Latest / LCPS: Engage and Empower / From Involvement to Partnerships: The Important Role of Families

Transcript

From Involvement to Partnerships: The Important Role of Families · LCPS: Engage and Empower

• 0:00
  UNKNOWN: Gracias.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_01: Hola a todos, soy Karla Blasquez.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_01: Estamos muy felices de que estén viniendo hoy, ya sea escuchando en su viaje, haciendo cena
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: o tomando una brecha rápida.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_01: We're so glad to be here today to share this podcast, which is dedicated to strengthening the bridge between our families and our schools and Loudoun County Public Schools.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: Carla and I are tackling a huge topic, family engagement.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_01: Discussing the difference between involvement and true partnership, the roles families play, and of course, highlighting a great opportunity our office is providing for families to come to the administration building to learn strategies and support their children, gather resources from our community, and have a lot of fun.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_01: Let's dive in.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, Sara.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: So often, families feel like the role in a school is just passive involvement.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Showing up to back to school night or signing permission slips or reading school flyers through ParentVue.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: While those things are important, They're not the
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_01: whole picture.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: That's exactly right, Carlita.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: True partnership means families have an active voice in decision making and goal setting for their child's education.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_01: Let me say that again.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_01: Active voice.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: So today we're going to talk about how our multilingual families can take the seat at the table, foster trusting relationships with school-based staff, and stay informed about upcoming programs and opportunities.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Let's start with a big discussion here, Carlita.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: What What is the practical difference between a school informing parents versus collaborating
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_01: with them?
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_01: That is a great question, and I'll start by providing the distinction between informing.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_01: Informing is a one-way street.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_01: It is the school sending a newsletter, an email saying, hey, here's what we have decided, here's what your child did, or here's an event happening on Thursday.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_01: And I'll say, our schools are really great at informing
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: our families.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: And let's talk about collaborating.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: On the other hand, collaborating is a two-way conversation.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Is the school asking What are your hopes for your child this semester?
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Or what strategies work best at home?
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: And we can try in the classroom.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, for our multilingual families and LCPS, collaboration means recognizing that your home language, your culture, your unique knowledge of your child are essential data points for teachers and administrators.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: You aren't just receiving information, you are co-creating the learning
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: experience.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: What a great validation for Así que eso nos lleva a uno de los momentos más importantes del año de la escuela, que es la conferencia de padres y maestros.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: A menudo los padres entran en...
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: to the conference expecting a report card readout or the teacher talking for 10 minutes and handing over test scores and just that's it.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: And then say goodbye, right?
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: And so, Carla, how can we encourage our families to shift that dynamic?
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: We want our families to walk into those conferences prepared to turn them into goal-setting conversations.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: ¿Qué es la mejor manera de que yo, como familia, pueda apoyar y reforzar el aprendizaje en casa?
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: Like for math, for example, what questions can I ask while we do the grocery shopping or getting gas or for reading?
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: Should we do choral reading, reading comprehension, or should we work on vocabulary?
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: How can we work together?
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: at home and at school to reach the next level.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: If you need language support, remember that LCPS provides translation and interpretation services for these conferences.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_00: Families should never hesitate to request an interpreter so they can fully express their ideas and questions.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_01: That is such an important point, Carla, and it is your educational right to have access to an interpreter or to translated materials so please don't hesitate to ask.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: Now, when families ask questions that allow for dialogue, it tells the teacher, I am your partner in our child success.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Because for that school year, your child is also the teacher's child.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: So let's address something very real.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of our multilingual families tell us that they feel like spectators.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: While the teacher is the expert, especially if they feel like they're in Sí, es una gran barrera.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: Muchos padres sienten
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: que el profesor tiene un doctorado en educación, y tal vez lo tengan, pero no deberían sentirse intimidados,¿verdad?
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: Necesitamos flipar ese mindset para que las familias se sientan empoderadas.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_01: Sí, nuestros maestros son
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_00: absolutamente los expertos en pedagogía y en enseñanza, pero las familias son los expertos, el experto mundial en su hijo.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: que hará que un niño suceda en la escuela es...
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_01: So, to bring this all together for our listeners and our families, we created a quick three-step checklist.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_01: So, parents, be sure to take some notes.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: These three-step checklists you can use today to build equal partnerships with your schools, especially as families prepare for parent-teacher conferences this November.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, let's do that.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: The first one is establish two-way communication early.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: Don't wait for a problem.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: send a quick message or a note to your child's teacher or the counselor at the start of the year, introducing your child and what works best for him, what are their interests and what are their favorite ways to communicate and your favorite way to communicate as well.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_01: Now, step two, you can prepare two to three actionable questions for your upcoming meeting.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_01: So, we strongly suggest that you go into your parent-teacher conferences or IEP meetings with specific questions either about goals or support strategies and ask the teacher how can you reinforce learning at home If you don't know what to ask, just let the teacher know that.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_01: Open the dialogue with the teacher by saying, what can I do to help my child at
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: home?
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: Don't be shy.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: And number three, connect with LCPS family engagement resources.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Get involved with the school advisory committees or attend family academies, the family room session, or just simply connect with your school's family liaison for additional resources.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: And remember LCPS families, you Your voice is fundamental to your child's success.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: You are not spectators.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: You are equal partners.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: This segment will be intentional to the roles families can play in support of their child and what they could mean to you.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: The research on family engagement indicates that families can be co-creators, collaborators, monitors, advocates, models, and supporters.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: Las familias no son solo consumidores y recibidores pasivos de lo que sucede en el CPS.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: Usted es un co-designador igual en su hijo y sabiendo cómo su hijo
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_01: aprende, crece y construye su futuro.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: Exactamente correcto.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: La co-creación significa ir de la observación pasiva a la participación activa con su escuela de niños y, más importante, con su hijo.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_01: ¿Qué es lo que realmente parece en práctica?
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: Porque, como saben, evoluciona de as our kids grow
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: up.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: It really does.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: Let's break it down grade level by grade level.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: Starting with elementary school, we will focus on co-creating and collaborating.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: At this stage, families act as learning experience co-designers.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_01: I love that title.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER_01: So in elementary, co-creation or co-learning experience co-designers is all about taking the classroom concepts that your children are learning, like early math or literacy or science Right.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: If your second grader is learning measurements in math, you can co-create learning by inviting them into the kitchen to double a recipe, measuring ingredients together, or tracking plant growth in the yard.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_00: You are partnering with the teacher to reinforce how the real world works through hands-on experience.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_01: Now, as students move into middle school, their independence explodes, as you all know.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_01: And so does their need for autonomy.
• 10:33
  SPEAKER_00: Middle school co-creation isn't about hovering or managing every homework assignment.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's more about sitting down with your student and talk.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: to help them design structures that work for them.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_00: It's all about having an open dialogue and meaningful conversations with your teenagers.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: Spot on.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_01: So, for example, co-creating a study routine or a time management schedule for project deadlines, it's one way you can co-create.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: Instead of telling them, do your homework right now, you can ask, how do you want to break up this history project over the next week?
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_01: And, how can I help you stay accountable?
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_01: You're helping them build executive functioning skills alongside And that
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: brings us to high school.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: By this point, our teenagers are looking towards the future.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: So families step into the role of co-creators and collaborators with more independence and autonomy for your child.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_01: High school co-creation is powerful because you're working together to map out career tracks, internships, dual enrollment classes, internships, As a
• 11:47
  SPEAKER_00: co-creator and collaborator, families aren't choosing the path for them.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: They're sitting at the table with the school counselor and the student to co-design a roadmap.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_00: You're helping them weigh options like balancing advanced placement courses with extracurricular classes, exploring vocational certifications or finding local LCPS mentorship programs.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: You are the sounding board that helps them turn their passions into a concrete plan.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_00: This is an important age because even though you might not perceive your high schooler to need a lot of guidance,
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: they actually do.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_01: That is so true.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_01: And whether you are designing daily real-world activities with an 8-year-old or helping a 12-year-old through organization or strategizing a career pathway with a 17-year-old, you are co-creating and collaborating with school staff for your child's education and your child's well-being.
• 12:56
  UNKNOWN: Chau.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_01: Families, mark your calendars right now because Saturday, November 14th, is going to be a huge day for our LCPS multilingual community.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_01: We're hosting the Empowered English Learners Family Conference.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_01: This is the only event of its kind where families take a seat and become active learners of topics that could impact your child's learning, such as literacy, math strategies, artificial intelligence, and more.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, if you ever wondered how to get more involved in your child's education or felt a little overwhelmed trying to navigate all the resources out there, this fair was built specifically for
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_01: you.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_01: Education isn't just something that happens between 8 and 3 inside a classroom.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_01: Remember what we just talked about.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_01: When families are actively involved, our kids thrive academically, socially, and
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: emotionally.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly, Sara.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_00: And being involved doesn't mean you have to have all the answers It's all about continuing their own learning, your own learning along our kids.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: The Empower EL Family Conference is designed to give you the tools, confidence and community connection to do just that.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: So, what can families expect, Sarita, when they show up on Saturday, November 14?
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: Tell
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_01: us, please.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_01: Sure.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_01: So, you're going to see a little bit of everything.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_01: We're going to have dynamic breakout sessions and workshops covering everything from study strategies and tech tools to supporting your child's mental health and career pathways.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: Plus, we will have a full exhibit hall packed with local vendors such as the public libraries, family services, and other amazing community programs partners and LCPS departments.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_01: You can walk booth to booth, ask questions face to face, grab resources, and meet the amazing organizations dedicated to supporting LCPS families and students.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_00: It's really a one-stop shop.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_00: And best of all, it's fun.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_00: Bring the whole family.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_00: It's a space to connect with other parents, share experiences, and realize that we're all in this journey together.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_00: We will have lots of community vendors, food trucks and vouchers for the first 150 people that come through our door.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: Carlita, say that for the people in the back.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: Say that for the people in the back.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: 150 people that come
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_01: through our doors.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_01: You will get free food, so no excuses.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_01: You better come early.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
• 15:41
  SPEAKER_01: And then we will have raffles too.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_01: It's going to be really fun.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_01: It's going to be amazing.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_01: So we want every single family in LCPS to feel informed, connected and truly empowered.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_01: Plus, I'm happy to say, we will have the appearance of a special guest, our very own LCPS robot, who will be walking with families and greeting our students.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: Wow, that's amazing, Sara.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_00: I can't wait.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: So, one more time for everyone listening right now.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: Saturday, November 14, from 10 a.m.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: to 1.30 p.m., in the LCPS Administration Building in Ashburn.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_01: Save the date, my friends.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER_01: Saturday, November 14th, 10 a.m.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_01: to 1.30.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_01: Invite your neighbors and come learn with us.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_01: We can't wait to see you there.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_01: See you at the fair.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you so much for listening to Engage and Empower.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_01: Be sure to subscribe to catch the next episodes.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER_01: Share this episode with another LCPS family and check out our notes for links to LCPS Multilingual Family Resources.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_01: ¡Hasta la próxima! Until next time, keep engaging and empowering.
• 16:59
  UNKNOWN: Chau.