Lecture Notes: Building Family Partnerships in Education

Introduction

• Welcome to "Learn With The Expert" session.
• Dr. Karen Mapp, an expert in family engagement and education, is the guest speaker.
• The focus is on building family partnerships to benefit educators, students, and families.
• Q&A section for questions; session is recorded.

About Dr. Karen Mapp

• Focus on cultivating partnerships among families, community members, and educators.
• Lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
• Author of several books on family and community engagement.

Importance of Family Partnerships

• Benefits not just students, but also educators, families, schools, districts, and communities.
• New research shows deeper evidence of benefits beyond just student achievement.

Key Research Findings

• Impact on Students:
  • Higher grades and test scores.
  • Better attendance and engagement.
  • More positive attitudes and higher self-esteem.
  • Higher graduation rates.
• Impact on Educators:
  • Shifts in mindset from deficit-based to asset-based views.
  • Better cultural awareness and student engagement.
  • Stronger morale and professional satisfaction.
• Impact on Families:
  • Stronger relationships with children and teachers.
  • Better knowledge of how to support learning and advocacy.
  • Increased social connections.
• Impact on Schools:
  • Improved school climate and retention of teachers.
  • Better facilities, curriculum, and community reputation.

Effective Practices for Family Engagement

• Understanding what high-impact practice looks like.
• Encouraging practices that effectively engage families.

Building Relational Trust

• Key to effective family partnerships is building trust.
• Trust involves respect, competence, integrity, and personal regard.

Dual Capacity-Building Framework

• Loosely modeled like a logic model.
• Challenges, process, and organizational conditions.
• Importance of developing trust with families.

Strategies for Implementation

• Start with relationship-building activities.
• Use data and stories to advocate for family engagement.
• Tailor approaches to leadership's preferences.

Questions and Responses

• Importance of starting with trust-building practices.
• Use of digital tools like Seesaw for family engagement.

Additional Resources

• Upcoming conferences and resources on family engagement.
• Encouragement to join associations like NAVSCI for further knowledge and support.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to build strong family partnerships.
• Reminder of the ongoing benefits of effective family engagement in education.