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From Expected to Effective:
Strategies to assess and modify
communication efforts that support
partnerships with families
www.laspdg.org
Presented by Pamdora Williams
LaSPDG Staff
@laspdg
Considerations
• This webinar is being recorded and will be available for
viewing at www.laspdg.org under
Family Engagement
Webinars
2013-2014
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Roll Call
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People First Language
“People First Language puts the person before the disability and
describes what a person has, not who a person is.”
Kathie Snow. (n.d.) A few words about People First Language. Disability is Natural. Retrieved
August 1, 2012 from http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl-sh09.pdf
Family Engagement:
New Perspectives, New Definition
The research is abundantly clear: nothing motivates a child more
than when learning is valued by schools and families/community
working together in partnership…These forms of [parent]
involvement do not happen by accident or even by invitation. They
happen by explicit strategic intervention”
-Michael Fullan (1997 a, pp.42-43)
Shifts in Perceptions about Family Engagement
Current
Lens
Old
Lens
One-Time Project
Add-On
Shared Responsibility
Random Acts
Systemic
StrengthBased/Collaborative
Sustained
Deficit-Based/Adversarial
Compliance
Integrated
Events Driven
Individual
Responsibility
Outcome Driven
Ownership &
Continuous
Improvement
Search
family engagement – transformation definition
Web Search
I’m Feeling Lucky
Family Engagement Transformation Definition
Family engagement is a shared responsibility of families, schools and
communities for student learning and achievement; it is continuous from birth to
young adulthood; and it occurs across multiple settings where children learn.
Family Engagement definition
www.laspdg.org
A well thought out process involving the entire school community,
NOT a series of events to involve families….
Family Engagement definition
www.laspdg.org
Family Engagement is the interaction between schools and families
and the degree to which families are engaged in the educational lives
of their children.
Family Engagement definition
www.laspdg.org
A set of day-to-day practices, attitudes, beliefs and interactions that
support learning at home as well as at school, NOT a one-time
program
COMMUNICATION
Stating a Case for Investing in Strategic Home - School Communication
Parent/Teacher
Conferences
PTO/PTA
Notes home
Flyers
Conversations in the
community
Newsletters
Formal & Informal
Communication
Open House
Back-to-School Night
Conversations during arrival and dismissal
Conversations in the
office lobby
Emails and text messages
School Websites
Goal & Objectives
Goal:
Identify effective strategies to assess and modify communication efforts with
families
Objectives:
– Gain knowledge of the components of an effective communication plan for
families
– Gain knowledge of strategies and resources in order to assess and modify
current communication efforts with families
Also, tools, resources & promising practices to support your work!
What is Communication?
Communication is a message sent and a
message received
When communicating messages about
school programs and student progress,
ensure that the communication:
• is two-way
• is multi-layered
• uses multiple channels
• connects schools, families, students
and the community.
• is an ongoing process
Poll
Which is the largest contributor to the communication
gap for your families?
Work schedule
Child Care
Language
Do not understand the system
Negative past experiences with schools
Contributors to Communication Gap
Families
•
•
•
•
•
Work schedule
Transportation
Child care
Language barriers
School viewed as an
unwelcoming place
• Lack of outreach
• Not understanding
the system
Contributors to Communication Gap
Schools/Teachers
• Teacher time
limitations
• Negative stereotypes
• Lack of teacher
preparation
Benefits of school-home
communication
• Increases trust between schools and families
• Encourages higher and realistic parental
expectations
• Serves as the foundation to other types of
family engagement
• Leads to higher degree of family commitment
• Puts everyone on the “same page”
“We have always maintained that
you never see our best work: it
is what we do ahead of time to
prevent the firestorm.
Use good communication to keep
yourself out of trouble, so you
don’t have to use it to mop up
the mess!”
Why School
Communication Matters, pg. 59
A COMMUNICATION PLAN
Strategy 1
What is a communication plan?
A communication plan is a
framework of goals,
strategies and activities.
Schools/districts would use a
communication plan when it’s time to
disseminate information about a program
or procedures and/or influence the
behavior/practices of families and
community on the behalf of the school.
A communication plan can….
• Be simple or complex
• Be a road map
• Help anticipate and solve for problems
Is communication planning necessary?
• Helps to identify and close any
communication gaps
• Keeps families on the same page and
knowledgeable
• Improves transparency
Elements of a Communication Plan
Four areas to address in a plan
• Topic & Frequency
• Various Approaches
• Two-Way/Feedback
• Analysis & Evaluation
Communication Planning
Communication Plan
Questions to consider
Topic & Frequency
• What is the topic?
• Did we plan for more than one method to convey the key
message?
• How often will this occur?
• Do we have a clear purpose for this communication?
• Who is responsible for managing?
Various Approaches
• Is the method of communication offered in a variety of
formats?
• Does it match the audience?
• Are there other resources that may assist?
• Have we made provisions for families who were unable
to attend an event?
Two-Way/Feedback
• How can families provide feedback?
Analysis & Evaluation
• How will the feedback be analyzed & evaluated?
• Who else can we share the feedback in the district?
• How will the feedback impact future events/initiatives?
Written Communication
• Includes important
information
• Is clear and detailed
• Standard written language
• Invites response and
feedback
Verbal Communication
•
•
•
•
•
•
Instructing
Following up
Asking for help
Revealing
Informally exchanging
Active Listening
Home visits,
“each one, take one”,
communication
system that fits the
families’ needs
(for some students and families)
Individual conferences as needed,
written communications addressing
specific concerns, communication in
families everyday language,…
Teachers plan for all families
Newsletters, website, parent teacher conferences, grade book
http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Other-Resources/Family-and-CommunityEngagement/Framework-for-Building-Partnerships-Among-Schools/Communicating-with-Families.pdf.aspx
Two-Way Communication
• Feedback loop makes communication two-way
• Feedback and response system should be embedded in
communication efforts
Feedback from families…
“We appreciate
knowing that
there are
adequate
opportunities
for us to express
our concerns
and opinions
about important
issues impacting
school.”
“Whenever I express my concerns
and opinions, I know that they are
seriously considered by school
and district leaders.”
Reminders about two-way
Communication
• Be consistent
• Multiple opportunities to contact and/or respond
• Consideration given to feedback and possible
adjustments made
Two-way communication honors family opinions, builds trust,
and invites family partnerships!
Let’s Chat!
Using the Chat Pod…
share how you think the following
written communication could be
transformed from expected to
effective?
Are your famlies
fluent in
“Education-ese”?
“At Child-First Elementary, we
hold attendance and
punctuality to class as a
fundamental priority in
providing a sound educational
experience for all inhabitants
of our school. The OAT is
responsible for processing all
attendance and tardiness
issues. Students parents, and
guardians are responsible for
directing such issues to OAT.
Both habitual and unusual or
catastrophic circumstances can
all be effectively monitored
and processed through OAT….”
POLL:
Are your families aware of ways they
can support their child at home?
Yes or No
Helpful Resources and Tools
http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=308&schoolyearID=5
Common Core Road Maps for Families
Communication Planning Template
Written Communication Rubric
Quick Tips: Verbal and Electronic
Communication
Use a planning framework for communicating almost
any topic with families!
ASSESS
Strategy 2: Assess Families’ Perceptions &
Preferences About Communication
Will be discussed during February 5, 2014 webinar
You Are Here!!!
Focus:
▌On
three levels of communication:
– School building to home
– Classroom to home
– School district to community
▌On
communication content, delivery
systems, and frequency of communication
Assessing Communication
Assessing communication efforts will:
• measure effectiveness of communication
efforts
• provide information about families’
perceptions and feelings
• Serve as a baseline for developing a
communication plan
• Protect against attitudes of complacency
Communication Survey
A communication survey can address…
• The school’s current communication patterns
o Overall effectiveness
o Opportunities to make-up for parents who didn’t attend an
event
o Enough support for support child with academics
o Timeliness of notification
o Adequate ways to give feedback
o A person to contact for questions
• The families’ communication preferences
o Preferred methods of communicating information
o Suggestions for improvement
Poll
Which is the preferred method of communication
according to families?
Newsletters
Social media
Parent portal
Email from the school/district
Phone calls
Parents’ preferred methods of
communication
How parents want to communicate with school
http://www.nspra.org/
Increasing
Preference
Increasing
Preference
Consider Results From Existing
Surveys to Families
Examples:
• Title One parent survey
• Survey during district/school accreditation
process
• State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicator 8 survey
• Event evaluation survey
Communicate feedback with the stakeholders!
Other ways to assess perceptions
• Organize feedback forums
• Administer a quick communication survey
after a workshop or meeting
• Generate a survey using Survey Monkey
(www.surveymonkey.com)
Helpful Tools and Practices!
http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=418
•
•
•
•
Survey Toolkit:
assess 4 domains
3 Surveys
scoring guide
promising practices
To view example
questions/stems visit
https://www.surveymonkey
.com/mp/harvardeducation-surveys/
MODIFY
Strategy 3: Modify Existing Communication Structures
Not Harder




Link to student learning
Individualized
Two way
Incorporate follow-up
Open House or
Conferences
to
Conversations about
Learning
Example: Sharing data with families
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT8J1uf97vs&list=
UUvEdSQawiMKMU-muuc1j0YA
Obtain Feedback
School Newsletter
to
Newsletter with
request for feedback
Parent Workshop
to
Parent and Child Time
[PACT]
School website
to
Website with family
friendly zones
Title One Compacts
to
Compacts linked to school goals
Helpful Resources and Tools
http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=308&schoolyearID=5
Parent Teacher Conversations about Learning
Protocol
Example Compact and quick tips
REVIEW
Will be discussed during February 5, 2014 webinar
Is communication planning necessary
for building partnerships?
A parent responds…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbyhao0FtaQ
Reminder:
2012-2013
Family Engagement Webinars on Demand !!!
http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=308&schoolyearID=4
Getting your school organized for Family and Community Engagement
[FACE] _ Series
Let's FACE It! Part 1
Let's FACE It! Part 2
Engaging Families of Elementary Students
Engaging Families of Middle & High School Students
Enhancing Partnerships with Families
Anne Henderson: Let's Go Beyond The Bake Sale
Communication with Families
Building Home-School Partnerships
Making Student and School Data Accessible and Meaningful to Families
Using Technology to Improve Academic Success
Language Used in the Homes
My Dialect, My Identity
Dialect or Disorder
Virtual bookshelf
http://www.laspdg.org/content.cfm?id=198
Building Capacity
• When you leave today, what will you do with this information?
• How will you share it with others in your district?
• When will you share it? (Timeline)
Note: If you are on the district leadership team, this information
will be useful in completing your district’s LASPDG 5 Year Plan
Questions?
• Please use your chat pod if you have questions
related to this presentation
• After this webinar, you may email questions to
Pamdora Williams [email protected]
www.laspdg.org
The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of
Education, #H323A110003. However those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US
Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
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