Module Overview
This course focuses on equipping educators with the knowledge and skills to build strong family partnerships through meaningful community involvement. Participants will explore the importance of community partnerships and learn how to overcome barriers to engagement. The course emphasizes personal reflection activities to develop a deeper understanding of students' communities and the benefits of mentorships and community expertise in enriching educational practices.
Unit 1: Develop the Foundation
In this unit, participants will explore the goals and significance of building community partnerships. They will engage in personal reflection activities to assess their current knowledge of students' communities and identify potential barriers to community involvement. By understanding the importance of creating meaningful partnerships, educators will lay the groundwork for effective family engagement.
Unit 2: Understand Your Needs
Participants will assess their current practices and set goals for evolving their approaches to community involvement.
Unit 3: Evolve Your Practice
This unit guides educators through the process of implementing new strategies and developing community partnerships. They will explore strategies to blend communities, tap into community expertise, and develop curriculum and projects that incorporate community resources. The unit also explores the power of mentorships in fostering deeper connections between students, families, and the community. Participants will learn how to make decisions about community involvement and incorporate community projects into their curriculum. They will also engage in personal reflection activities to identify valuable community resources and further develop their partnerships.
Unit 4: Analysis of Outcomes
In the final unit, educators will reflect on the outcomes of their implementation, analyzing the evolution of their practices through personal reflection activities. The course concludes with an exploration of the lasting impact of community involvement in supporting strong family partnerships. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how community engagement can enrich their educational practices and foster positive relationships with students and families.
Learning Objectives
Objective 1: Describe and discuss the important role that the community plays in students’ school success.
Objective 2: Implement strategies for engaging the community in meaningful ways.
Objective 3: Create a comprehensive plan for founding multifaceted partnerships that bring together teachers, students, families, and the community for the benefit of all.
Impact on Classroom Practice and Student Learning
At the conclusion of this module and the course, participants will be able to implement a comprehensive plan for developing strong family and community partnerships that are founded on the need to ensure that every student is provided with successful, meaningful, and rigorous opportunities for learning and growth.