Getting more parents involved. - Classroom 2.02024-03-28T19:44:19Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:103021?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A129267&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHi,
Sorry it took me a while…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-04-12:649749:Comment:1292672008-04-12T10:57:36.600ZOr-Tal Kiriatihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/OrTalKiriati
Hi,<br />
Sorry it took me a while to respond...<br />
I am a communications strategist working with hi-tech companies. I volunteered my knowledge and expertise in the planning and execution of the school's web site. Began by working with the computers teacher. Than another father joined us, volunteered the platform on which we built the site at the end, and together with the computers teacher we began to instruct the kids who are to be involved in content development and update of the site.<br />
It's a bit…
Hi,<br />
Sorry it took me a while to respond...<br />
I am a communications strategist working with hi-tech companies. I volunteered my knowledge and expertise in the planning and execution of the school's web site. Began by working with the computers teacher. Than another father joined us, volunteered the platform on which we built the site at the end, and together with the computers teacher we began to instruct the kids who are to be involved in content development and update of the site.<br />
It's a bit stuck now because we are having difficulties involving other teachers in.<br />
***<br />
Another involvement was when I suggested to run an environmental program in which the school will assume responsibility for the small city nature reserve that is located right outside the school's gate. I began by suggesting it to the city and it was accepted by the all parties and one of the teachers is the manager of this program now.<br />
***<br />
The school had another interesting idea: a couple of months ago we celebrated the "family day" (a modern day mother's day). The school has invited parents to volunteer an hour of their time and come to lecture in their kids' class about anything from profession to hobby. I spoke to 8th graders about naming companies. My son's 4th grade got a workshop in sculpture in play dough from a father in the class. There were plenty of other interesting events that day.<br />
***<br />
We encountered difficulties when we tried to get parents highly involved in the planning and managing of the Purim events. We also found out that parents do not get easily involved in other social activities we try to do in class, like group birthdays (again, it depends on the parents. Cause at my daughter's class, when I first suggested it, it worked great!).<br />
***<br />
The school doesn't ask for parents' involvement on any regular basis. Most parents are working full time and it's difficult for them to offer time to school. There is a group of more actively involved parents who volunteered to be a part of the parents committee of the school (not what you may call PTA exactly). I think the committee can be very helpful, with creative ideas and people ready to spend time at school and with the school on various plans. But I also think that lately the committee was drawn into over-activity at school. This includes meeting with the governmental institutes responsible for most of the school's budget. But the topics the committee was involved with were not only related to budgets... which, I assume, might be overwhelming to disturbing for the school's management. Thank you JIm for such an exc…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-04-11:649749:Comment:1289932008-04-11T13:20:51.626ZLorna Costantinihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LornaCostantini
Thank you JIm for such an excellent piece of this topic. Even if the issue is not bullying, the way in which teachers and parents interact is critical to the formation of strong working relationships
Thank you JIm for such an excellent piece of this topic. Even if the issue is not bullying, the way in which teachers and parents interact is critical to the formation of strong working relationships Thanks Please tell us what yo…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-03-18:649749:Comment:1200582008-03-18T02:53:07.586ZLorna Costantinihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LornaCostantini
Thanks Please tell us what your experiences have been like.
Thanks Please tell us what your experiences have been like. Hi
I am a parent and I am hig…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-03-17:649749:Comment:1199732008-03-17T21:26:09.547ZOr-Tal Kiriatihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/OrTalKiriati
Hi<br />
I am a parent and I am highly involved in school. My kids study at the 4th and 8th grades. Next year I will have a new first grader and my eldest will go to high school.<br />
I will be happy to tell you about all sorts of involvements and what gets the parents.<br />
Some parents will never get involved, but the way. The involvement depends on the type of parents a lot.
Hi<br />
I am a parent and I am highly involved in school. My kids study at the 4th and 8th grades. Next year I will have a new first grader and my eldest will go to high school.<br />
I will be happy to tell you about all sorts of involvements and what gets the parents.<br />
Some parents will never get involved, but the way. The involvement depends on the type of parents a lot. Hi Lorna,
The class ning is p…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-30:649749:Comment:1040942008-01-30T12:37:19.730ZConnie Weberhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/connieweber
Hi Lorna,<br />
The class ning is private. If you want some posts for examples, tell me what sort of thing you're looking for and I'll see if I can get permission to quote some students, parents, or elders. Just let me know.
Hi Lorna,<br />
The class ning is private. If you want some posts for examples, tell me what sort of thing you're looking for and I'll see if I can get permission to quote some students, parents, or elders. Just let me know. Hi Connie
Do you have a link…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-30:649749:Comment:1039212008-01-30T01:28:52.856ZLorna Costantinihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LornaCostantini
Hi Connie<br />
Do you have a link to your class ning network. I'd like to share it if I may. Thanks Lorna
Hi Connie<br />
Do you have a link to your class ning network. I'd like to share it if I may. Thanks Lorna Certainly, Lorna. And thanks…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-29:649749:Comment:1036662008-01-29T15:58:50.017ZConnie Weberhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/connieweber
Certainly, Lorna. And thanks for starting the discussion!
Certainly, Lorna. And thanks for starting the discussion! All very helpful! So what we…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-29:649749:Comment:1036462008-01-29T14:51:59.613ZJack Phelpshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/jackphelps
All very helpful! So what we might do is allow the teacher to add a discussion board to their class and control access to individual threads so that they can keep many just for students, but sometimes create others with specific purpose to solicit the opinions of other constituents.
All very helpful! So what we might do is allow the teacher to add a discussion board to their class and control access to individual threads so that they can keep many just for students, but sometimes create others with specific purpose to solicit the opinions of other constituents. Hi Connie Thank you for shari…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-29:649749:Comment:1036162008-01-29T13:08:51.158ZLorna Costantinihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LornaCostantini
Hi Connie Thank you for sharing your ideas. May I quote you in my blogs? Lorna
Hi Connie Thank you for sharing your ideas. May I quote you in my blogs? Lorna Hi Lorna,
I've had great luck…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-01-29:649749:Comment:1036052008-01-29T12:23:18.711ZConnie Weberhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/connieweber
Hi Lorna,<br />
I've had great luck actually brining parents (and grandparents, neighbors, any elders in kids' lives that they deem important) into discussions with the students on my class ning network. Actually, some of the most profound learning I can imagine is going on there: kids interview parents and others about topics such as "What was a significant turning point in your life?" "What was one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen?" and post what they learn in the interviews (which is…
Hi Lorna,<br />
I've had great luck actually brining parents (and grandparents, neighbors, any elders in kids' lives that they deem important) into discussions with the students on my class ning network. Actually, some of the most profound learning I can imagine is going on there: kids interview parents and others about topics such as "What was a significant turning point in your life?" "What was one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen?" and post what they learn in the interviews (which is a great, heart-felt way to increase writing skills). Then all the kids get to see each other's interviews, respond to them, ask more questions of the parents and significant elders, and get suggestions for more questions. It makes us a thriving community, extends our thinking on out into the world, through the close connections of family and friends.<br />
Recently I had the students take their parents on a "tour" of our ning, and each parent responded with an overall perspective about what we're doing on our network. The comments were universally supportive--and I got a lot more ideas for what to do next to involve our extended learning community. Parents can see other parents' responses, the kids interviews, the kids' profile pages and blogs, everything. I think this networking is uniting us in a way I've never been able to activate before. It's all coming together.<br />
Also, I'm having the students take their classmates on Google Earth tours of "places of family importance," which involves the parents in researching family history with their children, so that everything can be shared. This has been amazing: we all look at each other and think about what a miracle and delight that all those combined histories brought us here, together, right now.