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Sunday, January 19, 2014

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":


If-we-want-to-teach




I Don’t Think A Supt. Suspending A Principal Because She Supported PTO President Will Encourage Parent Engagement
Some crazy stuff is happening in New Jersey these days, and I’m not just talking about “Bridgegate.” The Newark school superintendent just suspended five principals — four for speaking out against a plan to turn their schools into KIPP charters and one for supporting the president of her schools Parent Teacher Organization and opposing the Superintendent’s decision to ban him from school grounds (

“Keys To Parent Engagement – Relationships, Climate, Communication”
Keys To Parent Engagement – Relationships, Climate, Communication is the last in a four-part series I’ve published over at Education Week Teacher. Today’s post highlights responses from Darcy Hutchins and Mai Xi Lee, along with many readers’ comments. Here are some excerpts: I’m adding the series to My Best Posts, Articles & Interviews On Parent Engagement.
The Best Fifteen Minutes Of My Week
Had 10 kids come to my room after school; made 90 second calls home 4 each saying how well they were doing. Best 15 minutes of my week — Larry Ferlazzo (@Larryferlazzo) January 18, 2014
Worst Idea Of The Year: Don’t Attend Parent-Teacher Conference? Then We’ll Ban You From Attending Graduation Of Your Child
The Cobb County School Board is considering a member’s suggestion that if a parent doesn’t attend a teacher conference, then the parent could be banned from attending their child’s graduation. Here’s a news report on the proposal: This is a definite addition to The Worst Parent Engagement Ideas.
“Bridging Worlds: Family Engagement in the Transition to Kindergarten”
Bridging Worlds: Family Engagement in the Transition to Kindergarten is a useful “case study” from The Harvard Family Research Project. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Pre-School Parent Engagement.
I Don’t Think Fining Parents For Taking Students Out Of School For A Week’s Vacation Is The Best Idea….
A couple in the United Kingdom was given a substantial fine for taking their two children out of school for a one week vacation. If you read the BBC article, it certainly doesn’t sound like justice was served. Listen, I’m a teacher. It doesn’t make my job easier when parents take their kids to Mexico for a few weeks during the holidays, or when students miss school for a trip. But, come on, we liv