Engaging Parents of English-Language Learners

Summary

The script discusses a unique educational program developed over a decade, encouraging kindergarten parents, many of whom are immigrants, to actively participate in their children's learning. By welcoming parents into the classroom and involving them in their child's education, the program aims to create more learning opportunities, build trust, and reinforce educational concepts at home. The speaker's own experience as an immigrant adds a layer of empathy and strengthens the relationship between the school and the community.

Takeaways

• 📚 The educator has developed a unique program over the past decade to actively involve parents in their children's kindergarten education.
• 👪 Parents, particularly immigrants, are encouraged to be present in the classroom to support their children's learning and feel welcome.
• 🌟 The objective of involving parents is to create more learning opportunities and extend the learning that happens at school to the home environment.
• 🤝 Building a relationship with parents, especially those who are immigrants, helps to build trust and make them feel they are an essential part of their child's education.
• 💡 The educator's own experience as an immigrant gives them a special understanding and sympathy for the challenges these parents face.
• 🔄 There is an emphasis on continuous learning and improvement, suggesting that the educator values ongoing professional development.
• 🗣️ Communication is highlighted as a key component of the program, with the mention of Spanish indicating a possible focus on bilingual or multicultural education.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The program seems to involve both mothers and fathers, as indicated by the reference to 'fathers first programs', showing an inclusive approach to parental involvement.
• 🏫 The script suggests that the program has a positive impact on the group dynamics, possibly indicating improved classroom environments or community engagement.
• 🌐 The mention of 'working together' implies a collaborative approach between parents, educators, and possibly the wider community in supporting children's education.

Q & A

What is the unique program developed by the teacher for his kindergartners?

The teacher has developed a program that actively encourages the parents of his kindergartners to come into the classroom, feel welcome, and support their children in learning.

What is the main objective of bringing parents into the classroom?

The main objective is to create more learning opportunities by involving parents in the educational process, which helps to reinforce what is learned at school at home.

Why is it important for parents to learn about what happens in schools?

It is important because it helps build trust and gives parents a clue as to what goes on in schools, which is especially valuable for immigrant parents who may be unfamiliar with the school system.

How does the teacher's program extend the learning day for the children?

The program extends the learning day by allowing parents to learn about what their children are learning at school, so they can reinforce the learning at home.

What is the significance of the teacher's mention of 'estamos hablando the Aviva or stop'?

This phrase seems to be a part of the conversation that may have been misheard or mistranslated, and its significance is unclear from the provided transcript.

What does the teacher mean by 'trabajar de manera must'?

This phrase appears to be a mix of languages or a typographical error. It could be an attempt to say 'working in a must' or 'working in a necessary way,' but the exact meaning is unclear without context.

How does the teacher's program increase communication between parents and the school?

The program increases communication by involving parents in the classroom and making them feel like an essential part of their child's education, which fosters a more open dialogue.

What is the teacher's personal connection to the immigrant parents?

The teacher has a personal connection as they were an immigrant for a while, which gives them a special understanding and sympathy for the challenges these parents face.

How does the teacher's background as an immigrant influence the relationship with the parents?

The teacher's background as an immigrant allows them to build a special relationship with the parents based on shared experiences and understanding, which breeds more trust.

What is the 'Stanley's effect on our group' mentioned in the transcript?

This phrase is not clearly explained in the transcript, but it seems to refer to a positive impact or change that 'Stanley' has had on the group, possibly related to the program or the way parents are involved.

What does the teacher appreciate about the people they work with?

The teacher appreciates the resilience and the challenges that these people, likely referring to the immigrant parents, have to deal with in their lives.