Reflection
Topic:
Reflection
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No quotes
Reflection Questions: Multilingual Families: • Do I (or my program) work meaningfully to provide communication opportunities to families in their native language? Through messages I send? When they initiate contact first? In school events and activities? Meetings? • Do I communicate with ELL parents and families through universal nonverbal cues or gestures that they can understand (e.g., smile)? Families from non-dominant cultural backgrounds: • Do I create opportunities for parents and families to participate in a way that is authentic and meaningful for them? • Do I refer parents and families to community resources and support services that address their and their children’s needs? • Do I work with parents and families to ensure that they understand the benefits of building partnerships with their children’s schools? Students with Special Needs: • Do I ensure there are positive opportunities for students with special needs and their families to be involved in school events? • Do I work to ensure families of students with special needs are fully aware of their rights, understand all the processes, know about resources available to them, and feel empowered in their student’s educational journey? Families of LGBTQIA+ Students: • Am I aware of the correct language and terminology to use to honor this students’ identity both in their presence and in the presence of their family? • Do I support family learning and growing in an open and humble way? • Do identify connections when possible be they where families could benefit from school and community resources OR when families have assets (i.e. leadership potential, knowledge on an area of need for LGBTQIA+ students) they are willing to share with the community if given the opportunity?
Questions to Answer: 1. After reflecting on your “yes” and “no” answers from above, outline two areas of strength and
After reflecting on your “yes” and “no” answers from above, outline two areas of strength and briefly discuss how they positively impact your students and their families. Then, outline two areas that challenge you, and discuss how you might take at least one step in improving your practices in that area.
Reflection Questions: Multilingual Families: • Do I (or my program) work meaningfully to provide communication opportunities to families in their native language? Through messages I send? When they initiate contact first? In school events and activities? Meetings? • Do I communicate with ELL parents and families through universal nonverbal cues or gestures that they can understand (e.g., smile)? Families from non-dominant cultural backgrounds: • Do I create opportunities for parents and families to participate in a way that is authentic and meaningful for them? • Do I refer parents and families to community resources and support services that address their and their children’s needs? • Do I work with parents and families to ensure that they understand the benefits of building partnerships with their children’s schools? Students with Special Needs: • Do I ensure there are positive opportunities for students with special needs and their families to be involved in school events? • Do I work to ensure families of students with special needs are fully aware of their rights, understand all the processes, know about resources available to them, and feel empowered in their student’s educational journey? Families of LGBTQIA+ Students: • Am I aware of the correct language and terminology to use to honor this students’ identity both in their presence and in the presence of their family? • Do I support family learning and growing in an open and humble way? • Do identify connections when possible be they where families could benefit from school and community resources OR when families have assets (i.e. leadership potential, knowledge on an area of need for LGBTQIA+ students) they are willing to share with the community if given the opportunity?
Questions to Answer: 1. After reflecting on your “yes” and “no” answers from above, outline two areas of strength and
After reflecting on your “yes” and “no” answers from above, outline two areas of strength and briefly discuss how they positively impact your students and their families. Then, outline two areas that challenge you, and discuss how you might take at least one step in improving your practices in that area.
2. Evaluate the impact that your answers may have on parents and families of the students with whom you work. How do these actions impact the creation of equitable learning environments? 3.
Finally, reflect on this at a school-wide or institutional level. What is one strength of your school or school systems in general to support the families of historically marginalized students? What is one weakness? Consider Danielson outcomes 2a Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport and 4c Communicating with Families as you frame your response
