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Team Work Makes the Dream Work-A Staff Resource Book for Developing Home and School Partnerships

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.

Table of Contents

Cover - Forward - TOC

Part 1: Strengthening Partnerships With Families Preparing for Partnerships Why Partnerships? If Family Involvement is Important, Why Isn't More Of It Happening? Rethinking Family Involvement The Board of Education Parent Involvement Policy Statement Responsibilities of Administrators, Teachers, and Support Staff Resources Parent Involvement Policy Statement Normas Que Rigen el Programa de ParticipaciÛn de Padres Did We Miss Something? ___________________________________________________________________________ Part 2: Building Staff Capacity: Preparing Staff For Involving Families Why Parent Involvement? What are the Benefits of Involving Parents? Examining the Assumptions that Affect Parent Involvement Defining a Home-School Partnership Defining the Six Types of Involvement Defining the Three Levels of Participation Key Points Resources    Six Types of Involvement Type 1: Parenting Type 2: Communicating Type 3: Volunteering Type 4: Learning At Home Type 5: Decision Making & Advocacy Type 6: Collaborating With Community    Resources for Staff Development on Parent Involvement Complete Workshops Videos Books    Did We Miss Something? ___________________________________________________________________________ Part 3: Developing First Steps For Home-School Partnerships Step One: Create an Action Team Step Two: Assess and Evaluate Current Practices Step Three: Develop a Workplan Step Four: Implement and Monitor the Workplan Step Five: Evaluate: Celebrate Successes and Identify Challenges - Continue Planning and Working Resources    Coaching Staff For a Home/School Partnership Self-Assessment Tools Home/School Compatibility Quiz Is Our School Office Family Friendly? Parent Survey Montgomery Middle School School Climate Survey How Welcome Are Parents In Our School? PTA Parent Education Questionnaire    Title 1 Information Parent Involvement Program Information Sample School's Parent Involvement Policy Statement Sample Home-School Compact    Two-Way Home-School Communication Half and Half Letters Samples Global Issues Concerns Form    Action Team Workplan Forms Planning Chart Workplan Forms    Did We Miss Something? ___________________________________________________________________________ Part 4: Overcoming Common Barriers to Effective Home-School Partnerships Common Barriers for Staff and Possible Solutions Common Barriers for Families and Possible Solutions Essential Mindsets Involving Parents: Personal Touch is the Key Turning Parents Away: Words and Deeds to Avoid Resources    What's Happening? Parent Involvement Ideas That Work    Want To Know More? Newsletter: What's Working in Parent Involvement? Handbook: Special Events from A to Z    Planning a Successful School Event: A Checklist    Did We Miss Something?    Teacher Tools - Elementary*       Teacher Tool #1: Strategies for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences**       Teacher Tool #2: Improving Homework Habits**       Teacher Tool #3: Parent Involvement Kit**       Teacher Tool #4: Everyone a Reader!**                               Glossary of Teaching Strategies (English)                               Glossary of Teaching Strategies (Spanish)    * For Secondary Teacher Tools, see Part 6 Resources: "Middle and High School Level"    ** These items are presently available in Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese or Tagalog.        Please call (858) 496-8366. ___________________________________________________________________________ Part 5: Effective Schoolwide Practices Establish an Action Team Parent Centers: A Strategy for Increasing Parent Involvement Home Visits Resources    Parent/Family Centers Video: How to Start a Family Center Organizing a Successful Parent Center: A Guide and Resource Family Center Kit Wish List Wish List Request Form    Home Visits How to Prepare for the Home Visit Tips to Remember When Calling to Establish Rapport Record of Telephone Communications How to Conduct a Home Visit Home Visitor's Self-Evaluation Checklist    Institute for Responsive Education Publications for Linking home, school and community for real learning New Schools, New Communities - a tri-quarterly magazine    Developmental Studies Center Homeside Activities: Conversations and Activities That Bring Parents into Children's         Schoolwide Learning At Home in Our Schools: A Guide to Schoolwide Activities That Build Community    Resources to Bully-Proof Your School    Did We Miss Something?

Part 6: Middle and High School Level Middle Schools and Early Adolescent Development The Basics Build a Welcoming Environment Assist Families and Students with Key Transitions Establish Positive Two-Way Communication Establish a Parent Center or Space Develop and Support Interdisciplinary Teams Make the Best Use of School and Family Conferences Teenagers Say They Don't Mind These Types of Involvement Four Models of Conferences The Advisory Conference The Student-Led Conference The Arena Conference The Team Conference What do Parents Expect from Middle Level Schools? Resources    The Basics Is Our School Office Family Friendly? Parents Day Newsletter Resources for Secondary Schools Newsletter Checklist Developmental Bookmarks About Adolescents What Can Parents and Teachers Do to: Bring About Successful Change That Will Benefit All Students? Promote Communication and Identity and Use School and Community Resources? Help Students Through the Testing Maze and to Know How to Chart Their Progress? Guide and Counsel Students as They Choose Their Middle and High School Courses?    Helpful Publications Turning Points for Middle Schools: Strategic Transitions for Educators Supporting Early Adolescents Living With a Work in Progress - A Parents' Guide to Surviving Adolescence The Clearinghouse - A Journal of Educational Research, Controversy, and Practices Working with Hostile and Resistant Teens    For High Schools Only Making the Right Investments - High Schools Find "Trust Funds" of Promising         School-Family Community Partnerships, by John H. Hollifield (Reprinted with          permission from The High School Magazine, March 1995).      Did We Miss Something?    Teacher Tools - Secondary*       **Teacher Tool #1: Strategies for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences       **Teacher Tool #2: Improving Homework Habits       **Teacher Tool #3: Parent Involvement Kit       **Teacher Tool #4: Everyone a Reader! Glossary of Teaching Strategies (English) Glossary of Teaching Strategies (Spanish)      * For Elementary Teacher Tools, see Part 4 Resources: "Overcoming Common Barriers         to Effective Home-School Partnerships"    ** These items are presently available in Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese or Tagalog.Please call (858) 496-8366. __________________________________________________________________________ Part 7: Parent Involvement and Support Unit Staff Parent Involvement Task Force Services and Events Trainings Special Programs Materials Department Flyers District Flow Chart (English) District Flow Chart (Spanish) Order Form ___________________________________________________________________________ Part 8: More Terrific Resources Helpful Organizations, Website Addresses and More!    Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouse Free Materials for Families and Parent Educators Free Materials for Schools, Businesses and Community Organizations    PTA PTA Offers Family Involvement Resources National Chapter State Chapter Local Chapter    Need Help With Your School Newsletter? Checklist Commercial Subscriptions    Organizations and Resources for: Helping Create Partnerships Among Businesses, Families and Schools Helping Make Schools Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Helping America Become a Reading Literate Society Helping Reach New Levels of Excellence With High Standards and Real Accountability Helping Make Technology Available To All Children Helping Prepare Young People for Careers Helping Make College More Accessible Children with Disabilities    National Resources and Development Centers    Great Websites for Schools, Teachers and Students English Spanish    Great Websites for Families English Spanish    Information Available Through the Internet About Planning for College    Especially for Principals