Parent and Family Engagement
Learning does not begin or end in school. In fact, the learning and development that does—or does not—happen outside of school is often as much or more important than formal learning. Families are a central source of children's learning and development and their influence cannot be ignored. Engaging with families can inform, complement, reinforce, and accelerate educators' efforts to educate the whole child. Without strategic and continuous connections between families and educators, we cannot ensure that students are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.
From the Whole Child Blog
Families and Schools Get Engaged: A Long Road to a Great Marriage?
OK, maybe you've been burned once. Maybe it's even happened twice. But are you prepared to let those isolated incidents get in the way of all the great things that can come from a committed partnership?
No, we're not talking about your love life; we're talking about building a different kind of partnership—a school–family partnership. These partnerships can sometimes feel as complicated and dramatic as our past or present love lives. Some of us—teachers, principals, parents, guardians, and students—have been burned in the past and are hesitant to give it another try. And when we do take that leap of faith, we bring forth our fears, which can interfere with developing meaningful relationships. But just as research has suggested that people in committed life partnerships enjoy many benefits, such as longer lives and better mental and physical health, so do young people greatly benefit from families and educators who commit themselves to developing and sustaining partnerships.
Whole Child Examples
Elementary Example
School Grows as a Caring School Community
Over the past seven years, Bowles Elementary School's Caring School Community model has moved from a "trait of the month" approach to a deeper, more comprehensive approach tied to curriculum and content.
All Parent and Family Engagement Examples
Elementary Example
Bringing New Students and Families into the Community
Elementary Example
A SAFE Approach: Successful Appropriate Foundation to Educate All Children
Elementary Example
Town Meetings and Shared Grade-Level Planning
Elementary Example
Elementary Example
Related Posts
Byrne Creek Secondary: A Collaborative Community Opportunity
Throughout April: Supportive Education Communities
2012 ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award Winners
ASCD Honors Canadian School for its Supportive Education Community
Podcast
Partnerships Between Home and School: The Real Missing Link?
In this episode of the Whole Child Podcast, we focus on the importance of partnerships between families and educators to student success.
