Standard Six: Developing as a Professional Educator

6.4 Working with families to improve professional practice

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Description of Practice

Strong Practice that Exemplifies the Standard

The teacher respects all students' families understands their diverse backgrounds, maintains ongoing positive interactions, and provides multiple opportunities for meaningful participation in the classroom or school community.

Maturing Practice

The teacher respects students' families, develops positive communication and an understanding of their diverse backgrounds, and provides opportunities for families to participate in the classroom or school community.

Developing Practice

The teacher respects some students' families, initiates communication and develops an understanding of their diverse backgrounds, and may provide some opportunities for families to participate in the classroom or school community.

Practice Not Consistent with Standard Expectations

The teacher may demonstrate respect for students' families or their backgrounds, but has limited communication with families, and is not sure how to provide opportunities for participation in the classroom or school community.

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What the classroom looks like

• Uses connection with families to enhance learning experiences for their students
• Makes an effort to:
  • understand students' family backgrounds
  • communicate with families regarding student learning
  • engage families, as appropriate, in the instructional program
• Uses a number of techniques to keep families informed about the instructional program and each child's progress in the curriculum
• Uses a number of techniques to keep families informed about events such as open house, back to- school night, or student-initiated parent evenings
• Keeps families informed of their child's progress in the curriculum by complying with their school's policy in:
  • narrative summaries
  • student portfolios
  • student-led conferences
  • report cards
  • parent conferences
  • other___________________

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As teachers develop, they may ask, "How do I . . ." or "Why do I . . ."

• value and respect students' families and appreciate their role in student learning?
• develop an understanding of families' racial, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds?
• engage families as sources of knowledge about students' linguistic and social backgrounds?
• promote positive dialogue and interactions with all families, and respond to their concerns about student progress?
• ensure that communication with all students and their families is understood?
• provide opportunities for all families to participate in the classroom and school community?
• present the educational program to all families?