Building Bridges Through Community Workshops

Presenters:Dean Fecher

Rhonda MyersJackie Nelson

Contact Us

Dean Fecher, 5th Grade Teacher fecherd@mishawaka.k12.in.us

Rhonda Myers, Principal myersr@mishawaka.k12.in.us

Jackie Nelson, Technology Integration Lead Professional nelsonj@mishawaka.k12.in.us

LaSalle Elementary School www.mishawaka.k12.in.us/lasalle/

Getting to know each other…

NamePosition/School/LocationWhere are you at in the workshop

process?What would you like to get from this

workshop?Do you have any specific needs the group

may be able to help with today?

Our Own Workshop Success Stories…

LCWS – LaSalle Community Workshop Series

Technology Focused (one topic per workshop)

Goal was to educate parents and community members on software being used by students at school – increase parental support capability at home, community outreach service, showcase student successes with technology (Student Facilitators)

LCWS Continued…

Targeted to parents and community members

Multiple workshops over the school yearFunded through an Ed Tech grant from

IDOE

Video Clips

Family Literacy Night and Family Math Night

Each offered once per school yearTarget audience is parents and familiesGoal of both nights is to provide support

for parent involvement at home and encourage family involvement at school

Concurrent Session formatSlide Show of FLNPlanning forms, etc.

Resources for Information

The Indiana Center for Family, School, and Community Partnerships www.fscp.org

The Parent Institute www.parent-institute.com/pmd

Home & School Connection rfecustomer@aspenpubl.com

Reading Connection rfecustomer@aspenpubl.com

Workshop Topic Possibilities

InformationalOutreachCommunity Service

Web

Success Stories!!!

Planning your own workshop

Workshop PlanningLogisticsContent Planning

Part 1, Number 1 – Goal

What is your overall goal for the workshop?

School Improvement GoalsSupport curriculumCommunity needsSurvey potential participants for needs

Phone, paper, email, exit survey, web, how???

Part 1, Number 2 – Target Audience

Who are you trying to reach with this workshop?

Part 1, Number 3 – Format

Whole group sessionOpen houseConcurrent SessionAssigned SessionOthers

Part 1, Number 4 – Topic Possibilities

What are you going to talk about at the workshop?

Part 1, Number 5 – Overall Agenda

What is the agenda for the entire workshop time going to look like?

Is time needed for multiple sessions, transitions, whole group introductory activities, debriefing following sessions, refreshments, breaks, other activities, etc.?

Our workshop agendas

Part 1, Number 6 – Logistics Planning

Who will be responsible for planning and implementing the logistics?

Can this be handled by one person? Planning team? Delegated to teachers? Parent volunteers? Senior volunteer programs (RSVP)? Local college or high school consumer and family science course participants?

Part 1, Number 7 – Activity Planning

Who will plan the actual activity being presented to the audience?

Small groups, individual or pairs, grade levels, RSVP, administrators

Part 1, Number 8 – Collecting Feedback

How will feedback be collected at the workshop? Feedback form

On site Mailed after the workshop

Random interviews Phone calls Email

Part 1, Number 9 – Analyzing Feedback

How will feedback be analyzed?What do you hope to gain from collecting

the feedback?

Part 1, Number 10 – Sharing Feedback

How will the feedback be shared with all stakeholders?

Who else does the feedback need to be shared with?

Reflection and Celebration!!

Part 1, Number 11 – Other Considerations

What else????

Part 2, Number 1 – Date and Time

What dates are good for the participants? Other scheduled events for school Outside sporting events (Little League) Holidays/common vacation times

What times work for everyone? Evenings – starting time depending on meals, etc. Weekends Daytime Variety??

Part 2, Number 2 -- Location

What are the needs of the audience and the workshop goals? Size limitations Outside location – may be less intimidating

Church rec room or gym Public Library Community Center

Part 2, Number 3 – Transportation

Do you need to provide transportation to the event to get attendance?

How can that happen? Car pools City bus discount/arrangements School bus Teachers and volunteer drivers

Part 2, Number 4 – Building Partnerships

What financial/materials needs are there?Where can that funding come from?

School funding Local business partnerships PTA/PTO support Other sources?

Request Letter

Part 2, Number 5 – Financial

What are the financial needs of the workshop? Supplies (folders, paper, refreshments,

stipends, supplies for activities, etc.) Expenses – how much do you need?

Part 2, Number 6 – Door Prizes

What will it take to get participants to come?

Where can door prizes come from? Local donations (about 12% response) PTA

Part 2, Number 7 – Babysitting

Increased participationSources for babysitters

Teachers or teachers’ older children Community Service Project (honor societies,

etc.) PTA Local Consumer and Family Science courses

Part 2, Number 8 – Marketing/Invitation

Who is your target audience and how can you best reach them? Flyers home with students Internet Email Phone calls Community-wide posters/flyers Parent conferences

Part 2, Number 9 – Registration and/or Sign In

Do you have space limitations or needs that require pre-registration?

If so, how will that happen?

How will you know who attends the workshop?

Part 2, Number 10 -- Refreshments

Food talks!! Snacks (cookies and punch) Snacks at each activity Meal for family Local donations? School district food services

Part 2, Number 11 – Video Taping

DocumentationAvailability to those who could not attendDo you need parent permission to post

clips to web?

Part 2, Number 12 – Name Tags

Increased interaction Identify presenters, volunteers, helpers

Part 2, Number 13 – Student Facilitators

How can current students support the workshop? Showcase current happenings Support presenters Troubleshoot Question/Answer assistance

Part 2, Number 14 – Other Considerations

What else????

Part 3, Number 1 – Goal

Focus has to be on goal of the workshop

Part 3, Number 2 – Agenda

Items for each activity if concurrent sessions

Time limitations

Part 3, Number 3 – Printed Information

BrochuresHandoutsFoldersTutorials (technology)Take-home games or books

Part 3, Number 4 -- Activity

What will participants do while they are at the session/workshop?

What do they need to leave knowing?

Reflection

Please take 10-15 minutes to reflect on what you have discovered this evening and where you need to move to as you plan your own workshop.

Additional Resources

Websites for Math, Literacy, Science, Social Studies, and Technology

All forms shared today available at www.mishawaka.k12.in.us/lasalle/edtech/bridges.htm.