Common Core Parenting: Best Practice Strategies to Support Student Success Core Components: Successful Models Patty Bunker National Director Parenting Partners Family Leadership Inc. U.S. Dept. of Ed Familys Role: Academic Social Emotional Development Everyone Agrees! Common Refrain Desire: More Families Diverse Backgrounds & Cultures Engaged in Childs Education Strong Partnerships Home & Schools Family Engagement: HOW Cultivate and Sustain Positive Relationships Partnerships for Shared Responsibility The Challenge Current Policies and Programs Flawed Assumptions Collective Capacity to Succeed Some Parenting Partners Observations Flawed Practices/ Assumptions Parents as Consumers vs. Partners Service Delivery vs. Valuing Parents Contributions Expecting Involvement w/o Investing in Capacity Building District Wide vs. School-based Academic Focus vs. Parent Skills Success Starts at Home Importance of home environment coming into focus Creating calm and quiet at home Efforts in classroom maximized when parents encourage achievement The Evolution of Parent Engagement Developing a new mindset Parent engagement is no longer just a compliance issue Family Engagement vs. Parent Involvement Moving beyond Random, Discrete Activities Building leadership capacity Epsteins 6 Types of Involvement: NNPS Stresses the importance of going beyond the status quo Calls for a more systemic, sustainable approach Attempts to increase the skills of both teachers and parents Epsteins 6 Types of Involvement: NNPS Parenting Communicating Volunteering Learning at Home Decision- Making Collaborating with the Community Focus: Building Capacity Skill Mastery & Knowledge Relationships & Networks Assumptions, Values, Beliefs Self- Efficacy Capacity = Whole Capacity = Whole Developmental Assets What Kids Need to Succeed What Parents/Adults Need Valuing & Building on Strengths Skill-Building and Affirmation Creating and Strengthening Relationships Partnering with Other Adults Not in Isolation Positive View of Future: What we are Capable of Accomplishing With and For our Children Asset Skit What are some of your Dreams and Goals for your children? What are the Risk Factors your children face that could prevent them from reaching these goals? The Power of Assets to Protect The Power of Assets to Promote Health and Academic Success All Four Capacity Building Components Required to enable Staff & Parents to Cultivate & Sustain Family Engagement Focus: Building Capacity Skill Mastery & Knowledge Relationships & Networks Assumptions, Values, Beliefs Self- Efficacy System Conditions For Success Systemic Integrated Sustained Systemic: Parent Engagement is a CORE COMPONENT of Educational Goals Integrated: Embedded into all Structures & Processes (Training, Prof Dev., Teaching, etc) Sustained: Adequate funding & infrastructure support. Multiple funding streams, component of overall improvement strategy. SCHOOL LEADERS ARE COMMITTED TO and HAVE A SYSTEMIC VISION Of FAMILY ENGAGEMENT Process Conditions For Success Linked to Learning Relational Developmental Collaborative Interactive Aligned with School and District Achievement Goals Connects Parents: Teaching and Learning Goals Linked to Learning Building Respect and Trusting Relationships Between Families and District, School, & Program Staff Relational Not just providing a service Building Intellectual, Social, and Human Capacity Of Stakeholders: Parents & Staff Developmental Learning is conducted in Group vs. Individual Setting Focused on Building Strong Networks & Learning Communities Collective/Collaborative Participants given Opportunities to Test Out, Practice & Apply New Skills! Interactive Effective Home/ School Partnerships What do they look like? Honor & Recognize Families Fund of Knowledge Connect Family Engagement to Student Learning Create Welcoming, Inviting Cultures School and Program Staff: Have Developed Skills, Knowledge & Confidence Negotiate Multiple Roles of Effective Engagement Feel Honored and Respected Families Actively Engaged in their Childrens Academic, Social and Emotional Development (Cradle to Career) Partnership with School for Academic Achievement Families ButHOW? Frameworks show what to do, but dont show how to do it Quality programs are needed that help schools implement the core components Sustainable Model Selecting Best Practice Programs: A Checklist Develops Parents Skills & Capacity to Support Achievement Practical and Relational Sustainable Ongoing support Best practice Research Based Builds Parent Leadership Addressing the Need US Dept. of Ed. Recommends: Linked to Learning Relational Developmental Collaborative Interactive Parenting Partners Provides: Focus on Academics Practical Parenting Skills Builds capacity of both Teachers and Parents Parents work together and with their schools Each parent participates in fun skill building exercises Engaging Parents for Student Success Key Principles of Parent Engagement Build on Strengths of Parents Leadership is the Secret Sauce Valuable Parenting Qualities CaringGood ListenerFlexible LovingTrustworthyConsistent PatientCreativePlayful Follow-Through Structured Engaging Parents for Student Success Key Principles of Parent Engagement Parenting Skills are Leadership Skills Listening Clear Expectations Dealing with conflict Affirmation and Encouraging Paper Heart Skit Words that wound the hearts of our children Creating Structure for Student Achievement Common Core Key Principles of Parent Engagement Parents Make Great Trainers They are credible Parent trainers provides sustainability Dads reach dads They have language & cultural skills 1. Each school forms a team with up to 5 members Teams include parents and key staff members. 2. The team attends the 2-day Facilitators Training Together T eams practice presenting the workshops. Each team receives coaching at their table in their own language. 3. At the close of Training, teams have everything they need: Comprehensive Team Resource Kit Competence, Confidence, Certification Complete team plan for strong attendance Coach for ongoing support 4. Teams now lead the 8-week workshop series at their school. Teams can offer the workshops multiple times throughout the year. Outcomes ADA Attendance Improves Reading, Academics Improve Students Behavior Improves Sustainable program produces more skillful parents and positive parent leaders Patty Bunker: Contact Patty Bunker: