EDU 617 FINAL PROJECT Parent Involvement for the 21st Century By: Donell Owens Instructor Taylor EDU 617 August 15, 2016 1

EDU 617 FINAL PROJECT Describe a philosophy of the plan. Why you are creating this involvement plan? The philosophy of this plan is based on the belief that a child’s education is highly affected by the relationship between home and school. This plan realizing’s that parents are a child’s first teacher. These parents are valuable resources for educators. This plan will help build relationships amongst the schools, families, students, and communities. I’m creating this involvement plan to help facilitate a positive interaction between parents, school, and the community. Being able to form a partnership with these parties will benefit all students as well as their families. Describe aims of the plan. What you intend to do? I intend to establish a relationship with community and organizations within the community. Provide parental trainings, workshops, service learning activities for the students, and establish an open line of communication between home and school. In order for this involvement plan to work, I will need staff member, community, and parent support. I will create a committee who will focus primarily on increase parental and community involvement. This group of individuals and me will connect and communicate with community organization services. I intend to increase this particular type of involvement so that we can support and improve student’s educational experiences. To establish these relationships we will invite parents and community leaders out to voice their opinions on how we can increase and encourage parental involvement. We will also discuss ways that the school can help and build report with parents and their families. Establishing what a families basic needs and making sure these needs are met first will be at the foundation of this plan. As our text states, “When families are at the bottom of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, they are in survival mode” (Hjalmarson, 2011). It’s important to concentrate on basic needs because these needs are what motivate people. When a 2

EDU 617 FINAL PROJECT person’s basic needs in life are not met, they can barely concentrate on anything else but trying to get those needs met. These needs have to be satisfied first before progressing to higher needs.