7. Send home tips regularly. For example, during the first month of preschool, when children and families are the most anxious, send one clear tip each week. The tips should be geared toward encouraging parents to get to know the school or library community better. Beginning with concrete ideas helps parents gain confidence that their roles as parents will be respected and that you are seeking their support in the most important assignment of all—helping each and every child become a successful, happy, and engaged student!
To those parents from El Salvador, it brought back memories of their childhoods and the stories they learned about the volcano. Additionally, the career corner provides us with an opportunity to help children realize their dreams. 5. Lead with a strong welcome. Demonstrate your keen interest in children’s success by putting your focus where it should be—on the children and their success. This demonstrated interest could be as basic as celebrating names. For example, the Hectors in my group allowed me to review our legacy from Greece, such as Greek architecture and art. I shared that we could also learn about Hector in Homer’s Iliad . Hector was brave and honorable. He was also a loving father, husband, son, and brother. So I said to the Hectors, “Thanks to you, we can be reminded all year of timeless values.” Each child’s name is a way to connect to that child as well as help him or her connect to the curriculum. The possibilities are endless. Not only are you celebrating each child, you are engaged in decoding language (Shaw, 1998, Wong-Fillmore, 1990).
More to Explore The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers excellent resources to support family engagement efforts. Visit www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/family- engagement . To read the joint Guidance Document on Family Engagement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education, visit www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/family- engagement .
6. G ive parents a homework assignment.
The first time a parent enters the school or library is different from all subsequent times. I sustain this strong initial partnership by asking each parent or family member to share a first homework assignment. I ask them to share memories of their own childhood with their children. Children in my group return the next day eager to share their stories. Such an activity helps you learn about your children’s families and their values. In turn, the families gain a strong sense of how you value them.
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