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Provide one or two examples of new ways you might include parents by allowing them to use their skill sets.
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I run the secondary chapel program at our school. When looking for speakers in chapel I will sometimes bring in a parent (after vetting their message) and let them speak to the students. We also quite often encourage parents to be involved in different events such as field day, football games, fine arts performances and so on. Where a parent has a skill set we encourage them to use it as a way to serve alongside the students.
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Whenever, I want to motivate students I include their parents, without devaluing the students in their eyes. When parents know you care, they are more apt to partner with you.
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In the last few years with Covid we haven’t been able to have parents in the building. One way I tried to include parents; is I would ask them to pray for our course. I would send home specific ways they could be praying. I would also meet parents outside of school.
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One thing that I always do on back to school night is That I have a sign-up sheet that says “please share your talents! “I asked parents what they like to do in my back to school presentation. I share a story of a parent who was a photographer, he says” I don’t have anything to share” I don’t know how to teach ! I asked him a few more questions about his business and what he did he shared that he takes pictures, from this we were able to work together to create a lesson where him and Helper came in and taught the kids how to take pictures with their iPads, together The children mad at their photos added a title and created art. This always helps open that door for parents to come share their talents and their gifts so that we can put them to use in the classroom. Another activity that I like to do in the beginning of the school year is have some kind of ice cream social or potluck where all the parents get to know each other and they get to know me.
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In a high school setting, parents often can be included to help with providing social activities for students, props, sets, and costumes for student productions, etc. There are many activities on campus that, while not academic in nature, are important to students’ high school experience. Teachers can call on parents to help in areas where we are less skilled, as well as to partner together on tasks that require many hands.