Teachers and Parents
Winning and Keeping Parent Support

An Online Graduate Course

Table of Contents
Course Description Objectives Time Requirements Skill and Hardware Requirements Course Materials	Course Outline Grading Student Requirements Register

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

Identify the greatest roadblocks to parent-teacher cooperation.
Identify the most critical elements of contacts with parents early in the school year.
Examine successful and recommended practices for involving parents in their children's education.
Learn how to use "back to school nights" to build a foundation for future cooperation.
Learn how to utilize positive "first calls" to parents of targeted students.
Identify particular types of parental involvement and when to use them.
Explore methods of connecting with hard-to-reach parents.
Understand how culture and past experiences affect parents' reactions to teachers.
Examine reasons conflicts may escalate or de-escalate and learn to choose the most constructive approach.
Learn skills for building understanding, seeking common ground, and winning cooperation and support.
Learn ways to conduct even the most difficult parent and student conferences positively and successfully.
Examine the types of documentation which support teamwork between educators and parents.
Understand the intervention and referral process as a tool for clarifying communications and reassuring parents.

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Time Requirements

This course will be offered over a period of 13 weeks. Modules 1 through 8 will be completed one per week. Modules 9 and 10 will be completed over a five-week period so students will have time to revise and complete the final integration project.

Skill and Hardware Requirements

Students are expected to have a very basic knowledge of how to use an Internet browser such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or America Online (AOL). Students should also be familiar with e-mail and have an active e-mail account and Internet access. In addition, students should possess basic word processing skills.

Students may use either a Macintosh computer or a PC with Windows 95 or higher. Teachers may use either Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, or the latest version of AOL as their browser. Teachers may download Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer at no cost.

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

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

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Grading Criteria

Assignment Points

Forum 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

Participate in all Forum activities.

Complete all reading assignments. Keep a word-processed 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 200 - 300 words in length.

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.

Pass a final exam.

Assignment	Points
Forum Participation	30
Reading Assignments	20
Final Integration Project	30
Final Exam	20
Total Points	100

Teachers and ParentsWinning and Keeping Parent Support

Course Outline

Teachers and Parents
Winning and Keeping Parent Support