Involving Migrant Families in Their Children's Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Schools.
Author: Chavkin, Nanch Feyl
Date Published: 1996
Following an overview of information on migrant families and children, this chapter describes strategies that administrators and teachers can use to promote family involvement in migrant student's education. Estimates of the numbers of migrant farmworkers and migrant children vary widely, and the diversity of migrant farmworkers' backgrounds makes it difficult to depict the lives characterized by low annual income, unhealthy working conditions, deficient living conditions, and the stresses and of dropping out of school due to poverty, mobility, health problems, and language differences. Family involvement in children's education is clearly beneficial, but educators must be prepared to meet initial reluctance or resistance on the part of migrant parents and to extend the notion of family involvement to include all in the community who affect student's lives. At the school district level, policies that support family and community involvement are essential. District support must occur during three critical stages: policy development, implementation as practical actions, and continuing policy maintenance. Important points to include in district policies are listed, as well as recommendations for implementation and maintenance. Partnership can lead to empowerment of parents, students, educators, and community members. Helpful strategies for teachers include open, continuous, two-way communication between schools and their partners; and training for teachers, parents and community. Contains 39 references.
Date Published: 1996
Following an overview of information on migrant families and children, this chapter describes strategies that administrators and teachers can use to promote family involvement in migrant student's education. Estimates of the numbers of migrant farmworkers and migrant children vary widely, and the diversity of migrant farmworkers' backgrounds makes it difficult to depict the lives characterized by low annual income, unhealthy working conditions, deficient living conditions, and the stresses and of dropping out of school due to poverty, mobility, health problems, and language differences. Family involvement in children's education is clearly beneficial, but educators must be prepared to meet initial reluctance or resistance on the part of migrant parents and to extend the notion of family involvement to include all in the community who affect student's lives. At the school district level, policies that support family and community involvement are essential. District support must occur during three critical stages: policy development, implementation as practical actions, and continuing policy maintenance. Important points to include in district policies are listed, as well as recommendations for implementation and maintenance. Partnership can lead to empowerment of parents, students, educators, and community members. Helpful strategies for teachers include open, continuous, two-way communication between schools and their partners; and training for teachers, parents and community. Contains 39 references.
