Page 51

Winter_ShakerLife_2016

Partnering with Parents Families who participate in the First Class Shaker program will also benefit from monthly home visits provided by SPARK Ohio, a kindergarten-readiness program that works collaboratively with families, schools, and the community. Each month, families will receive a home visit from a trained SPARK parent partner. The child receives a new book, and the parent receives guidance on how to use a companion activity to reinforce concepts being taught at school. With the Dr. Seuss book One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, for example, parents might learn how to help their child recognize letters and colors, count with manipulatives, and practice making rhymes. Longitudinal studies show that children who have participated in SPARK consis¬ tently outperform their peers on kindergarten readiness assessments, an advantage that continues through the f f t h grade. Joanne Federman, executive director of Family Connections of Cleveland, is one of the community members who lent her skills and experience in early childhood program¬ ming to the task force. Family Connections provides early literacy, parenting support, and school readiness programs to families throughout Greater Cleveland. "I'm absolutely thrilled that Shaker is focusing on the parent involvement aspect, and I think it will really make a difference," says Federman. "It's really important for parents to learn to connect early on w i th their child's school, and it's also critical that parents learn to connect with their children. This is something that applies across all socioeconomic levels; parents don't necessarily know what they need to do when they hrst become parents." She feels that helping to boost their confidence is the key to success. h e staf at Family Connections trains the parent partners who provide the SPARK home visits, ensuring that the content aligns with the state standards for kindergarten readiness and that parents are getting the support they need. Says Federman, " h e parent partners' approach is always positive and supportive, and builds on what parents are already doing well." Superintendent Hutchings is confident that Shaker Heights Schools' innovative approach to early learning will pay big dividends down the road. " h e early learning services and opportunities we are providing are going to impact the future of Shaker as a commu¬ nity, whether it's w i th the hird-Grade Reading Guarantee, or students graduating on time and being able to attend the four-year institution of their choice," says Hutchings. "The long-term benefits of early childhood learning are pretty remarkable, and it's the easiest way for us to ensure that all of our young people have a chance to make a contribution to our world." SL ^UUMII"////,,,, S H A K E R LIFE | WINTER 2016 49


Winter_ShakerLife_2016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above