2. PRESENTATION BUNDLE
My own stories related to life experience
Definition and Benefits of Parent Engagement
First Nation Students: What’s it like?
What do Students, Parents and Teachers Want?
Barriers that Impede Parent Engagement
Two Popular Theories: Which theory works
best?
Conclusion
4. DEFINITIONS:
PARENT INVOLVEMENT & ENGAGEMENT
Parent Involvement is
the investment of time and
money from parents
Parent Engagement
means the parent has
become an integral and
essential part of the
relationship between student
and school
5. FIRST NATION STUDENTS:
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
Education Gaps
No System to protect
First Nation Education
Entitlements
No Education
Supports and Services
6. WHAT DO
STUDENTS WANT?
A safe place to learn
To know their culture,
traditions and language
Nice teachers
Library with lots of books
Extra-curricular activities
7. WHAT DO PARENTS WANT?
They want their children to be
successful in life and school
Access to resources for special
needs children
They want their children to
develop own talents
8. WHAT DO TEACHERS WANT?
High expectations for
First Nation students
Supports for students
with special needs
Parents to be engagement
Specialized training for
working with First Nation
families
9. BARRIERS THAT IMPEDE
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
Residential school experience
Teacher’s negative assumptions
Heavy use if professional
jargon
Meetings not planned around
needs of parents/families
Clash of cultures
10. WHAT DOES A SCHOOL THAT
NURTURES RELATIONS WITH FIRST
NATION PARENTS LOOK LIKE?
Classrooms and hallways
First Nation parents
recognized as equal partners
Supportive & Utilizing of
language revitalization
Parents, elders and senior
students are part of staff
meetings
12. 1ST OF THE TWO THEORIES
CRITICISMS
1. Parents are not “partners in
the schools.”
2. Parents are positioned in
subservient ways
Schools should be
working for community,
parents and students.
15. CONCLUSION OF
PRESENTATION
Teacher Parents Students
1. Teacher needs to work with parents to reach students.
2. View parents as equal partners in their child’s education.
3. The school serves it’s families.
4. Focus on the strengths of students and community.
5. Questions??
