Dr. Timothy Mitchell Rapid City Area Schools 12/16/11.
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Transcript of Dr. Timothy Mitchell Rapid City Area Schools 12/16/11.
Establishing a Positive Relationship Between Parents and Schools
Dr. Timothy MitchellRapid City Area Schools
12/16/11
A study to get a better understanding of American
Indian parent involvement and consider it as a possible solution to narrowing the achievement
gap for American Indian students
McRel-Research 2008
Barriers-School Oriented◦Unwelcoming school environment◦Previous negative experience with education
◦Perceptions of the school’s lack of cultural sensitivity
◦Different styles of interpersonal communication
McRel-Research 2008
Barriers-Home Oriented◦Scheduling◦Transportation◦Childcare◦Financial Difficulties
McRel-Research 2008
Strategies that parents perceived that encouraged involvement:◦ Printed and electronic correspondence◦ Communication about children◦ School staff respectful of parents’ educational and
cultural values◦ Open-door policy◦ Culturally respectful environment◦ Cultural activities and resources
McRel-Research 2008
Why do American Indian parents get involved:◦To help children succeed and build
confidence◦To stay connected with the school◦To monitor children’s progress◦To address a problem◦To respond to schools’ invitation or
welcoming environment
McRel-Research 2008
Many aspects of American Indian parent involvement
were largely consistent with the literature on
parent involvement in the general population
McRel-Research 2008
The challenges of increasing American Indian parent
involvement are complex, residing in the overlay and sometimes clash of cultures
in the public school
Mc Rel-Research 2008
Schools and parents need to focus on creating
partnerships that will help ALL students reach high
levels of social and academic achievement
The Vision
How should schools ensure:◦A welcoming school environment
◦A positive experience ◦Cultural sensitivity◦Good communication
The Right Environment
What would stimulate this improvement:◦A more welcoming school building and
front office◦Positive phone calls home at least once a
month◦A center stocked with learning materials
that families can take home◦Workshops on reading and math◦More time allotted to meet with parents
Looking in the MIRROR
1) Building Relationships2) Linking to Learning
3) Addressing Differences4) Supporting Advocacy
5) Sharing Power
Partnership Schools
All families and communities have
something great to offer-we do what ever it takes to make every single student
succeed
Partnership Schools
School is open—interesting learning materials are available to borrow
Home visits are made regularly Activities honor families contributions
A wide variety of services are available to families
Building Relationships
The ability to establish, grow, extend, and restore trust is
not only vital to our personal and interpersonal well-being;
it is a key leadership competency.
Developing Trust
Respect-mutual esteem that recognizes the important role each person plays in a child’s education
Competence-a feeling that colleagues work together to create effective working environments and get the job done
Elements of Trust
Integrity-a feeling that colleagues keep their word and do what they say they’re going to do
Personal Regard-a feeling that colleagues care about one another and are willing to go out of their way to help
Elements of Trust
Talk StraightDemonstrate ConcernCreate Transparency
Right WrongsShow Loyalty
Deliver ResultsGet Better
Speed of Trust- 13 Behavior
Confront RealityClarify Expectations
Practice AccountabilityListen First
Keep CommitmentsExtend Trust
Speed of Trust-13 Behavior
All activities connect to what students are learning
Parents and teachers review student work and assessment results regularly
Tutoring and homework programs are available
Linking to Learning
Do More:◦Displaying of Student Work◦Contact parents about student progress
regularly◦Hold Math, Literacy, Health and Ask a
Question Nights◦Offer Student-led Conferences◦Hold Workshops for families based upon
need
Linking to Learning
Do Less:◦Contact of parents only when student
misbehaves◦Offering of parenting classes◦Focus on behavior and shortcomings at
Parent-Teacher conferences
Linking to Learning
Teachers use books and materials about different cultures
Parent organization include all families
Local cultural groups work with staff to reach families
Addressing Differences
All families, no matter what their income, race, education,
language or culture want their children to do well in school and
can make an important contribution to their children’s
learning
Addressing Differences
The Culturally Competent Classroom◦ All students are respected and responded to in
warm and accepting ways◦ All students have opportunities to find
connections between their lives and what they are studying
◦ All students prior knowledge, culture and learning styles are considered and incorporated into class instruction
◦ Teachers and school staff are familiar with their students culture and know how to work in multicultural situations
Addressing Differences
Addressing Racial Tension:◦Use the power of the school to promote positive relations and open dialogue
◦Determine the results you want-maintaining a safe and productive learning environment free of intimidation, threats or harassment
Addressing Differences
Addressing Racial Tension:◦Identify Vital Behaviors-Elimination of racism and all intimidating, threatening or harassing behavior
◦Promote Inclusive Actions-behaviors that support diversity
◦Reward Respectful Behavior and have consequences for inappropriate behavior
Addressing Differences
Addressing Racial Tension:◦Leaders need to evaluate, endorse and partner to lead the enforcement of positive social norms
◦Build Awareness, share experiences and teach skills
◦To change behavior-emphasize this is a moral issue
Addressing Differences
Clear and open process for resolving problems
Regular contact by teachers about student progress
Student-led parent teacher conferences
Training and use of effective advocacy skills
Supporting Advocacy
The more parents feel that they have the power to
influence their children's future positively, the better children tend to do in school
Supporting Advocacy
Parents have to understand how the school works
Parents need to know how to resolve problems that their children are having in school◦ Chain of command-who to contact◦ Where do they go next?◦ How do they work with teachers to define and
solve problems
Supporting Advocacy
What’s Good◦ Requesting a teacher, with the needs of your child
in mind◦ Questioning the placement of your student◦ Requesting a change in placement-with rationale◦ Talking to school staff about a problem, policy, or
program◦ Suggesting curriculum or instructional
modifications◦ Question discipline policies and methods◦ Requesting the excuse of your child on religious or
cultural grounds
Supporting Advocacy
Crucial Conversations
Definition
A discussion between two or more people where (1) stakes are high (2) opinions vary, (3)
emotions run strong
Crucial Conversations
How are they handled ?1) We can avoid them2) We can face them and handle them poorly
3) We can face them and handle them well
The results can have a huge impact on the quality of your success in the classroom!
Parents and teachers work together to research how to solve critical issues
Parents are focused on improving student achievement
Families are involved in decision making
Sharing Power
Provide workable mechanisms for
teachers, parents, and students to take part in
decision making
Sharing Power
Give families information about how the education systems and local government work
Encourage families to lobby local and state officials as to the programming needs in your school
Involve families in action research-ask them to develop, conduct, and participate in collecting information on problems in the community
Make it as easy as possible for parents to meet with school staff to discuss concerns
Sharing Power
When problems arise, openness about the matter from the start is usually the best approach
People who are involved in making the decisions tend to support those decisions
Sharing Power