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I have learned that is it so important to make that first time communicating a positive one! It really helps build your relationship with them and then they don't feel that every time you call it is something that is negative.

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I feel like this particular part of the article was written TO me. It's exactly the point I feel like I'm at. I know I can do better and I want to do better, but I feel like outreach is the hardest current part of my job and definitely the one I am struggling with the most. "Holding typical parent-teacher conferences and open houses to “check the box” will no longer suffice. True family engagement requires schools to create space for families to play an active role in educating students."

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"Think about a time when a friend reached out to help you. Did they reach out with care and comfort? Did you trust them? How did they work to build a relationship either before or during the conversation?"

I felt these questions were really reflective and I think it is important to be reflective especially in conferences.

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This quote "Holding typical parent-teacher conferences and open houses to “check the box” will no longer suffice. True family engagement requires schools to create space for families to play an active role in educating students."  In order for us to be able to truly engage families, we must have a relationship with them that is open and respectful.  When a family trusts that your motivation for their child is deeply rooted in love, it builds trust and open communication.  That doesn't happen over night, either.  It takes time and hard work to grow those relationships.
Christina

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This quote stuck with me, "Family outreach is similar in a way to reaching out to a friend in need. We start by building and sustaining positive, supportive, and caring relationships. First and foremost, we want to know our families, their stories, and their needs." It is important to know a student's background and family needs. This can effect the way the student behaves. Knowing the needs of our students can help us as teachers to plan and create a system that will support their success.

Hoyt

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"We want families to know that they are valued and respected as part of a team to support the success and growth of their children."
Srakovcic

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Families can be involved without being engaged in their student's education.

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Family engagement and family involvement are not interchangeable terms; family engagement means the family is more active in child's education.

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"With this shift, ESSA recognizes that schools and students benefit from the engagement of all family members, not just parents or guardians."

"Committees that reflect all stakeholders"

"When we know our students’ families and their needs, we can truly plan together to create a system that will support their success."

"How do we ensure that all families are brought “to the table” for engagement?"

Representation is very important, and any systems, committees, or conversations put in place regarding family engagement need to reflect accurate representation of all stakeholders and families. Different cultures, needs, family dynamics, and perspectives need to be taken into account so that the diversity of families in a school are accurately reflected in the conversations and meetings held to meet the needs of those families and connect to them. All of the quotes above from the article I feel give us concrete ways to make sure we are approaching family involvement and engagement in an equitable, truly impactful way.

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This quote stuck with me, "When schools actively and intentionally seek to come together with families in an effort to increase student achievement, they lead with a warm, welcoming environment where families’ voices are heard."  This was one of the ways I told Mrs. Foley in our get to know you meeting that we could improve as a school.  We've got to try harder to be a place our families view as welcoming.

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- Parents are a fundamental part of their child's education.
- They are the TRUE expert on their child.
-We want them to FEEL welcome here.
- We NEED them!

(Reynolds)

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This quote from the article really stood out to me - "Family engagement goes a step further by empowering families to take an active role in their children’s success." I think this is so important and something as a school we can continue to work toward. How do we make families care about their children's success? If we can do this, then the children will care more too. We need to work alongside families so we are all communicating the SAME message to our students - that we ALL care about their success, academics, and future.