Engaging Parents to Increase Student Achievement

3 Credits | 45 Clock Hours

$199.00
$199.00
$199.00
Download Syllabus
  • 21st Century Skills
  • ELL
  • Instructional Strategies
  • Multicultural Credit
Engaging Parents to Increase Student Achievement course for Teachers

Course Description

There is widespread recognition that increasing family engagement within schools and in their child’s education benefits student achievement enormously, in addition to improving teacher morale and school-home communications. This course is designed to teach participants how to engage families in meaningful ways regardless of circumstance or parent population, and is founded on the mindset that all parents ultimately want to partner with teachers in supporting their child’s education and overall success.

The course covers such topics as building strong relationships, establishing trust, employing effective communication systems, and planning and executing conferences effectively. Additionally, the course covers more sensitive topics such as engaging parents whose child has experienced trauma, is involved in bullying or harassment, has a disability, or is an English language learner. Participants will learn how to have difficult or “crucial” conversations in order to appropriately address scenarios in which emotions are strong, opinions vary, and stakes are high. The Safety, Order and Rights® value set is presented as one framework for clarifying classroom expectations and school goals, and is generally a framework that everyone can buy into -- including parents.

This course will also walk participants through the steps of creating a plan for cultivating meaningful family engagement in their own practice. Participants will be prompted to compile best practices and key ideas throughout the course, which will culminate in the writing of a an action plan for implementing these important components.

Objectives

As a result of this course, teachers will:

  • Contrast parent involvement and family engagement, and recognize the positive effect that family engagement has on student outcomes.
  • Explain how to build trusting and productive parent-teacher relationships using effective communication techniques and culturally responsive pedagogy.
  • Summarize the 7-Step Conferencing Plan and other structures for effective parent-teacher conferencing.
  • Define “Crucial Conversation” and describe strategies for how to refocus such conversations on student achievement and success.
  • Describe how to navigate parent relationships when the child has a learning need or has experienced trauma, bullying, harassment, or an infringement on their civil rights.

To Enroll:

  • If you want Clock Hours only, select the Course Only option. You will receive a Certificate of Completion when you finish the course, which you will use to obtain your Clock Hours.
  • If you need an official transcript, choose the Course & University Credits option. See our University Partners page for more information about our regionally accredited university partners.
  • Add the course to your cart.
  • When you are ready to check out, go to your cart, and click “Check Out”.
  • You will be asked to log into your account or create a new account.
  • Follow the enrollment and payment prompts. If you have a gift card or discount code, you will enter it at the end of the enrollment process.
  • Upon purchase, you will receive an email receipt and be able to log in to your course at eClassroom Sign in. You have 180 days (about 6 months) from your purchase to complete your course.

If you have any questions, check out our FAQs or email support@cecreditsonline.org.

Upon Course Completion:

Graduate-Level Professional Development Credits

  • We have partnered with regionally-accredited universities to provide graduate-level professional development credits for our courses. All courses taken for graduate credit receive both a Certificate of Completion and a University Transcript for your records.
  • Upon completion of your course, email support@cecreditsonline.org to let us know you want university credits and which university you have selected for those credits from our list of regionally-accredited university partners. See University Partners tab.
  • CE Credits Online will email you instructions on how to pay for the credits.
  • CE Credits Online will forward all the required documentation to the University you selected.
  • The University partner will process your course completion and provide a transcript that includes the name of the course, course number, number of credits, and your grade.
  • You will receive directions on how to receive your transcript in email form, and you can also review the University Partners section of our website for more information.
  • You must check with your district to ensure the credits received will meet your specific requirements. We will not be held responsible if your school, district or state does not accept the credits issued.

Obtaining Clock Hours

  • Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for your records that will include the name of the course and number of professional development hours completed.
  • The Certificate of Completion is designed as a record that verifies that a professional development course was taken and passed. This Certificate of Completion is required to obtain your Clock Hours. 
  • Upon receipt of your Certificate of Completion, send a copy of it to Kayla at North Central ESD, kaylal@ncesd.org.
  • Kayla will mark your course as complete.
  • You will then be able to complete a quick evaluation and purchase your Clock Hours.
  • Questions? Contact Kayla Langston at 509-667-7115 or email her at kaylal@ncesd.org.