Social Media for Family Engagement

The research is pretty conclusive. Family engagement leads to positive outcomes for students. So how do we get there? The foundation of effective family engagement starts with relationships. Families and schools should have a relationship and feel like they are part of a strong community that supports their kids. The relationship begins with schools having a culture that honors and respects the contributions of all families.

Once parents have connected with the schools the work is not over. We know that the type of family engagement that has the most significant impact on student achievement is the type that takes place at home. Parents and other caregivers do not ever need to step foot in a school building to give students the educational benefits that result from family engagement. Families just need to understand the role they can play. That is where social media can help you accomplish your goals.

Many parents have access to technology. In fact, with the advent of smart phones and affordable hardware, the technology gap is shrinking rapidly. So, how can you take advantage of the Internet to increase family engagement? Did you know that there are over 500 million active users on Facebook and over 50% of them check the site on any given day? Consider having a couple of workshops for families in your school computer lab and show them how to connect to your class Facebook page. Did you know that over 77% of all Internet users read blogs? Introduce them to blogging and then show them how to read your blogs and post comments or questions. There are over 300,000 new Twitter users set up each day and 37% use their phone to tweet. Consider setting up a classroom Twitter page and then tweeting homework assignments or strategies for parents to help with homework.

Most families are already active on the web. Give them the content that will connect them to your classroom to keep them engaged in their children’s learning. If you are interested in additional resources, Google it!

Research Based Programs Offered By Alabama PIRC

The following services are available from the Alabama PIRC for schools in Alabama. With the exception of NNPS (which charges an annual membership fee) all services are free for Title I schools and schools in improvement in Alabama.

Family Friendly Walk Through (FFWT):

A Family Friendly Walk Through assists in identifying areas of strength, emerging practices and areas for improvement. Schools receive a final report that highlights the promising practices schools currently implement and provides research-based recommendations for removing existing barriers identified in the process. During a Family Friendly Walk Through, the following areas are assessed:

• · Customer Service.
• · School Environment.
• · School Website.
• · Community Partnerships.
• · School Documents.
• · School to Home Communication.
• · Parent, Teacher and Principal Surveys.

Academy for Parent Leadership Engagement (APLE):

The APLE is a yearlong leadership Academy for teams of parents and teachers. Participants receive intensive training and develop a leadership project to involve parents of student’s not meeting state standards at their own schools. APLE teaches participants how to:

• · Identify and overcome barriers to parent involvement.
• · Understand school report cards.
• · Use a team approach to solve problems.
• · Involve other parents.

National Network for Partnership Schools (NNPS): $200 for schools $300 for districts and organizations

NNPS invites schools, districts, states, and organizations to join together and use research-based approaches to organize and sustain excellent programs of family and community involvement that will increase student success in school. NNPS also guides district leaders to help their schools develop goal-oriented programs of family involvement and community connections, and to meet NCLB requirements for parent involvement.

Family Engagement University (FEU):

The Family Engagement University was created to help professionals, paraprofessionals and community leaders learn best practices in engaging families. The University consists of quarterly training sessions with information related to the research behind family engagement as well as specific strategies schools can use to engage more families. Participants who complete ten hours of training will receive a Family Engagement Specialist Certificate from APEC.

The Alabama PIRC also has a vast array of books and materials for families and schools related to family engagement and student success. Many of the tipsheets and bulletins we print are provided online as well. For more information on these and other PIRC materials contact the Alabama PIRC today. You can reach us at 334-567-2252 or visit our website at www.alabamaparentcenter.com

Engagement Is Better Than Involvement

"When it comes to a breakfast of ham and eggs, the chicken is involved but the pig is committed." This humorous quote captures the differences between parent involvement (the chicken) and parent engagement (the pig). It can also serve to describe the struggles facing schools working to build strong family partnerships.

When you "involve" parents, ideas and suggestions come primarily from the school. The school typically identifies priority areas and recruits parents to assist, based on these priority areas. Parents who are involved serve the school's agenda by- volunteering, parenting in positive ways and supporting student learning at home.

When schools engage parents, ideas come primarily from the families and communities based on their needs and priorities. The parent is considered a leader who is critical to identifying a shared vision and goal. When we engage parents, we have the potential to create a shared community, where families and educators work alongside each other to support and enhance student learning.

The Alabama PIRC is committed to working with schools and families across Alabama to ensure that all of our students achieve success. We help schools give families the tools that they need to be fully engaged. We work with families to help them understand the importance of the role they play in their children’s education. If you would like more information about the Alabama PIRC and the services we provide, call us today at 334-567-2252 or visit our website at www.alabamaparentcenter.com.

Special thanks to AZPIRC for contributing the first three paragraphs! Read their blog at http://azpirc.blogspot.com/