Let’s do a quick experiment. Grab a pencil and jot down ten things you see in this picture.
Did you see a mess, TV time, and smoking?
Or did you see food, reading material, employment and connection?
As educators, we are trained to look for deficits, whether it’s a gap in phonological awareness or math facts. When partnering with our families, we will also need to remember to actively look for strengths.
During this month’s Family Engagement Coffee Chat, we examined how to shift mindsets around family engagement. This picture is an example of a quick training exercise that can help school staff examine a deficit mindset.
We also heard from participants that staff can struggle with the idea that family engagement is important (despite decades of research!) In Anchorage, staff began to believe in the power of family engagement after experiencing an event that helped build positive relationships. Experiencing is believing.
Mindset is powerful: when we believe that family engagement is important, we will make it happen. When we believe that all families want what’s best for their children, then we will see their strengths and treat them as true partners.
For more ideas on how to address mindsets, check out the Stronger Together Family Engagement Framework.