Prompt: Henderson and Mapp offer this recommendation: Respect cultural and class differences. Increasingly, the communities served by public schools are diverse in terms of class, ethnicity, and culture. The studies suggest that educators should make every attempt to learn about the concerns of the families and how they define and perceive their role in the school. If parents don’t attend activities arranged by school staff and held at the school, the school should not assume that “parents don’t care.” Instead, educators should explore other avenues that better reflect the communities’ priorities.
Parents and community members feel respected when educators attempt to understand and relate to their needs. (p. 66) Often teachers and school officials conclude that parents do not care about their children’s education because the parents are not performing school sanctioned forms of parental involvement – such as volunteering or attending Parent – Teacher Association meetings. Operating on the assumption that every parent does care for his/her child, identify 2 – 3 ways that parents support their children’s learning that might not be immediately apparent to the school.
Identify an additional 2 – 3 strategies/practices/approaches that teachers can employ to partner with parents and provide a network of support for students. Cite this week’s reading and videos to support your assertions. Media Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1T_5qVy1gU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEkMidcy960 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEkMidcy960
