Theme 13: Involving FNMI Parents in the School Community

Goal #4: Parents of FNMI students are involved in the school community and perceive the school as inviting and engaging to parents.

Divide into pairs and spend a few minutes finding out about the other person, for example:

• Where they live.• Where they were born.• What they do in the community.

Briefly introduce your partner to the rest of the group.

Using an Eagle feather to take turns, answer the question:

“What are some things you have noticed in your experience working with FNMI parents in the school community?”

Activity: Introducing your Neighbour

Activity: Sharing Circle

Involving FNMI Parents in the School Community

Misunderstanding:

FNMI parents are not involved in their child’s life through the school community

Misunderstanding:

Effective parent involvement in the school community is determined by their visibility in the school.

Involving FNMI Parents in the School Community (continued)

Key Messages:

• Parent involvement is critical to learner success.

• FNMI parents are often perceived as invisible by the school.

• Some FNMI parents feel unwelcome in the school – their involvement must be teacher initiated. Consistent and continuous encouragement and support for parent involvement is needed.

• Standard measures of parent involvement – guest books, volunteers in the school, check lists – do not provide an accurate picture of FNMI parent involvement.

(continued)

Key Messages:

• All parents appreciate an educator who listens and will visit with them.

• Poor communication between school and home discourage parent involvement in the school.

• Educators must become aware of the types of parental involvement which are not seen at the school.

• Teacher visits to the homes and community are appreciated and build relationships.

• Take time to learn the culture and protocols of the FNMI communities that are enrolled in your school.

Involving FNMI Parents in the School Community (continued)

Read the article “The Middle School Achievement Project: Involving Parents and Community in School Improvement” while keeping in mind the situation at your own school.

Working with table groups, use the “Final Word” strategy to process the article. Also discuss the benefits and challenges to having a shadowing day at your school by filling out a PMI chart.

Activity: Reading

Involving Parents and Community in School Improvement

Excerpt from “The Middle School Achievement Project: Involving Parents and Community in School Improvement” by Sally N. Clark and Donald C. Clark

The Shadow Study Technique

• Engages an individual in the observation of a student or teacher for an entire day

• Actions, activities and behaviours of the person being shadowed are recorded every five to seven minutes (written notes)

• When shadowing is complete, notes are analyzed for trends and patterns

• Gives a picture of life in the school / classrooms• Educates the shadower as well as the person being shadowed

Benefits of Shadowing

• An excellent vehicle for getting parents and community involved

• Shadowing by parents and community members provided teachers with information that would help them improve and grow

• Provides parents and community members with new insights about the nature of students

Involving Parents and Community in School Improvement (continued)

Involving Parents and Community in School Improvement (continued)

Would shadowing work at your school?

Discuss whether a shadowing project like the one described in the article would work in your school. Think about the benefits, challenges and possible ways you could modify the program.

For example:

Pluses Minuses Other Interesting Info

•May encourage FNMI parents to get involved in the school community•Could be a good way to get ideas on how to modify instruction for Aboriginal students

• FNMI parents may not be comfortable doing this type of task (too judgmental?)

• Could be modified by making the shadowing more interactive – allowing the shadower to participate?

Listen to the FNMI parent guests speak about parent involvement in the school community and how parental involvement is critical to learner success. Use the graphic organizer “What’s Important and Why?”

Afterwards discuss aspects of parent involvement in the school community that may support learner success.

The objectives of this activity are to:

• Clarifying possible misunderstandings• Provide an opportunity for FNMI parents to be heard by the

school community• Expand awareness of how FNMI parents are involved in the

school community on behalf of their children

Activity: Guest Speaker, “My Journey in My Child’s Education”

Reflect on the three points of reference:

• your experience, • the guest speaker, and • the reading

The goal is to consolidate the learning on the ways FNMI parent involvement support their children’s work at school.

Discuss the question: “What are some changes in the school community that will enhance FNMI parent involvement”.

Activity: Personal Reflection

Activity: How to Enhance FNMI Parental Involvement

Reflect on the question:

“Given that we have looked at the ideal and the reality of the parents, what are some steps you can take to enhance and support FNMI parent involvement in the school community?”

Write down:

• 3 things or important ideas that they want to remember• 2 things they would like to know more about• 1 idea that they will write about tonight

Activity: Reflection

Activity: 3 – 2 – 1