Thank you!!

It has been a pleasure working with everyone here, I have enjoyed this class and the many resources given that has allowed me to further explore as I learn. I have learned how important it is in advocating for what you believe is right or needs change. Advocating may take many steps and organization, but at the end you will be able to deliver. I want to thank everyone in my class for their support and ideas during my learning experience. Learning and reading about the many different topics everyone has chosen has been interesting to discover. I have learned about the many areas that need advocating; literacy, nutrition, support from parents, and more.

I also want to also thank our Professor for all the great resources and reading materials that has allowed us to learn beyond the materials we have. I am actually sharing some of the reading materials with teachers I know whom have found it very useful and has served as a refresher.

I wish everyone success in their endeavor.

Enlisting and Providing Support

As I have been working on getting organized and gathering all of my resources for my presentation, I must say I feel that everything is finally connecting. I believe I have many informative information and resources I will be sharing with my audience. I also want to share that I have found many great YouTube videos that provide informative and educational resources if anyone is looking to add to their agenda/presentation. I believe the more resources you have the more convincing and intrigue your audience will be. When it came down to my feedback questionnaire, I found myself to over think on what questions to ask. I have wrote several questions down and hope that it is enough to gain the input to help me with my advocacy plan.
If anyone has any good questions to ask on my topic, please share. Thank you.

A quote I find to be inspiring and true;

                     

"If the children are untaught, their ignorance and vices will in future life cost us much dearer in their consequences than it would have done in their correction by a good education." ~Thomas Jefferson

Each child deserves a good education and as an educator I must see to it that the children are getting just that. Being able to support children during their learning experience while gaining the support of their parents and teachers is what inspires me to want to plan and advocate for parent involvement. Parent involvement is needed in order for children to grow. The challenge will be reaching out to parents and sending that clear message that children need parent support in order to successfully gain that learning connection between home and school. I believe with the support of the teachers and introducing a good plan that can work for everyone will be the key to implementing a good advocacy plan.  

I think motivating and guiding others in their advocacy efforts is one way to help encourage those.  Getting the support from others and seeing that my plan is reaching out in a positive way is an approach that encourages me.  

Hello everyone! I hope I have successfully added everyone and you are able to view my blog. Look forward to working with everyone.

Final Blog

This has been quite an experience and I have gained many great insights through my colleagues. My focus was on advocating for Parent Involvement and doing my research has taught me more then what I already know. The discussions were very educational and I have learned how to deal with certain scenarios to gaining allot of informative information. I feel ready and cannot wait to advocate more in the many other areas needing. This class has prepared me learning, understanding and in being a better advocate for all my students and parents. I want to thank all my classmates for all their inputs and guidance, as well as our instructor who did a great job guiding us through the modules. It has been a pleasure, I wish everyone Good Luck!

Blogg 4 - Parent Involvment

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with several parents and volunteers during “Adventure Day” a fun day filled with activities for the entire school. I was able to speak with a mother who currently has two of her children in school named Mrs. L. I asked her how she felt about parent involvement and she could not stress how wonderful it is to be able to help out and be able to volunteer in her child’s class, allowing her to be near her children. I noticed as we spoke that she did not once say how important it is and how her support is helping her children academically. I explained why I ask and referred to the paper I am doing as she thought it was a great topic. I began to explain to her how her involvement is a big deal and how it allows her children to be motivated, gain better grades and have a more positive attitude and behavior. She was very appreciative and said she never really looked at it that way.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Mrs. M. who has 1 child who attends the school. I spoke with her about parent involvement and she stressed that she does try to help her child at home but does not help in the school. She asked me how can she help, puzzled, I explained that there are many ways she can participate or help, through assisting in the classroom, helping in the lunchroom, volunteering, tutoring, field trips, or share history with the classroom. She said she had no idea that she can even help in so many ways. I strongly feel that this is part of the problem, parents are not aware of how they can help, how their support helps their child, and what they can do. That is why I said to both Moms; “this is why I choose parent involvement” they just looked at me and smiled.  

I believe that holding an hour meeting one eveing with parents to inform them how they can help in school and at home with resources can help those parents who are clueless and allow them to help there child. Parents would appreciate this and have a better understanding.

Blogg 3

Observing and Interacting With Program Director(s) and Other Administrative Staff in Your Setting

I had the privilege of meeting and gaining some insights with the Bilingual Coordinator Mrs. Smith and the School Director Mr. Pitt. I was able to speak with both and I was able to learn what tools are given to parents as well as what the school does to help parents be involved. I was told by the Bilingual Coordinator that every quarter they conduct a night where all parents who do not speak English are invited to learn about early literacy and ways to help their child. Because many parents are discouraged on attending due to language, they conduct it in Spanish with a more formal invitation allowing parents to come and ask questions or address any concerns they may have. I felt this is a great way to allow parents in, where they feel more comfortable and allowing them to do so in within their own language.

I have also learned through the School Director that they always try to communicate with monthly school newsletters to parents in the two highest language of population within the school, so parents stay informed. I thought this was great, but I was concerned for the other lower population of which in this case is of Indian ethnicity, and how are they informed? But I found no other source is used to communicate with them. I felt that if there are parents whom are not able to read English that a teacher should find someone or use translator type software to address those who are not. Although after speaking with both, they agree there are some areas that need attention. But overall the school and community seem to be doing a great job in providing help for students and parents. Getting parents to take their child to the local library where free classes are given to both children and adults. It seems many resources are shared so parents are involved and helping.  

Within the week I was able to observe the school host a dance night with glow in dark items for the entire building k-4^th students. The School Director thought it was not going to be a big success, and expected 100 people, turned out to receive 300 people. Music, pizza, and refreshments were provided. This was conducted on a Friday night 6-8p.m and seemed the turnout was higher than expected.  This was a great event that allowed students to have fun as all the families got to know one another. I was also able to observe the school hold a night for Music/Art night, where students were given the opportunity to show off their art project while doing a sing-along right after.

Although this was a big success and many enjoyed it. I think the school is providing great events to involve parents to come and see their child bloom, but I do feel that they should provide more evening enriched classes with activities where parents can also gain more on how to help their child during school and at home. I know several classes are given throughout the school year, but I believe more should be provided and weekends should be an option of which at this point it is not. I would approach the school director after having done some research on ways and what type of enriched classes will benefit the parents. I would do my own research based on several similar schools within the area and I would also include the input from parents to make it a success in keeping parent involvement one of the priorities.