FACE provides reading resources to all HISD campuses
HISD’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department sent all HISD campuses a collection of books to support and sustain the common use of research-based, effective best practices in engaging parents and families. These resources were delivered during the summer, just in time for the beginning of the new school year.
The collection – consisting of nine books by well-known authors in the parent and caregiver engagement field – were provided to support to every school in their effort to enhance family and community engagement in their respective communities. Publications such as “Beyond the Bake Sale” by Henderson, et. al and “Engaging Every Family” by Dr. Steven Constantino provide specific strategies and effective practices to implement caregiver engagement policies and activities in schools.
The books cover five key areas considered to be the main strands of family engagement:
- Building relationships
- Linking activities to learning
- Creating partnerships
- Addressing differences
- Supporting advocacy/sharing power
“We are excited to provide these resources to the more than 280 campuses that are part of HISD,” said Dr. Jorge Arredondo, Assistant Superintendent for Family and Community Engagement. “Parents and schools’ faculty and staff may build a community of trust by connecting through the common goal of children’s academic success. We are certain that these tools will help them in that journey.”
Building relationships is a critical component in having a successful parent/caregiver engagement strategy at every school. You can start building that strong foundation by:
- Creating a welcoming environment
- Building the relationships with the elements of trust: Respect, competence, integrity and personal regard
- Welcoming all families to your school community
- Honoring families by recognizing their strengths and contributions
- Adopting a partnership philosophy
- Embracing your families
- Listening and responding to your families
Other ideas on how schools can leverage the collection of books include arranging grade-level, department or school-wide book studies, presentations in faculty meeting or professional development on selections from the books, the creation of bulletin boards in the teachers’ lounge with space for faculty and staff to post favorite ideas from the books, the creation of an online community or other group communication such as the HUB for reading discussion, or studying chapters in their Professional Learning Communities.
