Teachers and Parents
Winning and Keeping Parent Support


A Graduate Course

Table of Contents

Course Description

Teachers and Parents: Winning and Keeping Parent Support presents proven and innovative methods to gain and keep parent support. This model emphasizes interventions through a cooperative team approach between teachers and parents. Based on research endorsed by the National PTA, the skills and procedures taught in this course and practiced in applied assignments will enable educators to maintain supportive involvement from parents of even the most challenging students.

Course Objectives

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Curriculum Design

Teachers and Parents: Winning and Keeping Parent Support is a forty-five hour course that is typically taught on weekends or over five full days. The following methodologies will be used during the course: lectures, readings, group and individual discussions, and applied practice assignments and papers.

Course Materials

The required textbook for this course is Building Successful Partnerships, National PTA, 2000. The textbook and course materials will be provided for all students. A variety of readings will be referenced throughout the course. Other supplemental readings will be provided.

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Course Outline

Session I:
Overview of Parent-Teacher Cooperation Issues		 Session II:
Current Stressors Affecting Families and Schools
Content:
  1. Parent-Teacher Conferences as a Major Challenge
  2. Frustrations of Both Sides About Conferences
  3. A Look at the Current Situation
  4. Avoidance is Not the Answer
  5. The Necessity for Cooperation
  6. If Not Us, Then Who?
  7. Advantages of Reforming the Relationship Between Schools and Parents
 Content:
  1. Changing Demographics in America
  2. The Changing American Family
  3. Stresses From Outside the Home
  4. Lack of Support for Parents and Children
  5. Lack of Support for Teachers and Discipline
  6. Bridging the Gaps Between Home and School
Session III:
Making the Most of Early Parent Contacts		 Session IV:
Importance of Parental Involvement
Content:
  1. Making First Impressions Count
  2. What do Parents Want From Teachers?
  3. Do's and Don'ts for "Back to School Nights"
  4. What do Parents Need to Know?
  5. What do We Need From Parents?
  6. The First Phone Call and How to Make the Most of It
  7. Planning for a Successful Start
 Content:
  1. Parental Involvement and Student Achievement
  2. Parental Involvement and Behavior
  3. Cultural and Age Factors in Parental Involvement
  4. Importance of Involvement at All Grade Levels
  5. How Involvement Helps Students, Parents, and Families
  6. How Involvement Helps Teachers, Schools, and Communities
  7. How Involvement Improves School Quality
Session V:
Methods for Involving Parents		 Session VI:
Parent Conference Issues and Approaches
Content:
  1. Communications That Reach and Support Parents
  2. Helping Parents be Successful in Their Difficulties
  3. Ways Parents can Support Student Learning
  4. Gaining Support Through Parent Volunteering
  5. Involving Parents in School Improvement and Decision Making
  6. Utilizing Community Resources
 Content:
  1. Issues and Needs of Parents and Teachers
  2. Setting the Stage for a Successful Conference
  3. Ways of Remaining Positive and Constructive
  4. Appreciating and Supporting Each Other
  5. Keeping the Focus on Helping the Student
  6. Setting Realistic Agendas and Goals
  7. Sharing Fair and Reasonable Responsibilities
Session VII
De-Escalating Conflict During Conferences		 Session VIII
Strategies for Reaching Consensus
Content:
  1. A Model for Understanding Emotional Reactions
  2. Predicting Escalation and De-Escalation
  3. You-Messages vs. I-Messages
  4. The Power of Really Listening to the Other Person
  5. The Necessity to be Proactively Professional
  6. The Practical Advantage of Communication Skills
  7. Achieving Your Goals in a Conference
 Content:
  1. What the Parties Want/Don't Want in Negotiations
  2. The Importance of Fairness and Impartiality
  3. Resistance to Pressure or Imposed Solutions
  4. Resolution Methods and Cautions
  5. The Importance of Identifying Each Party's Needs
  6. The Power of Brainstorming
  7. Methods of Reaching Consensus
  8. Investing in a Long-Term Solution That Will "Stick"
Session IX
Methods and Use of Documentation		 Session X
A Parent-Teacher Friendly Referral Process
Content:
  1. Do's and Don'ts in Record-Keeping
  2. What an Anecdotal Record Is and What It's Not
  3. Involving the Parent Early and Continuously
  4. Teacher Reticence and Parent Backlash
  5. Working to Build a Cooperative Team Approach
  6. Remaining Open to Input From all Sides
  7. Involving the Student and Parent in Improvement Plans
 Content:
  1. Advantages and Disadvantages of a Team
  2. Making the Team Approach Less Threatening
  3. Genuinely Involving all Parties
  4. Openness to Differing Input and Approaches
  5. Being Honest About Concerns
  6. Hearing and Supporting Feelings and Needs
  7. Avoiding Jargon and Using Clear Explanations

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Grading Criteria

Assignment Points
Group and Classroom Participation 30
Reading Assignments 20
Final Integration Project 30
Final Exam 20
Total Points 100

Grading Scale

93 - 100 A
85 - 92 B
77 - 84 C

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Student Requirements

  1. Attend all class sessions for the requisite number of hours (45) and actively participate in all class activities.
  1. Complete all reading assignments. Keep a journal, reflecting upon the major ideas in the assigned readings and the application of those ideas in your school and classroom. This journal should have a minimum of five entries of one-half page in length.
  1. Complete the Final Integration Project. Review research and literature on parent involvement and student achievement, and identify several major findings or themes. Based on these key research themes, design a comprehensive action plan for winning parent support. This action plan should consist of a set of goals and objectives, research-based strategies, a list of actions, and a timeline.
  1. Pass a final exam.

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