Because of the nature of my teaching--all online--family engagement is really not optional for me. I’m not always there when students access their assignments, and I need to know that caregivers are able and willing to check in with their kids. However, I genuinely believe that home-school partnerships are a boon to my classroom. Here are a few ways I engage families in my classroom and the benefits I reap as a result:
Behavior Contracts
Many teachers have adopted some form of contracts in their classrooms, but I decided a few years ago to go a step further and ask caregivers to sign their children’s behavior contracts, too. I include both what I expect from the students and what I promise them in return, but I also include what I need from caregivers (things like checking their emails and reaching out when there is a problem) and what they can expect from me.
I find that asking caregivers to participate in the contracting process gives them a clearer picture of what the expectations are for their children in my classroom, why those expectations exist, and how they can share their own expectations and needs with me.
Monthly Newsletters
Again, many teachers provide a class newsletter to families and students. In mine, I generally include any large projects coming up, any testing that is going on that month, and a brief overview of the types of selections we’ll be using that month.
Giving the families a heads up about the types of texts we will be reading is a huge help for me. For example, I teach a unit on horror, and there are always a few caregivers who object at first glance. Sending the newsletter out ahead of time gives me time to talk with concerned caregivers about what is in the unit, and even let them preview the texts if they want to. Some of them still ask for alternate assignments for their children, but having sent the newsletter ahead of time gives me more time to prepare something if I do need to offer an alternative.
Family-based Assignments
Another really beneficial way I like to engage families is through assignments that involve them. One such assignment asks students to consider the relationship between historic events and the legacies of the people who lived through those events. They have the option to interview a family member about a historical event they experienced and how it affected them.
Some really special interviews have come out of this assignment, including children interviewing their parents and grandparents about military service, the experience of 9/11, or even what it was like watching the Moon Landing on TV. Not only does this assignment provide opportunities for students to see historical events differently, but it also provides families an opportunity to engage in a meaningful way at a time when teenagers are not always interested in hearing their family members’ stories. Of course, I always offer alternatives so that students who simply can’t or prefer not to involve their parents or families in their assignments are still able to participate.
The longer I teach, the more I bring families into my classroom. While there are certainly going to be times where I don’t see eye-to-eye with a caregiver, by engaging them throughout the year, I develop a level of rapport and mutual respect that helps take any possible venom out of such disagreements. Better yet, I’m able to develop a culture where caregivers feel comfortable coming to me with their issues rather than going directly to my administration.
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