Getting Parents On Board

Learn how to work more effectively with K–5 parents to increase student achievement in math and literacy. Research shows that parent involvement in schools leads to higher test scores and more engaged and enthusiastic students, but it isn’t always easy for teachers to bridge the gap between the home and the school. This insightful book provides helpful, research-based strategies to foster meaningful home–school partnerships and overcome the challenges teachers often face when trying to build relationships with parents. You’ll learn new ways to: Promote parent involvement at home and school; Share specific math and literacy strategies with parents to reinforce children’s learning; Plan and organize effective parent conferences that foster true dialogue about a child’s education; Communicate with parents about what you’re teaching and how you’re teaching it, so they can actively contribute to their child’s learning at home; Develop family nights and workshops to get parents involved in learning at school; Recommend games, activities, and projects that parents can use at home to help their children practice math and literacy skills; And much more! Each chapter is full of practical tools such as Common Core-aligned strategies, useful resources for parents, and sample parent letters that you can use to increase and improve your home–school communications. Bonus: Additional parent letters on a variety of topics are available on our website, www.routledge.com/ 9781138998698, to help you keep parents connected throughout the year.

Learn how to work more effectively with K–5 parents to increase student achievement in math and literacy. Research shows that parent involvement in schools leads to higher test scores and more engaged and enthusiastic students, but it isn’t always easy for teachers to bridge the gap between the home and the school. This insightful book provides helpful, research-based strategies to foster meaningful home–school partnerships and overcome the challenges teachers often face when trying to build relationships with parents. You’ll learn new ways to: Promote parent involvement at home and school; Share specific math and literacy strategies with parents to reinforce children’s learning; Plan and organize effective parent conferences that foster true dialogue about a child’s education; Communicate with parents about what you’re teaching and how you’re teaching it, so they can actively contribute to their child’s learning at home; Develop family nights and workshops to get parents involved in learning at school; Recommend games, activities, and projects that parents can use at home to help their children practice math and literacy skills; And much more! Each chapter is full of practical tools such as Common Core-aligned strategies, useful resources for parents, and sample parent letters that you can use to increase and improve your home–school communications. Bonus: Additional parent letters on a variety of topics are available on our website, www.routledge.com/ 9781138998698, to help you keep parents connected throughout the year.

It is essential that we work together to craft powerful parent-teacher partnerships that meet the needs of today’s students and schools. In this important new book, authors Robert Dillon and Melissa Nixon explain how schools and families can work together so that the needs of children are always met. Whether you’re a parent hoping to work more effectively with your child’s teacher, or a principal or teacher looking for ways to understand families’ needs, you’ll be able to use the strategies in this resource to improve your communication and build deeper connections. Loaded with practical takeaways and sample stories, this book will help you: Clearly communicate a child’s educational goals; Make connections with other schools and school districts to build community and broaden your range of resources; Hold educators accountable without alienating them; Develop communication strategies to address difficult topics like underperformance and misbehavior; Show compassion and gratitude; And more! With the practical suggestions in this book, you’ll be able to rekindle more engagement and excitement into students' learning at school and at home.

Build the essential 4—creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking! Go beyond theory and learn how to systematically integrate STEAM and Maker spaces that prepare students for real-world experiences. This engaging resource outlines step-by-step processes to help anyone start their STEAM and Maker journey. Includes charts, checklists, web links, and profiles to help you make meaningful subject area connections and tap your students’ natural curiosity. You’ll learn to: Integrate STEAM and Making into daily practice Differentiate instruction for all learners Align with core standards and The Next Generation Science Standards

Parents and families are busier than ever—and so are you—but partnering with them is as important as ever. So how do you do that? Author Phil Bell has taken his 20 years of experience and created a playbook to help you come alongside parents. This isn’t a plan to make your ministry look like someone else’s. These are proven ideas you can weave into the things you’re already doing. These practical ideas work whether you’re full-time, part-time, or a volunteer. And you can add them on to your own timeline. Partnering with parents isn’t about just getting them to come to you. It’s about a ministry that meets in the middle—where you are and where they are—creating a stronger ministry and stronger families. Topics include: • Taking care of yourself and your own family first • Key strategies for effective communication • Ideas for resourcing and equipping parents • Ways to reach unengaged parents • Turning parents into your ministry’s greatest promoters • Fostering a community of parents that makes everyone stronger