201 Ways to Involve Parents: Practical Strategies for Partnering With Families

by Betty L. Boult

Overview

Proactively Develop Parental Involvement for Students’ Growth and Achievement

Years of research and practice show that connecting with families positively impacts student achievement. 201 Ways to Involve Parents is packed with realistic and ready-to-use ideas to help teachers and administrators actively engage parents as educational partners. This new edition includes current research on the impact of parent involvement in the school community, offers numerous new strategies, and provides expanded coverage of ways to build bridges between schools and diverse families, including:

• Innovative ways to sustain ongoing communication with families
• Ideas for welcoming parents as vital members of the school community
• Strategies for including parents in school governance
• Techniques for developing parent volunteer programs, and more

Start today to strengthen your classroom and school by working collaboratively with caregivers!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506343167
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	04/06/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Betty Boult, EdD, is currently an educational consultant. She retired from the position of assistant superintendent of School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) in British Columbia in June 2000. She has served as director of instruction (curriculum), supervisor of staff development, principal, assistant principal, teacher-librarian, and classroom teacher. Her back ground experience ranges from primary to adult education in both Canada and the United States. In addition to these full-time positions, she has served as a provincial community education consultant, a guest lecturer for the University of Lethbridge, a sectional instructor for the University of Alberta, and instructor for Nova Southeastern University. She has done part-time consulting with an international consulting company. During the past fifteen years, she has been contracted to do workshops and seminars at the district, provincial, and international levels. In addition, she has appeared on educational television and published numerous articles.

Currently Betty is in her eighth year as Superintendent/ Program Consultant of a British Columbia Offshore School just outside Shanghai. The student population is 1200 students (900 of the students are in Grades ten to twelve). She also is a lead auditor for the Ministry of Education in British Columbia and continues to consult for various jurisdictions throughout the province.

Table of Contents

Preface
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Part 1 – Making It Happen
Starting the School Year
Supporting the Whole Family
Creating Safe Havens for Students
Recruiting Volunteers
Meeting the Needs of Volunteers
Training Volunteers
Developing Staff
Placing and Supporting Volunteers
Acknowledging Volunteers
Part 2 – Creating the Climate
Projecting a Positive Image
Marketing the Message
Using Technology to Communicate
Communicating Effectively
Creating the Context for Change
Part 3 – Sustaining the Involvement
Celebrating Diversity
Using Community Resources
Developing Community Relationships
Promoting Learning Across the Curriculum
Building Character
Talking Person to Person
Fundraising
Part 4 – Venturing Beyond the Bake Sale
Establishing Connections
Cross-Fertilizing Ideas
Fostering Effective Advisory Councils
Developing Parent Capacity
District Initiatives: Setting the Example
Resources
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"With Betty's vast and varied experience in education, she brings a breadth of knowledge and understanding to the important subject of parents as partners . "

Judy Chapman

"Equal parts instructional and inspirational, this little gem has been an important part of my toolkit since I came across the first edition a decade ago. Dr. Boult's imperative to involve parents so comprehensively in their children's education makes so much sense, and the variety of strategies she offers range from the practical to the imaginative. 201 Ways to Involve Parents is a wonderful resource for both classroom teachers and school administrators. "

Lee Smith

"When I used this book with the members of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) in my inner city elementary school, their executive immediately embraced it as a way to better understand the important role they played. Because of this, instead of using the PAC monthly meetings as a platform to complain, they used them to work with my staff and me to positively and proactively influence the direction of my school. For years afterwards, I would overhear parent conversations that began with "As Boult said in her book..." It truly did assist in changing the climate in my school! "

De De De Rose

"When I used this book with the members of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) in my inner city elementary school, their executive immediately embraced it as a way to better understand the important role they played. Because of this, instead of using the PAC monthly meetings as a platform to complain, they used them to work with my staff and me to positively and proactively influence the direction of my school. For years afterwards, I would overhear parent conversations that began with "As Boult said in her book..." It truly did assist in changing the climate in my school!"

DeDe DeRose

"The insights in this book are gleaned from years of experience, observation, and research. Every chapter is filled with ideas to use and implement. Find a copy of the book, and try some of the ideas in your classroom."

MSTA's Classnotes

"Since today's educators have more to do than time allows, the format of this book will allow them to pick up the book, skim topics they need to read about, and implement the ideas therein. The material includes many ideas educators may use as a springboard to specific needs in their school."

Wanda Routier

"176 Ways to Involve Parents is a welcome addition to my 'educator's tool chest.' I recommend it to all teachers and administrators."

Christina Ross Daniels

"This is an essential guide for all stakeholders—school council members, teachers, school administrators, post-secondary education faculty members, and central office consultants. It identifies critical and essential strategies to initiate and, more importantly, sustain collaborative support by families in the education of our youth."

Donna Smith

"Boult has written the ultimate guide for helping school administrators and teachers create an effective partnership with parents. Any educational stakeholder (parent, teacher, administrator) will benefit from its content."

Connie Brownell

"Provides ideas for how to fully engage parents in the school community through parent volunteer programs, ongoing communication, participation in school governance, and other strategies."

Learning Magazine