Family Engagement Basics Jennifer Grenke, Regional Technical
Assistance Coordinator Marlene Gross-Ackeret, Regional Technical
Assistance Coordinator Dan Seaman, Regional Technical Assistance
Coordinator Wisconsin RtI Center
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Whos here? How is your school engaging families in your RtI and
PBIS process?
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Schools and families face a set of difficult challenges today
when dealing with student needs Multiple expectations (Academic
accomplishment, Social competence, Safety) Students arrive at
school with widely differing understandings of what is socially
acceptable Students arrive at school with widely differing academic
skills Traditional get tough and zero tolerance approaches are
insufficient Faculty come with divergent visions of effective
discipline
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RtI Increases Academic and Behavioral Achievement Fewer
failures no longer wait to fail model Increased instructional
quality & equitable access Higher academic achievement due to
evidence- based focus Increased parent understanding of student
skills Fewer office referrals more instruction time Improved school
climate
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How does PBIS Affect the Student? At School:At Home:Clear
ExpectationsConcise RulesConsistent ConsequencesTeaches Prosocial
Behavior
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PBIS Increases Academic and Behavioral Achievement Students
understand the expectations and rules School becomes a more
consistent place with consistent practices and procedures
Successful behavior provides more time to attend to academics
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How does PBIS affect the Family? Families have a clear
understanding of what the school expects in regards to student
academic/behavior success. Families can build off of the school
expectations to help establish rules and routines in the home.
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What is Family Engagement? Research has shown that educators,
families and community partners all have different ideas of what
role families should play in their childs education. (Institute on
Community Integration, University of Minnesota)
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Family Engagement Research There is research that indicates
increased Family Engagement leads to higher teacher job
satisfaction. (MetLife 2011 p.9) There is a significant link
between family engagement and student achievement regardless of
ethnicity, culture or economic status. (Keith & Keith)
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How Families Engage in the PBIS Process Climate Family
Engagement in Learning Activities at Home Communication with
Parents/Families Parent/Family Volunteering and Assisting at School
Parent/Family Participating in Decision Making
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How Families Engage in the PBIS Process (contd) 11 Parent
Representative (s) on the PBIS Team: Parent not employed by the
district Parent Voice is Valued Parent Role and Responsibilities
Parent Participation Meetings are conveniently scheduled (time and
location) Minutes are shared with families Specific tasks to engage
families Share schedules and agendas ahead of time
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Four Concepts of Family Engagement that Educators Need to Know
1.The positive effect of family engagement on student performance
(academic & behavior). 2.The home and cultural context of the
students they teach. 3.Family beliefs about ways to support
childrens learning. 4.Specific strategies to support childrens
learning.
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PBIS and RtI Self Assessment Items: Family Engagement items are
on all PBIS and RtI self assessment tools (see resources): TIC: 3
items (3, 8, 11) SAS: 1 item (13) SAS Individual Student: 2 items
(6, 7) BAT: 6 items (12, 24, 26, 33, 41, 46) BOQ: 2 items (34, 41)
SIR: 5 items (7, 25, 34, 43, 49) SIR All Staff: 5 items (6, 11, 18,
21, 36)
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Epsteins framework of six types of Family involvement
www.wisconsinrticenter.orgwww.wisconsinrticenter.org -> Parents
& Family -> Family Engagement Links Johns Hopkins
University: http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/nnps_mo del/school.htm
http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/nnps_mo del/school.htm
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Resources to Increase Family Engagement and Partnerships: WI
RtI Center Family Engagement Module National PTA Parent Resources
to Support Student Success Positive Phone Call Template SPDG:
Serving on Groups that Make Decisions: A Guide for Families How to
Help your Kids Succeed in School (free eBook) Resources to Share
with Families Cool Tools (Morning Routine, Homework, etc) Family
Engagement Pilot School Resources
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WI RtI Center Family Engagement Module Home Parents and Family
Understanding RtI Online Module Activities: 1.Cultural Diversity
Cultural Diversity Scenario 2.Behavior 3.Differentiating
Instruction PTA Parents Guide 4.Balanced Assessment Progress
Monitoring Using Data For Decision Making Academic Parent Teacher
Teams 5.Collaboration Collaboration: Parent Teacher Conferences
6.Six Types of Family Involvement
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Resources to Improve Communication www.pta.orgwww.pta.org For
Parents Parent Guides to Student Success Parent Guides are
resources to help parents understand the Common Core State
Standards for Reading and Math. They are available for download in
a variety of formats (two/four pages; English/Espanol, etc.) 6 th
Grade, High School Math6 th GradeHigh School Math Positive Phone
Calls: Phone calls in a positive manner encourage the sharing of
information between families and educators. Michigans Integrated
Behavior and Learning Support Initiative (MiBLSI) adapted a
template from New Mexico for teachers to use to structure positive
phone calls to parents (see strand resources) Phone call
template
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Resources to share with Families: Serving on Groups that Make
Decisions: A Guide for Families www.wispdg.org/pl/groups.html
www.wispdg.org/pl/groups.html How to Help your Children Succeed in
School (free eBook) http://www.k5learning.com/ebook/how-to-
help-your-kids-succeed-in-school
http://www.k5learning.com/ebook/how-to-
help-your-kids-succeed-in-school
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Resources from Schools: Family Engagement Pilot School
Artifacts: See PBIS Conference Sectional Resources Nottingham West
Elementary School (NH) Cool Tools for Morning Routine, Helping with
Homework, and Bedtime Routine http://nwes.sau81.org/cooltools
http://nwes.sau81.org/cooltools
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Take Homes? Turn to an elbow partner and discuss one or two
ideas that you will take back to your school(s) to increase family
engagement. Please share out