Portfolio Exhibit #3

Community Involvement

by Erin Brown

EDU 6600 Communication & Collaboration

District goal: To increase student engagement and community involvement in academic activities and to continue extended learning opportunities for remediation of at-risk populations in identified content areas of literacy and /or math (Lakewood School District, 2011).

School goal: To develop a parent and community partnership through scheduled events, communication, and volunteer opportunities (Lakewood Elementary School).

Lakewood Elementary School has a Learning Lab established to focus solely on reviewing and rebuilding reading skills of those students who qualify. Using MAP and DIBELS scores to decipher eligibility, these students receive extra small group instruction in addition to that of their regular classroom. The principal and Reading specialist at LES came together to discuss ways to help parents become active participants in their child's reading. After consulting with the Reading Specialists at the other district elementary schools, two programs emerged.

Parent information days were planned monthly, Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad. These days were scheduled on the first Friday morning of each month. Odd months (Nov, Jan, Mar, May) were designated for Donuts with Dad and focused on any male role model in the students life (Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, etc.). Even months (Dec, Feb, Apr, Jun) were specified for Muffins with Mom and focused on any female role model in the students life (Mom, Grandma, Aunt, etc.). The entire event lasted two hours from 9:00am to 11:00am, though participants were not expected to stay the entire time.

Moms or Dads were to come in, tour the Learning Lab, read with their child, and share a treat. The purpose of this was twofold. One, it was a way to give parents the opportunity to learn about the learning lab and its programs while giving them special time to hang out with their child. Two, it allowed the Reading Specialist time to share ideas and suggestions on how better to help their child during reading times. This was done in an informal atmosphere where participants could drop in and stay as long as they felt necessary.

The second program that emerged was a Literacy Night that included the entire student body. All students and their families were invited to partake in an evening filled with fun activities developed to support reading skills. It was the hope that such an event would be

informative for parents and lead to an increase in student achievement in reading. Whereas, the former program mainly involved the Reading Specialist, this program needed a planning committee that included teachers from each grade level. These educators not only worked the event but also planned the activities making sure they were relevant and grade appropriate.

Timeline

September 2009 LES principal & Reading Specialist meet to discuss improving parent involvement

September 2009 District Reading Specialists meet at LES to brainstorm ideas

October 2009 LES principal & Reading Specialist meet to flesh out specifics of two separate event ideas

October 2009 LES Reading Specialist designs invitations, plans menu, and creates a powerpoint presentation on how to best aide child with reading at

home

November 2009 Donuts with Dad event

November 2009 District Reading Specialists meet to discuss outcome of event and possible improvements

November 2009 LES forms a committee for the school's Literacy Night

December 2009 Muffins with Mom event

December 2009 District Reading Specialists meet to discuss event and possible improvements

December 2009 LES Literacy Night committee meet to plan specifics

January 2010 Donuts with Dad

January 2010 LES Literacy Night event

February 2010 Muffins with Mom

February 2010 LES Literacy Night committee meet to discuss event and possible changes for next year's event

March 2010 Donuts with Dad

March 2010 District Reading Specialists meet to report outcome of Literacy Night events carried out by three different schools

April 2010 Muffins with Mom

May 2010 Donuts with Dad

June 2010 Muffins with Mom

2010-2011 Both Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad programs continued at LES

2010-2011 Literacy Night implemented district-wide

2011-2012 Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad programs implemented in all district elementary schools

2011-2012 District-wide Literacy Night continues

Collaboration time to develop these programs took place after school hours. Both programs were financed by Federal (Title 1) and State (Learning Assistance Program) funds. Staffs at all participating district schools felt the money towards Literacy Night was money well spent. They have every intention of continuing the annual event, as funding allows. The success of the Literacy Night has lead to the expansion of a second family information night that focuses on celebrating cultural differences.

The morning Mom and Dad events are planned, conducted, and evaluated by the building principal, Reading Specialist, and an educational aide. Though the LES trio is convinced of its importance, the other schools are still in the introductory phase of this program. Results and evaluations from the other schools will be forthcoming.

Research

Programs and interventions that engage families in supporting their children's learning at home are linked to improved student achievement (Epstein, Simon, and Salinas, 1997). This is why focusing on the parents of at-risk students was essential at Lakewood Elementary School. These students are in need of extra care in reading. Many parents are unaware of the little things

they can do daily to assist their child. LES understood the importance of informing them in a positive and fun way. Many of these students felt special in a good way because they got out of their regular classrooms to spend time with their parents in the Learning Lab. It was seen as a positive reward with many classroom students asking when they'd get to visit this fun place.

Families of all cultural backgrounds, education and income levels can and often do have a positive influence on their children's learning (HoSui-Chu and Willms, 1996). This was the stance taken when a school-wide Literacy Night was suggested. Why only reach out to at-risk students? All students and their families can benefit from such an experience. This was especially seen as necessary to families with multiple and/or younger children. Getting a jump on young pre-readers can have positive long term effects.

Pressley and McCormick (2007) pointed out that offering meaningful choices, selecting vivid materials, considering prior knowledge, and encouraging active learning are ways we can motivate and make learning more interesting for our students. This is why several Literacy Night activities are planned around well-organized, vivid, and relevant materials. Students choose where they'd like to go and what they'd like to experience. Parents pick up on this excitement and hopefully find ways to transfer this learning to the home setting. At the very least, the parent-child interactions will reinforce the importance and respect for school learning. After all, parental teaching is embedded in daily life and can occur in subtle and indirect ways (Bempechat, 1992).

References

Bempechat, J. (1992). The role of parent involvement in children's academic achievement. The School Community Journal, 2(2), 31-41.

Epstein, J.L., Simon, B.S. and Salinas, K.C. (1997). Involving parents in homework in the middle grades. Bloomington, IN: Phi Delta Kappa Center of Evaluation, Development, and Research.

HoSui-Chi, E. and Willms, D. (1996). Effects of parent involvement on eighth-grade achievement. Sociology of Education, 69(2), 126-141.

Lakewood Elementary School (2009). School Improvement Plan, 2009.

Lakewood School District (2011). District Improvement Plan. Retrieved on October 17, 2011 from http://www.lwsd.wednet.edu/226410105029183/site/default.asp

Pressley, M and McCormick, C.B. (2007). Child and adolescent development for educators. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 2007.

Documentation

Attachment I: Family Literacy Night

Literacy Night notes taken during planning meeting December 2009

Attachment II: Reading at Home

A mini-version of powerpoint presentation developed to inform parents of at-risk readers. This presentation would occur during first session of Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad.

Attachments III: You're Invited

These are copies of the invitations sent home to the Moms and Dads. It was developed to inform the parent and to help Reading Specialist plan for refreshments necessary.