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Local resources are probably one of the best tools that families can use! All it takes is learning how to locate and benefit from them. Families should "...know about the community resources that are available to enhance the quality of their lives - the parks and recreation department, the library, the local museum, and two-year community college, all of which have regular programs for adults and children" (Gonzalez-Mena p.320).

Using community resources can help build family-community relationships that cycle throughout the community. For example, a family gets assistance from the community, then, when possible, gives back to the community, and may or may not continue to cycle through. Another way, as mentioned in the article Connect Families to Community-Based Services and Resources posted by PennState Extension, of getting families to know about community resources is by involving them in discussions about what there is available. This could be either if families need help or want to volunteer somewhere.

At least one way in which I could utilize local resources within my classroom includes relaying information about community resources which could be beneficial for students and their families. I think I would like to make this another bi-weekly event in my class where we could either have parent education classes or social services workers come in and explain or bring various resources.
A couple of local resources that families can use here in Southern Oregon include:
~Southern Oregon Head Start (SOHS)
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~The Reaching Our Community (ROC) food bank

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Communication between families and educators is extremely important. 

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Communication between families and educators is extremely important. 

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The first thing that teachers should do to initiate communication is send a welcome letter home at the beginning of the school year. This letter should include some general information about the class environment, teacher values, and more. In the text Child, Family, and Community Family-Centered Early Care and Education written by Janet Gonzalez on page 107 explained how sending home a "Welcome to the School Year" letter can lead to opening up and establishing two-way communication. Which is beneficial for everyone involved to ensure that students are achieving and or surpassing their goals. Communication with parents displays the importance of two-way communication and that you value receiving their input. One way to do this relaying just how much information we receive from them helps us to establish specific and more appropriate lesson plans. An article DAP: Engaging in Reciprocal Partnerships with Families and Fostering Community Connections published on the NAEYC website stated how creating developmentally appropriate practices within the class is best possible when "Educators acquire...knowledge through respectful, reciprocal relationships with children and families" (NAEYC).

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Tips & Approaches to Increase Family Engagement.

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Tips & Approaches to Increase Family Engagement.

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~Ask questions to your child about their day.
~Involve Family in Decision Making
*This establishes family-teacher relationships
*Ensures families are involved in their students' day-to-day lives.
Families could enroll their students into an ECE program such as Southern Oregon Head Start.

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Important to be up to date on social policies in education.

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Important to be up to date on social policies in education.

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Staying caught up on current or future social policies in education can be quite important. They help to form a better future for America's children. Such as being ready to learn in school and being prepared with early literacy skills. Gonzalez-Mena explained in her text how social policies are put into place to ensure student readiness for school and the future. Additionally, they can be put in place "To promote student learning for all children, educators, must provide a school environment that acknowledges children's diverse backgrounds, helps children transition comfortably into the next instructional level, and provides community supports when necessary (Gonzalez-Mena p.330). Teachers (present and future ones) can do this by paying attention to social policies. For example, at the moment a social policy issue that I have in my thoughts is House Bill (H.B.) 3198 for Ealy Literacy. I find it important and would like to take action via writing to state legislators. In the event that the Early Literacy Success Initiative is passed then "... purposes of the initiative are to:  Increase early literacy for students in prekindergarten through grade three so that

students achieve reading proficiency by the end of the third grade or, for students who are English language learners, by the end of the fourth grade; (b) Reduce early literacy academic disparities for student groups that have historically

experienced academic disparities..." (HB3198) and more.

In order to get this initiative to pass we need the support of legislators and key figures of the education field.

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SOHS offers free and low-cost child-care and education program which has a wide range of sources to help the community. These sources include LISTO (A program for English language learning families), The Family Connection (a low-cost program that offers parenting classes), and Early Head Start (Head Start for children from infancy to three years old). Additionally, SOHS has twenty-seven facilities available to families here in Southern Oregon.

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Being the first teacher to their child(ren), parents and families are able to interact and develop their child's learning in myriad ways. Such interactions could include moment of serve and return, reading children's stories, singing lullabies, and counting various objects. These days there are resources (parent education classes, materials, videos, and more) available to help bolster their skills (Gonzalez-Mena p.11), which can ensure the best possible foundation built for the child. Another resource parents can use, as mentioned by Gonzalez-Mena, to enhance their abilities is the Parent Services Project approach (Gonzalez-Mena p.13).
The Parent Services Project is a program that strengthens family bonds by helping them take leadership of their children's lives and well-being. A way to get families involved in their student's learning is when teachers encourage them. The article 5 Ways to Engage Families Around Student Learning (and Why You Should!) co-written by Lauren Weisskirk and Elisabeth O'Bryon, states how it is best to "Recognize families as key partners in student learning...Quality family engagement begins with the belief that families are an asset, have a lot to offer, & if empowered with the right information can be real partners as schools work to prepare students for college & career" (Weisskirk & O'Bryon 2017).

Other ways that parents can help their children with learning include:
~Teach Math
*Via measuring ingredients for cooking or baking
~Family-Class Tutoring Night
*An idea I have and would like to use in my future class setting. I would like to make it a bi-weekly event where families and their students can come back to class after school, and get some help on subjects they may have some difficulty with.
~At-Home Science Experiments
*Using common at-home materials
*Could look up experiments on YouTube
~Literacy
*Playing word games (i.e. Scrabble)
*Reading to or with one another
~Keeping their student on task
*Ensuring they don't get distracted

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Some of the ways in which educators can communicate with families include:

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Some of the ways in which educators can communicate with families include:

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*Media (Internet Communication)
~Media is a great way of communication; however, parents or caregivers need to be sure to keep an eye on their student(s) to ensure they are safely using their device(s).
~One form of media that teachers can use to reach their students' families is called ParentSquare.
~ParentSquare (which is used by Three Rivers School District and others) is an app that parents can use to see their child(ren)'s progress in school, any reminders, upcoming events, and more.
*Flyers handed out to students or Posters on hall walls
~They would have succinct information explaining things such as upcoming events or fundraisers.
*By Phone
~Communication via phone can be easier for some families, especially when they may need an immediate response. However, if an educator is unable to respond at the moment, then the voicemail function can be used.
*Mail
~A longstanding form of communication; mail can be used in a variety of ways. When sending information or communicating via email, be sure to use the family's written or spoken language.
*Conferences (Via phone, video, or in person)
~Can be used or scheduled at any time.
~May be in regards to a more serious issue or one that needs a chunk of time set aside to talk.

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The Reaching Our Community (ROC) Food Bank

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The Reaching Our Community (ROC) Food Bank

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The ROC is a food bank available to the residents of Josephine County who find themselves in some hard times and in need of help acquiring food. They have food-distributing services on Thursdays and Saturdays. In addition, they have a low-cost thrift store to shop from or donate to.