Description
Strong family partnerships help young children feel valued, connected, and proud of who they are. Looking for practical ways to engage families while creating a classroom culture that celebrates diversity and belonging? In this course, Christine Romano explores developmentally appropriate strategies for building meaningful home-school partnerships that support both academic achievement and social-emotional growth in early elementary classrooms. Grounded in the work of Gloria Ladson-Billings and culturally responsive teaching practices, educators will learn how to create inclusive opportunities for family involvement that honor diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. By the end of this course, participants will walk away with practical engagement strategies, family partnership ideas, and step-by-step guidance for fostering a classroom community where every child and family feels welcomed, valued, and represented.
Objectives
- Identify characteristics of culturally responsive family engagement practices.
- Explain how strong home-school partnerships support student learning and social-emotional development.
- Implement family engagement strategies that celebrate diverse cultures, experiences, and perspectives.
- Examine current classroom practices to identify opportunities for more inclusive family involvement.
- Assess the effectiveness of engagement activities in promoting belonging and cultural awareness.
- Design developmentally appropriate family partnership activities that strengthen classroom community and inclusion.
