The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.

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Dear FINE Member,

Here are this month's FINE member updates. Please feel free to forward this information to friends and other education colleagues.

New on the FINE Website

• New Resource: The Family Involvement Storybook Corner
  

  FINE introduces a unique resource to strengthen family–school–community partnerships—children's storybooks with family involvement content. In partnership with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), we are launching the Family Involvement Storybook Corner as a place to find compilations of family involvement children's storybooks and related tools and information. Family involvement storybooks can be used to promote awareness, discussion, and practice of family involvement among families, educators, and others who work with children or families, across a wide range of educational settings. We invite you to share your feedback with us on this new resource.

New From Harvard Family Research Project

• Open Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Times

  Heather Weiss and M. Elena Lopez of HFRP recently sent a letter to the Los Angeles Times in response to the recent article “Parents' Involvement Not Key to Student Progress, Study Finds.” The letter, a link to the original article, and related HFRP resources are available at the above link.

• Measurement Tools for Evaluating Out-of-School Time Programs: An Evaluation Resource

This new out-of-school time Snapshot describes instruments and tools that have been used in existing out-of-school time evaluation studies and that can be obtained and used for on-the-ground program evaluation. The Snapshot is organized as a series of tables, each describing a different category of instrument or measurement tool. The categories, some of which include more detailed subcategories, include Academics; Psychological/Social Development; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Prevention; Program Quality/Program Environment; and Multicomponent Scales/Comprehensive Surveys.

Tools for Parents

In this month's announcement, FINE highlights resources for parents who want to increase their involvement in their children's education. Additionally, a wide variety of parent tools can be found in FINE's family involvement resource guide.

• National Parent Teacher Association Website

  The Parent Resources section of the National Parent Teacher Association website provides suggestions for parents who want to help their children achieve in school, including tips for supporting homework and establishing school–family partnerships.

• Parents' Place Pointers Website

  This website from the Massachusetts Statewide Parent Information and Resource Center includes fact sheets for parents in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Topics include working with your school and understanding school report cards.

• Pre-K Now Website

  The Families section of this pre-kindergarten advocacy organization's website is available in English and in Spanish and includes a resource for parents on how to choose a high quality pre-kindergarten program. The site also features a virtual tour of a high quality pre-kindergarten classroom that emphasizes family involvement and support.

• School Success Info Website

  This website from the Success in School Equals Success in Life campaign, available in Spanish and in English, is aimed at parents and provides tips for educational involvement at home and at school. Resources include a School Success Tool-Kit to help parents understand their rights and identify the steps needed to overcome common barriers to school involvement.

Other Resources

• School–Family Partnerships for Children's Success

  This new book, edited by Evanthia Patrikakou, Roger Weisberg, Sam Redding, and Herbert Walberg, focuses on the many ways parent involvement affects children's academic, social, and emotional growth and includes practical suggestions for initiating and supporting school–family partnerships. The book is available for purchase from the publisher.

Upcoming Events

• National African American Parent Involvement Day

  Every year on the second Monday in February schools around the country highlight the importance of family involvement and closing the achievement gap by inviting African American and other parents to visit their children during the day. In 2006, the event falls on February 13.

Contact Us

Have a problem with the website or questions and comments concerning our work? Send an email to fine@gse.harvard.edu.

Enjoy!

FINE – The Family Involvement Network of Educators