List of tools

For knowing about families

• Exploring my assumptions
• What does ‘family’ mean?
• My child as a learner (elementary example)
• My student as a learner (secondary example)
• What types of families are in our class?
• Student inquiry projects
• Investigating your community’s resources
• Planning cultural exchange events
• Connecting to community resources

For communicating with families

• Lines of communication
• Handbooks, newsletters, calendars, CDs
• Developing a classroom website
• Classroom curriculum orientation
• Parent education workshop
• Parent observation guide
• Managing telephone conferences
• Managing e-mail messages
• Parent conferences
• Parent observation form
• Home visits

For supporting volunteers

• Family involvement survey
• Recruiting community volunteers
• Sample invitation letter
• Facilitating parent volunteers
• Volunteer orientations
• Volunteer workshops

For supporting learning at home

• Student work folders
• Dialogue journals
• Homework supports learning
• Parent subject matter guide
• Parent summer transition letter
• Tool: Parents' menu--Topics for dinner conversation
• Goal setting

For providing support for parenting

• Learning about family life
• Student development resources
• Know your school resources
• Know your community resources