Extra Credit

Extra Credit: Family Engagement Video Reflection Assignment (25 possible points) Many school districts are implementing Family Engagement practices to strengthen family-school relationships. The video for this assignment is from Spring Branch ISD’s effort to implement family engagement. They invited Dr. Karen Mapp, a researcher and consultant from Harvard University, to speak to parents, students, and staff about family engagement. This assignment will give you an overview of Family Engagement, which falls under the Bilingual Competency 001.H: The beginning teacher knows how to create an effective bilingual learning environment (e.g., by demonstrating awareness of students’ varied backgrounds, acknowledging regional language differences, applying strategies to bridge the home and school environments) & the ESL Competency 010: The ESL teacher knows how to serve as an advocate for ESL students and facilitate family and community involvement in their education. Reflection Guidelines: In 1-1.5 double-spaced pages, answer the following questions by reflecting on the video and your personal experiences. Describe your experiences with family engagement during primary and secondary schooling. What did your school and teachers do? Was it effective? Were families, including yours, engaged/involved? After watching the video, how do you feel about family engagement? What are some ways you can make family engagement a part of your teaching practice? What are some potential challenges you foresee, and what possible solutions do you have? Dr. Karen Mapp – Family Engagement Video