Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: A Staff Resource Book For Developing Home-School Partnerships

( May 1997)

This step-by-step handbook, designed to be used by school staff, operationalizes twenty-five years of research and describes how to implement the best practices for developing effective parent involvement and successful home-school partnerships. It contains eight sections with specific information, examples and blackline masters to help all schools strengthen partnerships with families, prepare staff for involving families, develop first steps for home-school partnerships, overcome common barriers, and implement effective practices. It includes information and resources to address the needs of middle and high school students. Specific information and tips concerning Action Research Teams, Parent Centers, and Home Visitor Programs are also included. Teacher Tools (in English and Spanish) are included in the handbook.

The Home Learning Calendars

Monthly home learning calendars are designed to support the district's language arts program at the elementary level by integrating activities to build reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Self-esteem building activities, multicultural events as well as some practical reminders for parents are also included. Separate calendars have been developed for use with students at primary (K-2) and upper grade (3-6) levels. Calendars are available in the following languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, and Tagalog. School staff are encouraged to duplicate the calendars and distribute them to families. Many parents are willing to help their children if they are given the tools and information to do so.

Teacher Tools

Description of Teacher Tools: To increase the engagement and involvement of parents and community supporting student learning, we have developed a series of Teacher Tools. Teacher Tools are a combination of practical ideas, strategies, and information designed to assist the elementary and secondary teachers as they work with parents to support student learning. Each issue is organized around a key component for successful parent involvement such as: parent teacher conferences, homework, literacy and home-school communication. Teacher Tools are available in the following languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, and Tagalog.

Other Materials Available

The Parent Involvement Department has purchased many materials (K-12) for schools to check out. Materials include the Systemic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) program, available in pre-school through high school levels; Lee Cantor materials on Assertive Discipline: parent training videos on many subjects; books on parent involvement and other resources.

Call (619) 725-5605 for more information.

Family Kindergarten Manual

An interactive family workshop manual (includes blacklines in Spanish and English) developed to increase parent participation by enabling parents and children to work together in the areas of homework, reading readiness, language development, and mathematics.
Please call Sheri Humerickhouse at (619) 725-5612 if you would like a blackline master.

Passport To Literacy

(English and Spanish) is an elementary level (K-5/6) family literacy workshop kit, developed by the Parent Involvement Department, to support the literacy approaches of the Institute for Learning (Read Aloud, Word Study, Modeled Writing and Shared Writing). The entire travel-themed program comes "trip ready" in a "suitcase" packed with ten read aloud books, a video, scripted lesson plans, posters and blackline masters for conducting a series of four workshops and a celebration event with parents and students. Led by school site staff acting as "tour guides", the interactive workshops provide fun activities while parents and students travel through the literary genres of Folktales, Family Stories and Poetry. Activities based on the district's Language Arts Standards are included and families receive stamps of accomplishment in their "Literacy Passports". Each session ends with "souvenirs" for bringing literacy strategies home. Kits are $175.00. For more information, contact Melissa Whipple at (619) 725-5610.

Literacy Survival Kit for Parents and Teens

Dynamic Mini Study Skills for Creating Strategic Learners (English and Spanish) is a secondary (6-12) family literacy workshop kit, developed by the Parent Involvement Department to support the literacy framework. Each includes a video demonstrating the framework elements in classrooms and includes ways to support student achievement at home. The workshop series is designed to introduce parents and students to several study tools successful students use routinely. The kit includes scripted lessons and blackline masters for conducting two or three workshops on the following: 1). how to use reading response journals to increase engagement and comprehension when reading fiction (two different pieces of fiction are included) and 2). how to use graphic organizers with non-fiction as a way to assist students to rearrange instructional material to improve learning and retention. Kits are $100.00. For more information, contact Melissa Whipple at (619) 725-5610.

Family Reading

(English and Spanish) is an interactive family literacy workshop, conducted by site staff, that trains parents and children to read books together while utilizing effective reading strategies. The program enables parents to have meaningful discussions of books while helping students increase reading comprehension. This workshop will train site facilitators, who in turn offer workshops for families. Lessons and book sets (lending library) are available in English and Spanish (and in several Indochinese languages). Check the current issue of Discover, or for more information, contact Melissa Whipple at (619) 725-5610.

Family Language Arts

is an interactive family literacy workshop, conducted by site staff, that involves parents and -children in fun activities that integrate reading, writing, listening, and speaking. This workshop will train site facilitators, who in turn offer workshops for families, focusing on hands-on activities (centers) that support reading and oral language development, developmental learning and critical thinking skills. Some Family Reading style activities are also incorporated throughout the workshop. Materials and book sets (lending library) are available in English and Spanish. Check the current issue of Discover or for more information, contact Melissa Whipple at (619) 725-5610.

Parents Growing Together

is a series of nine weekly developmentally-based parenting classes conducted by site facilitators. Topics covered include child development, parent-child communication, problem solving, guiding and supporting children's school progress, and utilizing community resources. After site facilitators receive PGT training, materials in English and Spanish are free to schools wishing to conduct PGT workshops for parents. Check the current issue of Discover or for more information, contact or call Bea Fernandez at

(619) 725-5608.

The Video Lending Library

is an extensive lending library of videos suitable for use with parents and/or school staff is available for check-out. The videos, which cover a wide range of topics including literacy, parent involvement, homework, communication, discipline, parent-teacher conferences and many more are designed to help train staff and parents in the value of parent involvement and effective school site practices. For more information, contact Melissa Whipple at (619) 725-5610.