This post originally appeared on our ParentSquare Learning Network blog on June 19, 2020.
Curated by Zareena Zaidi at ParentSquare
As we close out an incredibly surreal year, educators are trying their best to prepare for the unknown of returning to school. What will school look like? How can we implement social distancing? How much work will be done remotely? What if there’s a second wave of COVID-19?
As educators plan for various scenario, it’s more important than ever to recognize school-home partnerships as key components to success and include parent engagement as part of the conversation. Here are some highlights from the June 17th Twitter Chat, where educators discussed how they plan on engaging parents next school year.
Thank you to Andrew Easton (@EastonA1) for moderating this chat. Participants joined in with the hashtag #PSquareLN. You can view the full chat here!
Q1: What School-Home Needs Has This Pandemic Created That Educators Might Consider Addressing When We Return in the Fall?
“We need to make sure we have a system set up to communicate with families, find out if there are any needs that we can help with” — Rachelle Dene Poth, @rdene915
Response to Rachelle: “Absolutely. I appreciate the tone of my district of always starting from a place of listening and learning.” — Joe Young, @Jyoung1219
Response to Rachelle: “I agree, and that collaboration will likely need to have greater depth than ever before for the sake of meeting our learners’ needs and also for facilitating at-home learning should we need it.” — Andrew Easton, @EastonA1
“An open relationship on both ends: this is going to be new again and everyone needs to be willing to ask questions and work together.” — Amy Moran, @amoran4
“This sounds simple, but we have to make sure and keep up-to-date parent contact information and make sure we can effectively contact every parent.” — Dr. Kalum McKay, @DrKalumMckay
“Like many have said, I think open communication and continuing a relationship really helps so that everyone is understanding of one another’s perspectives. It will look very different in the fall so we need to accommodate and support one another, families too.” — Stephanie Check, @tangledinthird
“Clear communication routines in place. Establish which parties are responsible for which updates. It was overwhelming for the community to receive updates from multiple sources (district, admin, Ts) multiple times a day. Info overload…sometimes conflicting info.” — Amy De Friese, M.Ed., @MsDeFriese
“Important to have continued communication, partnership, & collaboration. At the start of the Distance Learning, we hosted a ‘second’ Back to School Night. Helpful for all to connect, understand shifts, & share ways parents can support.” — Joe Young, @Jyoung1219
Q2: If We Return To School in a Remote Setting, What Thoughts and Ideas Do You Have for Building Relationships With Your New Learners and Their Families, Remotely?
“Even before schools are ready to start, they will need to be in communication with P* concerning any changes they are implementing. Surveying P* to get the feel for needs, resources, etc. to supplement learning.” — Gretchen Dorn, @gdorn1
*P stands for “parent”
“I’m personally a video guy. I’d share out welcome videos, intro to excellence, and call parents on the phone. Positive stuff only. Letters home as well.” — Craig Shapiro, @Shapiro_WTHS
“I think communication will be at an all time high in August, and I fully anticipate that parents, students, and educators will start their conversations about the year far in advance of the first day of class.” — Andrew Easton, @EastonA1
“Consider a Google Meet or Zoom meeting where families can meet together with the teacher and go over what the remote setting will look like. The same with students. Doing a FlipGrid activity might be good too!” — Stephanie Check, @tangledinthird
“Multiple forms of communication are important, text, phone, automated message, and instant message. Everyone has a different preferred method of communication.” — Denise Wright, @DenisecWright
“In the past I have created an ‘Introduce Myself’ video and have asked the student to make a podcast, video, picture collage, giving them a choice is key. Here is an example of video I made for my online students, beginning can be edited a little bit better, but, it is short, can be texted, emailed and place in your LMS. https://youtu.be/rNIjbN8Yd1M” — Denise Wright, @DenisecWright
DENISE’S “INTRODUCING MYSELF” YOUTUBE VIDEO
Denise also wrote a blog post, drawing on her experiences as a full-time online STEM teacher, focusing on how to grow and foster connections through distance learning. Check it out here!
Q3: If We Return To School With Limits on Class Sizes and/or Instructional Time, What Do You Need From Parents?
“A supporting partnership focusing & encouraging student learning, not grades. Failure recovery. Problem solving. Challenges welcomed like an invitation to explore instead of seen as a dead end.” — Amy De Friese, M. Ed., @MsDeFriese
“I need parents to be my partners. I’m going to do my best to provide meaningful and consistent instruction that is #UDL minded… I need parents to help me make sure the learner knows we are a team.” — Andelee Espinosa, @AndeleeEspinosa
“To understand that things will look different. It will not be the same. There will be different procedures and different things will be rolled out. To be understanding and to be patient. We are all doing our best to support their child.” — Stephanie Check, @tangledinthird
“Parents just need to be supportive of their children, teachers and school. Having key lines of communication is also important. Knowing online learning tools is helpful. Again, relationships first.” — Craig Shapiro, @Shapiro_WTHS
“Hope that parents and families will share any specific needs/circumstances with me that will help me to provide for their child. Also need to know preferences for communication, best ways to connect, access to devices/resources.” — Rachelle Dene Poth, @rdene915
“I was so grateful this spring when parents sent thank you emails and/or communication acknowledging the fact that remote learning may not be ideal but that we are working to be the best we can in that space.” — Andrew Easton, @EastonA1
Q4: If We Return Remotely, What Is One Thing You Would Like To Learn Ahead of Time That Would Help You Be More Effective Teaching Online?
“As much information regarding parent contact/availability, technology access, important student info.” — My PL Page, @MyPLPage1
Response to My PL Page: “I have been keeping a list so I can plan better! Also had students complete a survey about all of their classes and experiences” — Rachelle Dene Poth, @rdene915
“Consistent feedback, the give/take of how much Ss can handle, & then I want to improve how I present my materials/activities online. It’s a whole diff ballgame. I want to use the #LearningSciences that I learned in the @ISTE @CourseOfMind class too when designing.” — Laura Steinbrink, @SteinbrinkLaura
“We need to be prepared to INFORM Ps + Ss of HOW to engage + be successful in the remote learning environment, making sure they feel connected. Consistent communication with families + being available to assist them in the process.” — Jillian DuBois, @JillDuBois22
“Feedback is essential. What were problems and difficulties experienced through learning? Sharing ideas for improvement.” — Gretchen Dorn, @gdorn1
“I need to know what our vision is, what the expectations are… communication.” — Amy De Friese, M. Ed., @MsDeFriese
Thank you to all who shared their opinions, advice, and reflections for this Twitter Chat!
