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Family Engagement
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PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school community—Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class. Standard 2: Communicating effectively—Families and school staff engage in regular, meaningful communication about student learning. Standard 3: Supporting student success—Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively. Standard 4: Speaking up for every child—Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success. Standard 5: Sharing power—Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs. Standard 6: Collaborating with community—Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation. For more information about the National Standards and PTA programs that promote family-school partnerships, visit www.pta.org http://www.pta.org/documents/National_Standards.pdf __________________________________________________________________________ 
Family, School & Community! Be There is a research-based, multimedia campaign designed to get parents more involved in their children's education. One hundred percent of the research studies compiled by The Parent Institute* indicate that parent involvement has a significant impact on student success. Statistics show with as little as a one-third increase in parent participation, school achievement scores increase dramatically. It only takes a small increase in parent input to see measurable results in student output! _________________________________________________________________________ FAMILY ENGAGEMENT Family Engagement enhances student success and teacher effectiveness. A first step toward involvement is communicating with your child’s teacher. Effective communication consists of meeting with the teacher, being a positive partner in the learning experience, and keeping lines of communication open, according to Suzanna Smith, an associate professor at the University of Florida. As part of the university’s Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, she offers these tips for communicating effectively with teachers: • Offer to help by signing up to donate items or volunteer your time. • Provide information that will help the teacher get to know your child as an individual. Include relevant information such as allergies, behavior issues (tendency to be distracted, for instance), learning issues, or changes in family life. • Ask the teacher about expectations regarding homework and what to do if there are problems with homework. • Find out the best way to contact the teacher. Ask for times when it is convenient to talk. Don’t expect them to be able to talk if you happen to be at the school and run into them. • Write short notes (written or as an e-mail, if allowed) and follow up with a phone message to the school if you don’t get a response in a few days. Be sure to include your phone number and/or e-mail address. • Be diplomatic, especially in e-mail. Choose words carefully and avoid criticizing the teacher. • In e-mail communication, be brief, stick to the point, and don’t use animation, pictures or graphics. Stick to school-related information in e-mail. • Be positive and curious. Open with phrases such as “Can we talk about…?” Use “I” statements such as “I’m confused about…” so you don’t put the teacher on the defensive. • Don’t be afraid to talk to other school personnel if needed. A school counselor might be able to intervene if you are unable to communicate with a teacher. • Be a partner in your child’s learning. Assist with homework, help your child learn time management skills, talk about school matters at home. • Send a note of appreciation to the teacher when things go well in class (and mention this to the principal). • It may be difficult to hear what teachers have to say if they deliver bad news about your child. Try to focus on solutions and work with the teacher to come up with a healthy plan to help your child learn.
Varner Elementary School PTA 2011-2012
4761 Gaydon Road
Powder Springs, GA
30127
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