Tery J. Medina, Associate Director tjmedina@ se-equity.org

SOUTHEASTERN EQUITY CENTER1401 East Broward Boulevard – Suite 304

Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301Phone: 954.765.3553

Fax: 954.523.3340

Tery J. Medina, Associate Directortjmedina@ se-equity.org

“ELL Parent Involvement:A Matter of Inclusion”

Presented at:

ECTACFamily Engagement Team Meeting

Lake Mary, FloridaThursday, August 28, 2014

Tery J. Medina, Associate Director, SE-Equity Center

FAMILY RELIGION/CHURCH/BELIEF SYSTEM SCHOOL/EDUCATION GOVERNMENT: Local, State, Federal HEALTH/MEDICAL ECONOMIC/WELFARE

SIX SOCIAL INSTITUTIONSTHAT INFLUENCE OUR LIVES


An Educated Person Una Persona Educada

Has a degree, an advanced degree

Knows how to find (seek) information

Has a large vocabulary

Is able to read, understand and apply

Is polite Can speak to different

people Is well-mannered

Sabe tratar a las personas (knows how to treat people)

Tiene buenos modales (has good manners)

Sabe respetar y darse a respetar (knows how to respect & gain respect)

Tiene cortesía y es bondadoso (is courteous & kind/good-natured)

Conoce la vida (knows life)

Conoce muchas cosas/temas (knows about different things/subjects)

Tiene un título/es licenciado (has a degree/univ. grad.)


educado = upbringing (bien educado/good manners/upbringing)

mal educado, mal criado,

badly educated, brought up badly,

falta de educación =bad manners

lacks education


A) ______ Basic Needs B) ______ Communication with school C) ______ Volunteering D) ______ Home Learning Activities E) ______ Governance/Advocacy F) ______ Collaboration with the

Community

NOTES:

CATEGORIES OF INVOLVEMENT1=FULL 2=SOME 3=NONE


A) ____ Necesidades Basícas B) ____ Communicación con la Escuela C) ____ Participar come Voluntaria(o) D) ____ Actividades de Aprendizaje en el hogar E) ____ Gobernancia/Advocar por Causas F) ____ Colaboración con la Communidad

NOTAS/APUNTES:

CATEGORIAS DE PARTICIPACION1= totalmente 2= alguna 3= ninguna


Keep parents informed via a language that they understand – Parent Rights – must provide program information, in writing, as specified in ESEA/NCLB.

Meaningful language access to information available to all parents.

Parental Involvement - Tips


Realize the importance of oral communication with parents – in person, personalize contact

Involve parents in EL Committee for their child Offer on-going “grass roots” advocacy training &

technical assistance to parent group(s) – meet @ church, @ restaurant, other?

Include EL parents on decision-making committees at the district level – ESL Advisory Committee, Migrant, School Improvement, Headstart, etc.

Parental Involvement – Tips (continued)


Present parent workshops with translators provided (bilingual workshops/presenter in the second language/multi language workshops) – Needs twice the amount of time◦ How to Help your Children with Homework When You Don’t

Speak English◦ Practical Suggestions for Parents to Use at Home to Create

Learning Experiences from Everyday Household Items◦ How to Effectively Participate in School Activities◦ How to Help Your Child Be Successful in School (How to

Help Your child Acquire English and Achieve at High Levels in Core Academic Subject, - Meeting High State Standards-)



◦ In-school “Field Trips”◦ How to Read with Your Child◦ The library: in school, in the neighborhood◦ Subject areas – How to Help With…(Math, Science,

History, etc.) at home◦ Resources: in school & the community◦ Interest groups – Health care – Transportation –

Child care – Bilingual resources – ESL classes – Job training – Cultural centers – Community opportunities & resources – Faith-based initiatives - Advocacy



Offer ESL classes for parents◦ English language instruction◦ Parallels of what children are learning (use same

materials)◦ Observation of ESL classes (of their children & other

levels)◦ Observation of mainstream classes◦ Encouragement for involvement in school activities –

volunteering◦ Provide children’s activities◦ Everyday English conversation w/thematic topics◦ How To’s in English: banking, buying a car, health, home

ownership, insurance, credit, ATM’s, transportation, etc.



Honor & celebrate the first language throughout the entire year.◦ International Festival – bring foods/native

dress/music◦ Culture workshop – involve parents, teachers and

students◦ Home/Class Projects – bilingual books, culture

dolls, music, poetry, folk legends, crafts, games, etc.



Sending out Notices / Several times◦ In Spanish & English◦ Map (include familiar landmarks to the parents)◦ Balloons onsite, outside◦ Churches/stores – announce◦ Phone calls◦ Phone trees◦ Post fliers in stores, churches, comm. centers



Food◦ Simple – have m/s PTO serve {reciprocate /

cater}◦ Parents bring during other meetings◦ Share/demonstrate◦ Label, include recipe if possible



Raffle – useful, functional items/freebies/donations/book bags, books, school supplies, household needs, tools, etc.@ beginning, middle & end

Babysitting◦ Volunteers {BETA club, etc}◦ Videos, hands-on, Barnie, McRuff, Dora◦ Story tellers◦ Puppeteers◦ Make & Take



Meeting w/Superintendent, School board members, Principals, ESL & MS teachers

Follow ESL strategies with parents◦ Visuals “Show & Tell”◦ Key words & pictures w/main points on one page◦ General meeting, then smaller break out

meetings Target hands-on Show/what to do Samples & examples



◦ Provide a constant date a familiar place – Elem school, church, other? a calendar to hang – post (magnet) make it useful a constant time pre-phone calls – make it personal Post @ school– phone calls & follow-up Have students make their own invitations/as project



SOUTHEASTERN EQUITY CENTER1401 East Broward Boulevard – Suite 304

Ft Lauder dale, FL 33301Phone: 954.765.3553

Fax: 954.523.3340

Tery J. Medina, Associate [email protected]

Documents

Tery J. Medina, Associate Director tjmedina@ se-equity.org