However, other school personnel may also find the Guide s strategies helpful to use when working with parents. When we implemented the program in our collaborating schools, we provided participating teachers with a full-day training workshop to introduce the Teacher's Guide and the various aspects of the SFP program's implementation. Subsequent, on-site consultations were also provided periodically to discuss the program's progress with teachers and parents, and assist them in the implementation process. The program s effectiveness is enhanced if the school s administration considers and declares school-family partnership a priority for the school. Discussing the program s strategies, materials, and their effectiveness with other teachers who also implement the program can reinforce the implementation process and provide the educator with additional insight in his effort to include parents in a meaningful way.
Some schools have a person designated to reach-out to parents.
Such a home-school liaison can be a great ally for the teacher who implements SFP activities. Parents or other community members that work or volunteer at the school can also be excellent resources assisting the teacher, for example, in planning and distributing materials to better inform parents as well as connecting with less involved families. The SFP Teacher's Guide includes many SFP activities that you can incorporate in your classroom routine. Each of the 38 goals includes the rationale for its importance, as well as strategies and materials that can be used to achieve the goal. In the following two sections, we suggest the priorities that you may want to address while planning your SFP activities for the year.