Powerful Partnerships: Removing Barriers Through Partnerships Suggestions and Solutions by Elizabeth Blevins

Comments/Suggestions/Evaluations:

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-09 16:54:03 UTC

I feel if the family engagement would have more support from administration, it has the potential to be more successful.

What do you believe are the benefits of school-parent partnerships?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:37:41 UTC

Research demonstrates that the more that community members are involved in their local school, the more they support public education.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestions for parents who believe they do not have the ability to help their child do better in school?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:38:52 UTC

If it's a lack of understanding of the content, having the student "teach" the concepts to the parent can help strengthen the student's understanding – or help them see where they feel less confident.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who do not feel the school invites, welcomes, or encourages their involvement?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:39:34 UTC

It would be helpful to know what experiences they have had that have led them to that idea.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to provide practical advise to parents about what they can do to help their children learn?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:40:17 UTC

Support students in finding school activities (clubs, sports, etc.) that they enjoy that gets them more actively involved in school and with their classmates.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways that schools can alert parents as soon as their children begin to have problems?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:40:50 UTC

We need to have up-to-date, working phone numbers and email addresses; it would also help to know what is considered "beginning to have problems."

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to improve a two-way, respectful partnership between parents and school personnel?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:41:15 UTC

Make positive contact first!

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who feel intimidated by the school --- and teachers and staff who feel intimidated by parents?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:41:53 UTC

I generally don't feel intimidated, so for me, what would help would be understanding what leads to those feelings.

Comments/Suggestions/Evaluations: Please provide any additional feedback regarding barriers you have seen that or ways this presentation could be improved for future discussion as well.

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:42:32 UTC

Sometimes I feel like parents don't make time for their older kids the way they do for the younger ones. It is far less common to have parent groups or volunteers at high schools than at elementary schools. I would love to have more parents (and other community members) actively involved and physically present IN the school. It helps to make the school a more central part of the community as a whole. We have a lot of space that could be used for community partnerships and events during non-school hours. It seems like a waste to let it sit empty.

What do you believe are the benefits of school-parent partnerships?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:43:35 UTC

Parents are more knowledgable about what opportunities their students have, it creates a strong network of support for students and families, and creates higher expectations for students in behavior and academics.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestions for parents who believe they do not have the ability to help their child do better in school?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:44:15 UTC

Ensure that they have a clear understanding of how they can stay aware of student grades. This may mean doing a mass call to contacts about where and how to access Powerschool (also shared through social media and a possible letter mailed home). Teachers can make parents aware of classroom expectations and any homework expectations.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who do not feel the school invites, welcomes, or encourages their involvement?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:44:45 UTC

Similar to the answer above, make sure parents know how to stay updated on student progress and keep lines of communication open and clear. Encourage a strong presence at open house and have teachers provide copies of the syllabus at that time to parents so both are aware of expectations. (Remind was a great tool we had briefly to keep parents up to date on information. We could send a mass text about up coming tests or deadlines)

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to provide practical advise to parents about what they can do to help their children learn?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:45:34 UTC

At open house, provide a place where parents can see how they can help at home. Talk about the importance of encouraging homeroom and participation in classwork. Provide resources that parents can use at home for students who are struggling with content. (This can be done with joint support from teachers) Possibly a Google folder for different contents/departments to place resources in.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways that schools can alert parents as soon as their children begin to have problems?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:46:59 UTC

Remind! That app was incredibly helpful in allowing teachers to type a quick text out to a parent on their laptops in the moment/soon after as issue has begun WITHOUT having to share their personal number. Having school-based Google numbers could also help with that. Having the phones in the room is wonderful, but it can be hard to have time to call in the moment or very soon after an issue is brought to our attention. Email works well, but it is not always answered.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to improve a two-way, respectful partnership between parents and school personnel?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:47:26 UTC

Clear and open lines of communication. Make sure parents feel supported to contact teachers via email with questions. But also provide support to teachers that are trying to work with parents who are combative/do not want to have a productive communication. An admin always needs to be present at a parent conference if teachers are concerned about how the interaction will go (this goes the same for parents who may feel the same)

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who feel intimidated by the school --- and teachers and staff who feel intimidated by parents?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:48:02 UTC

Continued/improved transparency with parents about how their students are doing. Encourage parents to attend events like open house to meet parents. Provide support to teachers dealing with parents where the conversation has become unproductive or combative in any way. Ensure that both parties are aware of the support they have from school administration.

Comments/Suggestions/Evaluations: Please provide any additional feedback regarding barriers you have seen that or ways this presentation could be improved for future discussion as well.

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 13:48:25 UTC

I really liked having Remind as a tool to communicate with parents during the day and provide mass communication in an efficient process WITHOUT sharing their personal phone numbers.

What do you believe are the benefits of school-parent partnerships?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:20:17 UTC

I believe it gets the parents involved in their students life, maybe could get them to work harder on the students manners & social skills.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestions for parents who believe they do not have the ability to help their child do better in school?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:20:52 UTC

All parents can give their child the benefit of their experience & how to act in certain situations that come up in life & school.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who do not feel the school invites, welcomes, or encourages their involvement?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:21:25 UTC

All parents should come to school for orientation, so they can see everything that is available to their child at school.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to provide practical advise to parents about what they can do to help their children learn?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:22:07 UTC

All parents should come to school for orientation, so they can see everything that is available to their child at school.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to provide practical advise to parents about what they can do to help their children learn?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:22:32 UTC

Maybe a newsletter monthly that explains what is available to their student & themselves.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways that schools can alert parents as soon as their children begin to have problems?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:23:01 UTC

Maybe a note or a phone that puts the responsibility of the parents to call & find out what is happening with their child.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways that schools can alert parents as soon as their children begin to have problems?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:23:32 UTC

Maybe a note or a phone that puts the responsibility of the parents to call & find out what is happening with their child.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to improve a two-way, respectful partnership between parents and school personnel?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:24:41 UTC

If you show respect to most parents, I think you get respect in return.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who feel intimidated by the school --- and teachers and staff who feel intimidated by parents?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-10 18:25:11 UTC

We should not feel intimidated either way as we should all be on the same team for the student.

What do you believe are the benefits of school-parent partnerships?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-11 13:42:10 UTC

Teamwork is valuable!

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestions for parents who believe they do not have the ability to help their child do better in school?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-11 13:42:43 UTC

Support groups???

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who do not feel the school invites, welcomes, or encourages their involvement?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-11 13:43:11 UTC

Benefits

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to provide practical advise to parents about what they can do to help their children learn?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-11 13:44:03 UTC

Podcast

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways that schools can alert parents as soon as their children begin to have problems?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-11 13:44:27 UTC

Phone call or email

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to improve a two-way, respectful partnership between parents and school personnel?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-11 13:45:02 UTC

Simple...be respectful

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who feel intimidated by the school --- and teachers and staff who feel intimidated by parents?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-11 13:45:27 UTC

We are all just human. Open communication and maybe non-high stakes meetings

What do you believe are the benefits of school-parent partnerships?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-14 13:15:33 UTC

Open communication helps parents feel more involved in their child's education and that aids the students in that there a source of accountability at home and school. It also influences students participation in school as well.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestions for parents who believe they do not have the ability to help their child do better in school?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-14 13:16:08 UTC

Start with conversations about what the child is doing in school. The communication of that alone can help the child to learn by communicating process. We can also educate parents on ways that they can find resources online to help their child (in math) if needed.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for parents who do not feel the school invites, welcomes, or encourages their involvement?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-14 13:16:36 UTC

Try starting conversations by e-mail or phone calls if in person feels intimidating. They may be surprised by the support that they are given. Sometimes we have those feelings without ever having a conversation; somehow we need to start there.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways to provide practical advise to parents about what they can do to help their children learn?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-14 13:17:06 UTC

It starts early: reading to your children, having them read to you, asking questions as they read on what the test is talking about. Having students show them how the math works.

Barrier: Can you provide a solution or suggestion for ways that schools can alert parents as soon as their children begin to have problems?

elizabethblevins3 — 2025-04-14 13:17:32 UTC

Making sure that they have access to PowerSchool is a start. They can see their students grades. There are other programs for communicating as well. Class Dojo or Remind - those work well for lower levels and then we tend to end that in high school.