People keep coming back and joining in if the work is about the real problems and concerns of families and children. A second principle is ownership . Give leadership to families and community members and design meetings so everyone can contribute to the discussions. Involve families in planning and implementing the reform processes, such as setting the agendas, facilitating discussions, researching reform models, and conducting needs assessments. A third principle is creativity .
Most schools rely on printed memos and classic teacher-led trainings or workshops.
Try something different, because, like the students at your school, parents have multiple learning styles. A fourth principle is communication . Effective communication is one of the essentials of successful outreach to families and the community. It's important, for example, to demonstrate respect for each family's home language and culture. What you learn during this preliminary phase of school reform planning will determine your initial professional development activities.