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.
December FINE Newsletter: Using Storybooks to Connect With Families
December 2006
Dear FINE Member,
Here are this month's FINE member updates. As always, please feel free to forward this information to your friends and other education colleagues.
New From FINE
- Building Connections With Families by Using Family Involvement Storybooks
Read more about our ideas for using family involvement storybooks in Young Children, a journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This article by HFRP's Ellen Mayer and collaborators describes five ways for teachers to use family involvement storybooks in their early childhood education classrooms. The article also includes a vignette about the impact of sharing a family involvement storybook in one third grade class. You can access a free copy of the article via the Family Involvement Storybook Corner section of our website.
- Family Involvement Storybook Corner
For more resources on using storybooks to promote family involvement, visit the Storybook Corner on our website.
- Complementary Learning
Using family involvement storybooks is just one way to put into action Harvard Family Research Project's “complementary learning” approach to closing the achievement gap. Complementary learning is a comprehensive model that fosters partnerships between families, schools, and other nonschool supports. You can learn more about complementary learning at the link above.
New From Harvard Graduate School of Education
-
The new and evolving Usable Knowledge website at Harvard Graduate School of Education provides education leaders with convenient access to research. The website includes information on the topics of community and family and ways to improve education.
Professional Development
- School, Family, and Community Collaboration for School Improvement
Dr. Mavis G. Sanders at Johns Hopkins University is offering a summer 2007 online course for school, community, and district leaders who would like to engage in a systematic course of study focused on family and community involvement. Enrollment is limited. For more information contact Professor Mavis G. Sanders at msanders@jhu.edu.
Models and Approaches
- Computers for Youth
Computers for Youth (CFY) is a nonprofit organization that promotes parent involvement and student learning via computer technology to help close the learning gap between low-income children and their more affluent peers. CFY offers participating families home computers and coordinates workshops for parents and teachers to use home technology to improve student performance.
- Starting Strong
Starting Strong is a collaborative project between the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and the University of Kentucky's Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute. Early childhood teams participate in 18 hours of training, developing a project designed to increase family involvement and improve program quality.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers free resources for students, parents and teachers to strengthen families and emphasize the consequences of drug abuse on the brain and body. For more information visit the link above.
- The Parent Academy
Launched by superintendent Rudy Crew at Miami-Dade Country Public Schools, The Parent Academy (TPA) is a large-scale, privately funded, district-wide parent involvement program. You can read about TPA in the article “Teach Your Parents Well” recently published in Teacher Magazine.
Recent Articles and Reports
- “A Variety of Early Childhood Interventions Have Generated Favorable Economic Returns”
This article from the Rand Cooperation shows that effective early childhood programs can bring about favorable economic returns. The article finds that, among other strategies, a focus on home visiting or parent education, particularly when coupled with early childhood education, produces positive outcomes.
- Home Visitation: Assessing Progress, Managing Expectations
Chapin Hall and the Ounce of Prevention Fund collaborated to publish a review of the evolution of home visitation programs. The paper discusses research that has evaluated the effectiveness of home visitation programs to improve the quality of life of young children. You can see the paper abstract and access the full text at the link above.
- “Family Meals”
Family meals can be important opportunities to develop strong parent–child relationships and family connectedness. This article, by Child Trends DataBank, reports statistics and trends on family meal patterns by youth's age, ethnicity, economic status, and parent education level.
Upcoming Events
- Strengthening Families
The Center for Parent Education and the College of Education at the University of North Texas is holding its 15th Annual Conference on Parent Education February 8–9, 2007. This national interdisciplinary conference is for policymakers, students, and professionals, including parent/family educators, child and family advocates, early childhood interventionists, family support professionals, and school/parent liaisons. To learn more and to register, visit the link above.
- Engaging All Families
Family Friendly Schools is hosting its second national conference, Engage! All Families, in Anaheim, California, on February 19–20, 2007. Featured at the conferences will be Dr. Steven Constantino, founder of Family Friendly Schools, and Dr. Karen Mapp, lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Agenda and registration information can be accessed at the link above.
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