunity to showcase student work, extracurricular programs and parent volunteer opportunities. Additionally, family engagement events are a great time to collect parent feedback.

Family engagement events are hosted at schools to help parents and students develop strong connections with the school team. School events targeted to families can be fun, educational and support school systems. Family engagement events can give parents key information about school policies, orient parents in navigating school systems and provide a great opportunity to showcase student work, extracurricular programs and parent volunteer opportunities. Additionally, family engagement events are a great time to collect parent feedback.
→ See how we support Family Engagement in Schools
Here are some family engagement events and activities that can support your school systems.

Summer Enrollment Day

Hosting a summer "Enrollment Day" event is a great way to get student records and give parents key information about school policies before the new year starts. This event can be structured as a family-fun day with food and music to encourage attendance. Think of this as a station-focused event where parents attend multiple booths instead of one whole-group facilitated session.

Parents can check in at the registration table, get an enrollment packet and earn an enrollment passport. The passport will identify which centers parents need to attend. Station leaders then stamp the passport to show when a station has been completed by the parent, and the completed passport can be used as a ticket for food and games. Raffle tickets can be given as an additional incentive for families to stick around and mingle. Whole-group announcements can be made in between drawings to highlight key information that school leaders and teachers want to reiterate.

Here are a few stations to consider having at an Enrollment Day:

Key Policies: At this station, schools can share key documents such as a school supply list, uniform policy, school schedule, teacher contact list, discipline policy, etc. Schools may opt to make a comprehensive student handbook that includes all of this key information.

Transportation: Here, parents can get a bus route and schedule or learn about other transportation options.

Student Records: Schools need extra information for new students. At this center, parents can share past report cards, test scores, immunization records, etc.

Special Education: Many parents with students with special needs may have student-specific questions to ask providers. This station is a great way for the school and family to touch base before school begins.

Teachers: Here, a representative from each grade level can be present to meet and share key information with parents.

Parent Survey: This station can include a computer-based survey where schools can ask pivotal questions they have for parents.

Open House

Open House is a great event to host a few weeks after school has started. It gives teachers the opportunity to introduce themselves to teachers, tour the classroom, showcase student work, and go into detail about classroom systems and expectations. This is also a great opportunity for the school leader to address parents and talk through school goals.

Schools can offer raffle prizes, free books, refreshments or family-style dinner at the end of Open House as extra incentive to participate, especially after a long work day.

Parent Volunteers

Parents bring a very essential knowledgebase to schools. They understand student needs, community assets and they bring professional expertise. There are multiple ways parents can be a support to schools, and ensure that there are structured volunteer opportunities can keep parents engaged.

Here are a few ways schools can use parents as volunteers:

Parent Teacher Organizations: A parent-teacher organization is a formal association of parents and teachers to facilitate parent engagement. PTOs are an equitable practice that provide parents the ability to commune, discuss school policies, provide feedback to the school and strategize to improve school culture and systems. Teachers and leaders can work alongside parents to plan special events and set collaborative goals that impact student happiness and achievement. Parents in the PTO are often school ambassadors and do a great job helping other parents get involved in what's happening on a school level.

Room Parents: Teachers often need a day-to-day support system that can help organize field trips, classroom parties, etc. Room parents are parent volunteers that partner with a classroom to provide strategic support and organize additional parent help when needed. Room parents can change each quarter to give more parents the ability to provide an intimate level of classroom support.

Field Trip Chaperones: Field trips are typically planned far in advance, giving parents enough time to plan their attendance. With sufficient volunteers, parents can be responsible for small-groups of students to help ensure that students are safe and able to have a great time.

Invite Parents to School Events

It can be easy for a teacher or school leader to forget to inform parents about school events due to the busyness of the school week. Having a school calendar that is disseminated to parents at the beginning of the year gives parents the heads up when events are happening. But schools should always send out reminders so that parents are informed and can plan to attend if possible. Flyers, newsletters, eblasts, mass phone calls/text messages, social media and school websites are all ways that parents can be invited to school events efficiently.

Casual Parent Events

There are many events that parents can attend in order to learn more about school systems or to celebrate their child's successes. However, schools should consider having events that are parent-specific. Parents do so much to ensure that their children have a positive school experience. It's always an added benefit when schools take the time to show parents appreciation for their work and collaboration. Parent-specific events can be casual, simple and efficient since parents are often very busy. Schools can host a quick breakfast just for parents or schedule an intimate lunch where parents can chat with the principal. Of course, schools can also go big and host Daddy-Daughter dances, Moms and Muffins Mother's Day celebrations, and so much more. There are plenty of simple and elaborate ways to host parents and to show appreciation.

Report Card Conferences

Report card conferences offer parents and teachers an opportunity to have an in-person meeting about student growth and areas of development. These events can be hosted quarterly or once per semester where parents come in to get student report cards and talk through results in detail.

To make the event logistically manageable, schools can schedule 15-minute check ins for parents to meet with teachers. Teachers can be split by subject and speak on behalf of the grade level. Schools should consider having a range of hours to accommodate parent work schedules, as well as virtual meeting options for parents who can not get to the school in person.

Parents that need more time with a specific teacher can request more time during conferences or schedule another time.

Other Ways Schools Can Keep Parents Informed

Keep website updated

Schools websites are a great way to keep parents up-to-date. Include a school calendar, important announcements, teacher contact info and links to helpful parent information such as the Kickboard family portal. Just be sure to keep everything up to date!

Automated family messaging

Automated phone calls to families can help get urgent messages to the entire school. This is a great way to send schoolwide reminders especially for students that tend to forget to give parents paperwork.

School newsletter

It can be challenging for a school leader to send out a newsletter regularly. However, identifying a manageable timeline and a framework for the messages will ensure that school leaders are prepared. A quarterly newsletter might include announcements about upcoming school events and academic and extracurricular highlights. These can be administered via paper or digitally.

Hosting events that help parents stay abreast to school policies provides a platform to share information and build culture. The more positive touch points schools can have with the parents, the more engaged a parent can be, which will positively impact a student's school experience in the end.

Here at we have seen many schools improve parent-teacher relationships by using our family portal and messaging, PBIS mobile app, web platform, and professional development services to support their initiatives. Kickboard helps teachers to communicate with parents, track student behavior, identify cultural trends and implement systems to improve student results.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Strategies & Activities for Family Engagement in Schools | Kickboard

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Family engagement events are hosted at schools to help parents and students develop strong connections with the school team. School events targeted to families can be fun, educational and support school systems. Family engagement events can give parents key information about school policies, orient parents in navigating school systems and provide a great opportunity to showcase student work, extracurricular programs and parent volunteer opportunities.

# data[].attributes.body
Students benefit from authentic learning experiences in the classroom, and Back-to-School Night is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate what this project-based learning looks like to parents. Rather than telling families how learning will occur, engage them in a hands-on authentic learning experience right there in the classroom. When parents and their children enter the classroom, pass out cards with a problem for them to solve using resources in the room, and watch how students work together with their parents to find a solution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Family engagement is an important factor in student academic achievement at all grade levels. In fact, a report by Child Trends indicated that children with families who are engaged in their school life have greater academic success and fewer behavioral problems, and that parental involvement in school is more highly associated with achievement than simply helping with homework.

Engaging families from the start is a goal of many educators, and one of the best opportunities to begin driving family engagement is Back-to-School Night.

Back-to-School Night: The starting point of family engagement

Edcuators know how valuable families are to student learning. Back-To-School Night is the first (and sometimes only) opportunity to meet parents and caregivers face-to-face and begin building relationships. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, general school meetings (such as Back-to-School Night) and PTO/PTA meetings were the most common school-related activity in which parents participated, topping the list at 87%.

It is vital, then, to maximize this chance to not only discuss how learning will occur in the classroom for the year, but also to create a memorable experience for parents that lays the foundation for continued engagement as the year goes on.

Here are 4 ways to engage families right from the start at Back-to-School Night:

Gather parents' points of view

While it is necessary to present critical information (such as curriculum, routine, and procedures) at a family orientation night, it's also important to take a few moments to gather insight from the people who know the students best. A parent survey focusing on individual students' strengths, goals, and concerns ( like this survey) shows families that teachers value their input and provides the groundwork for personalized communication. You can address specific comments via follow-up emails or phone calls, and don't forget to use the surveys during end-of-year reflection to determine if parents' goals were met.

Arrange an authentic learning experience

Students benefit from authentic learning experiences in the classroom, and Back-to-School Night is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate what this project-based learning looks like to parents. Rather than telling families how learning will occur, engage them in a hands-on authentic learning experience right there in the classroom. When parents and their children enter the classroom, pass out cards with a problem for them to solve using resources in the room, and watch how students work together with their parents to find a solution.

Alternatively, plan for students to engage with a short authentic learning project prior to Back-to-School Night. Then, have students demonstrate the final result to provide a realistic example for families who may be unfamiliar with both the terminology and the structure of authentic learning. This activity tends to work well, as many students love to show off their work during Back-to-School Night.

Host a Bilingual Family Night for families of English Language Learners

On Back-to-School Night, a great deal of information is handed out over a short period of time, with teachers' attention being pulled in multiple directions at once. For families of English language learners (ELLs), it may be difficult to fully comprehend this information or to ask questions, particularly if a translator's services are spread thin.

Ensuring a successful Back-to-School Night experience for families of students learning English is essential to driving their engagement later on, and will help them feel connected and invested in their child's classroom environment. This can be accomplished by:

Presenting materials in home languages

Arranging for translators to be present

Hosting a Bilingual Family Night

Hosting a separate Bilingual Family Night may be particularly beneficial if a school or district has a large percentage of students learning English. During this event, topics and information can be targeted to the specific needs of the families, including providing resources and the opportunity for discussion in a comfortable environment. Colorín Colorado has some great tips for hosting a Bilingual Family Night.

Increase awareness and understanding of educational technology

Educational technology (edtech) is playing an increasingly prominent role in the academic lives of today's students. However, some parents may not be familiar with the terminology or use of certain forms of edtech, such as computer-based assessments. Darri Stephens, senior director of education content atCommon Sense Education, recommends the following ways to make the most of a Back-to-School Night that involves edtech:

Be transparent with families by explaining educational terms, sharing common language, and detailing the reasoning behind using certain forms of ed tech.

Be direct about expectations when it comes to technology use, and use Back-to-School Night as a means to gauge families' perception of technology use at home.

Be consistent with updates and helping families navigate the ever-changing world of edtech.

Back-To-School Night is one of the best ways to generate family engagement from the start of the school year. When families continue to engage in the education of their children, students, educators, and families will all benefit, maximizing the success of each student.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
4 Ways to Drive Family Engagement at Back-To-School Night

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Family engagement is an important factor in student academic achievement at all grade levels. In fact, a report by Child Trends indicated that children with families who are engaged in their school life have greater academic success and fewer behavioral problems, and that parental involvement in school is more highly associated with achievement than simply helping with homework.

# data[].attributes.headline
Create A Positive Environment For Parents

# data[].attributes.subject
Create A Positive Environment For Parents

# data[].attributes.body
It is important to create a positive environment for parents. The foundations of student success are parents who are engaged with their children’s education. Engaged parents and family are involved in their student’s education, feel welcome in the school, and are comfortable working with teachers and administrators.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Is your principal visible at school events? Parents will feel more comfortable calling when a problem arises if they feel that the principal welcomes parents.

#6 Academic Information Meetings

A lot has changed in education! Help parents understand what their children are doing in math, reading, and at school by hosting meetings and workshops that give parents insight to the curriculum.

#7 Newcomer Committee

If your school has an established enrollment, a newcomer committee can go a long way to making new families feel welcome to the neighborhood. Work with your school's administrators to help new families that arrive during the year get connected with your Newcomer Committee.

At meetings and family events, have a greeter at the door that is available to answer questions and make all of your guests feel welcomed.

#9 Child Care

If you are hosting a parent event, be sure to consider if the reason parents are not participating is because they do not have child care for their students or siblings. If appropriate, offer an option in the building for parents to drop-off their children so they can focus on the program or the meeting.

#10 Ask Parents

Don't be afraid of asking parents what makes them feel comfortable in their child's school and implement some of their ideas. What a great way of understanding and building a partnership with parents. Do they feel welcome in the school? Do they feel like they are valued as part of their child's educational team? Is the parent organization approachable? Is the staff approachable?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Ways to Make Parents & Families Feel Welcome at School - Membership Toolkit

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Is your principal visible at school events? Parents will feel more comfortable calling when a problem arises if they feel that the principal welcomes parents. #6 Academic Information Meetings A lot has changed in education! Help parents understand what their children are doing in math, reading, and at school by hosting meetings and workshops that give parents insight to the curriculum.

# data[].attributes.body
A lot has changed in education!  Help parents understand what their children are doing in math, reading, and at school by hosting meetings and workshops that give parents insight to the curriculum.

# data[].attributes.body
Encourage parent volunteers to be part of the daily school environment.

Parents want their children to succeed in school and since we know that student success increases with engaged parents it is important for schools and parent organizations to encourage parent volunteerism.

A successful volunteer program includes:

Variety of opportunities that include different skills

Meaningful opportunities

Explain the value of volunteering.  Who benefits when the parents volunteer?

At-home options

Weekend options

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We asked our Facebook community to share one thing they've done to boost volunteer recruitment. We think you're going to find lots of good nuggets in this list. Also, we've added some of our resources that fit with these great tips for attracting parent volunteers. Just click on the images below to get them.

1. Use a low-key approach.

I take notes when [potential volunteers] share something with me and make sure to ask about it next time I see them...It doesn't take long to make a connection and once it's made, people jump on the opportunity to volunteer. -Misty L.

Talk to them personally. Ask friends to ask friends. Then ask teachers to ask parents. -Crystal L.

I ask random parents to meet for coffee. I do not talk about school unless they ask. So when I do send out volunteer sign-ups, I get a pretty good response because I didn't attack them during our coffee, I really wanted to get to know them. -Melissa R.

2. Talk to the complainers.

I single out and work on the complainers. People complain about what they don't understand. We had a guy move in our community and complained about our ball fields. We educated him that we as parents built the best ball fields the best we could on our own as parents. He slowly came around and soon became the best caretaker we ever had. He passed the torch on to volunteers after him. We all made a great friend too. -Sheldon G.

3. Keep track of newly enrolled students and reach out.

When I was PTO VP, I made sure there was a welcome letter for all transfer students after the beginning of the year. It had info about our school pride days, how to get a school T-shirt (an order form included), class parties and homeroom parents, Friday popcorn, dates of upcoming PTO meetings, and other info that new families rarely get. -Lucy Anne T.

4. Work to get parents and teachers together.

If the teachers are happy with the events that the PTO is doing, then parents are more likely to take notice. I really like doing things with teachers. We started an art night last year with the art teacher and its success was largely due to her and other teachers who jumped in at the event. We hope to expand upon that. Several parents expressed interest in helping after that event. -Cheryl R.

Every month, I make some sort of breakfast for a parent-teacher meeting after drop-off. -Tammie H.

5. Take advantage of Facebook (and other social media channels and apps).

We try and post pictures of all of the fun stuff our PTO does on the school Facebook page to give people an idea of what is going on in their child's school. It's a little less scary to walk into a new situation if you have a general idea of what that event looks like. -Kelly T.

We use SignUp Genius and post to our Facebook page, send it out to local clubs and youth groups for service hours, send it out via Remind, ask that the school post to their website, and email directly to those who said they were interested in volunteer opportunities. -Kerry C.
5 Easy Ways Your Group Can Use Facebook
6. Let friends know about the parent volunteer work you do.

I befriended a mom in my daughter's class. We texted a lot and she would often ask what I was doing that day. So after a short time she asked if there's anything she could do to help me because I was doing so much [at school]. She didn't realize how much needed to be done and the small amount of PTO volunteers we had. Now, she helps when she can. -Shelly B.

7. Give a special parent volunteer a reserved parking space each month.

We honor our Volunteer of the Month with a reserved parking spot-the spot closest to the main entrance of the school-for the whole month. It has been a great way to publicly recognize our loyal volunteers and to spark interest among others. -Bridget W.

8. Ask for feedback after every event.

We follow up our events with an anonymous online survey for volunteers asking what we did well and where we could improve. People really seem to respond well when they know that we care about their experience and we appreciate and value their time. -Kristen P.
Post-Event Evaluation Form
9. Find out which parent volunteers may need babysitters.

I've found a friend willing to babysit for a parent volunteer with a toddler so she could occasionally volunteer during the school day. -Rebecca A.

10. Ask parents what they want to do.

We just figured out who was good at what. -Milo L.

We ask our families how they can help-do they have skills to lend or is there a product they can donate to our silent auction. -Jennifer L.

This is my approach: "Parent, I have heard you are amazing at putting together bulletin boards! If I provide you with the materials for our monthly board, would you mind talking 30 minutes after school tomorrow to put up?" or "Parent, your decoration at the fall carnival last year was so beautiful, would you be interested in helping again this year?" -Lindsay B.
Volunteer Interest Survey
11. Give shy or low-key parents behind-the-scenes jobs.

Some parents are shy and might not be comfortable working an event, but still want to help. I have a couple [who] do inventory after events, which takes the task off my shoulders. Every job counts! -Jenn T.

12. Ask parents to volunteer for very short chunks of time.

We ask for volunteers for shorter time periods rather than a whole day or whole Saturday morning, as the case may be sometimes. One- to three-hour shifts are much easier to fill than eight hours. -Becky N.

13. Connect with neighborhood parents.

The summer before my first year as president, I struck up a conversation with another mom at our neighborhood park. Turns out her daughter was starting kindergarten in the fall. She was excited and nervous at the same time. To this day, she still tells everyone I recruited her before her daughter even started school. -Kim B.

14. Offer incentives to event helpers.

Feed them, give them drinks or free admission to the event, etc. -Lori B.

We offer free concession tickets or admission to PTO-sponsored events when parents lend a hand or donate goods. -Jennifer B.

15. Woo incoming kindergarten parents.

We hit kindergarten parents hard-before school even starts! At the open houses in April and August, we start collecting their email addresses. We hold a coffee just for them on the first day of school. The entire board attends and chats them up. We have separate clipboards and signup sheets for every single event and committee. And maybe, just maybe, those happy kindergarten parents will rub off on everyone else. -Lisa P.

16. Do something unexpected at meetings.

We started doing cook-offs at our meetings. People [who] have that negative and boring view of PTOs see us as a fun group now! -Heather C.
Last-Minute Meeting Tips
17. Show sincere appreciation.

Put pictures of volunteers on bulletin boards...Thank them in the parent newsletter that everyone will read. -Yvette D.

We have a different fun theme for every PTO meeting where we provide activities for kids. After the event, I personally send a thank-you note and an invite to the next meeting. I also include my personal number. -April G.

I find that if you show sincere appreciation for the volunteers you do have, they are willing to help again. Suggesting that those volunteers ask some friends often helps, as well. -Chris K.
32 Ideas for Volunteer Appreciation
18. Offer to give parents a ride so they can volunteer.

I volunteered to pick up [a parent] on the way to the event. I passed her street on my way and she didn't have transportation. -Jill C.
Originally published in 2016 and updated regularly.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
18 Ways To Get More Parent Volunteers - PTO Today

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We asked our Facebook community to share one thing they've done to boost volunteer recruitment. We think you're going to find lots of good nuggets in this list. Also, we've added some of our resources that fit with these great tips for attracting parent volunteers. Just click on the images below to get them.

# data[].attributes.body
Teachers frustrated by off-task behavior that can stifle learning for a whole class will find involved parents can help, according to a study at the University of Pittsburgh. Research also shows regular calls home decrease behavior corrections by 25 percent. But communicating specifically about behavior issues requires a mixture of empathy, creativity and patience—and, perhaps, abandoning a commonly held belief that irresponsible or misguided parents just aren’t doing their job. “When you realize that parents and teachers all want the best for kids, there must be some common ground,” says Meghan McCormick, a researcher at New York University looking at parent involvement in schools. Her recent study showed that teachers providing “emotional support” to students were more likely to find that parents helped improve student behavior. Teachers should recognize that parents can be a valuable ally on this front, she says.

# data[].attributes.headline
Family Involvement Activity: Beginning of the Year Survey

# data[].attributes.subject
Family Involvement Activity: Beginning of the Year Survey

# data[].attributes.body
Cultivate positive relationships with parents from the beginning of the school year,” says Schwartz, inviting their involvement and gathering information about students. A simple form at the start of the year when everyone is energized can ask, “Tell me five things I should know about your child that will help me work with him or her this year”. Develop a relationship with parents of students who you know may be difficult, but with a positive approach

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Yesterday I shared my student questionnaire so I find it only apt to share my parent questionnaire as well. While there are so many things I wanted to ask my parents, I wanted to keep it short and to the point. As always, feel free to make a copy and make it your own.

Here is a link to the actual form

Here are just the questions on the form:

Tell Me A Little Bit About Your Child

1. What is the most important thing I should know about your child?

2. What is your child passionate about?

What would you love your child to get better at?

Overall how does your child feel about school and 5th grade?

My child learns best when the teacher is....

Great friends for my child are ....

My child does not work well with...

What is your child's favorite book?

What fears does your child have? (Big or small)

What is the best way to motivate your child?

Tell Me A Little Bit About You and Your Family

What are you looking forward to with 5th grade?

How would you like to be involved with your child's education?

What is your preferred method of communication (email, phone call, meeting, note...)

Does your family have any special celebrations or traditions you would like to share with the class?

What subject/area did you dislike when you went to school?

What subject/area did you love when you went to school?

I think 5th grade will be....

A typical afternoon after school looks like this in our life...

Who else lives at your house (siblings, pets etc.?)

Anything else you would like to tell me that will help me make this a successful year?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
My Beginning of the Year Parent Questionnaire

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Yesterday I shared my student questionnaire so I find it only apt to share my parent questionnaire as well. While there are so many things I wanted to ask my parents, I wanted to keep it short and to the point. As always, feel free to make a copy and make it your own.

# data[].attributes.body
Clearly establish and communicate (to students and parents) expectations about classroom behavior. Consider having both sign a behavior contract that requires them to discuss it at home and spells out what you expect and when you’ll involve parents. It can make clear with everyone what the expectations are, reinforce with students that the issues are important, and put on record the plan so that if concerns arise later there isn’t confusion or disputes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Learning Contract Maker

Learning contracts help the teacher and student share the responsibility for achieving desired outcomes. Make a student-teacher contract for free with TeAch-nology.com.

A "contract" is a valuable tool that teachers can use in negotiating terms with students and/or parents which details the specific expectations that the teacher, student, and sometimes, the parent formally agree upon.

Learning contracts help the teacher and student share the responsibility for achieving desired outcomes. It also helps increase accountability and provides feedback to the student regarding progress toward meeting the agreed upon goals.

Complete each section below with expectations that are generated and agreed upon by both teacher and student. We provided some common examples for you to consider.

What Are Learning Contracts?

As a teacher, you must always be on the lookout for new effective strategies that could help your students learn while assisting you in teaching. Have you tried the learning contract teaching strategy yet?

A learning contract is a planning tool that allows students to set their own goals, identify the resources to help them reach those goals, and monitor their progress. It is a primary visual planning tool that helps students think about what they are doing and how they plan to achieve it. Students can think about their learning in a more structured way and look back on the learning contract to see how they have progressed.
What Is Included in a Learning Contract?
Although students can tailor a learning contract according to their individual needs and understanding with their teacher, here are some of the things that must be a part of an effective learning contract:
Outcomes
The objectives provide a framework around which the course is built. Having a detailed list of potential outcomes that the students commit to work towards will structure their focus and give them specific goals to achieve.
Strategies and Resources
Students must also mention what effective strategies and resources they will use to achieve their learning outcomes better. Having a list of resources prepared since the beginning of the course saves time during this entire process.
A Specific Date
For each outcome, students must provide a specific date. It helps make their goals measurable and attainable. Having a deadline also aids students in reverse engineering their planning to be efficient.
Evidential Task
How would the students present that they have learned what they had committed? Completing a task specifically designed to evaluate students based on their objectives can effectively demonstrate where they stand.
Teacher's Feedback
The teacher will evaluate the students based on how well they completed the task assigned. Through teacher's feedback, students will understand how much they've been able to learn and how much more effort they require to grasp a concept fully. It could also assist students in coming up with new strategies to achieve their goals.

A teacher's regular feedback keeps the students accountable on their part of the deal while showing the teacher's commitment to student learning.
The Importance of Learning Contracts for Students
A learning contract is a way of illustrating to students exactly what they need to achieve to get a good grade in a subject. It acts as a guide to the student, helping them develop a clear idea of what they need to cover to get a good grade.

When they have understood what they need to learn, they can work towards the objectives, giving them a clear idea of what is expected. These types of documents are beneficial for students who have a problem with motivation or difficulty concentrating on the task at hand. By setting out clear goals for learning, the student can focus on achieving their goals.
Conclusion
Educators must prepare learning contracts for students at the beginning of the course. Using them as a teaching strategy helps students work toward the set-out objectives and motivates them to take things one step at a time for effective knowledge development. A higher success rate is every teacher's goal, and they can achieve it with learning contracts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learning contracts help the teacher and student share the responsibility for achieving desired outcomes. Make a student-teacher contract for free with TeAch-nology.com.

# data[].attributes.body
Work with parents to enroll in Class Dojo. This is a terrific method for communicating. Works like a basic text message and parents and teachers can attach photos and documents when necessary. It is a great way to send positive messages to parents and students.

Some parents are easier to reach via social media, but obviously platforms like Facebook should be used carefully, says McCormick. Skype and Google have translation functions if language is a barrier. Email or text messages can circulate a student behavior contract to parents and others or get a message to a parent quickly.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ClassDojo helps teachers, parents, and students build amazing classroom communities.