Response to Intervention
A Framework for Educational Reform
Family & Community Partnering:
“On the Team and At the Table”
Activities
Activities
#1 Define Partnering
#2 Examine Your Own Attitudes and Assumptions.
#3 Complete a Survey(s)
#4 Assess Place on Partnering Continuum
#5 Answer: What Are Your Challenges?
#6 Answer: What Are Your Solutions?
#7 View Universal Partnering: The O’Hearn School
#8 Define Partnering Job Descriptions
#9 Review Universal Tools
#10 View Problem-Solving Process Video
#11 Review Targeted/Intensive Tools
#12 Reflect on RtI Partnering
#13 Complete Tiered Checklist
#14 Ask and Answer: FAQs
#15 Plan and Evaluate Your Partnering Tiers
How to Use the Activities
Activities are referenced also in the
Essentials RtI Information slides so they can
be used as a component of a complete
training or chosen section.
 Each activity can be implemented
independently.
 Each activity has specific recommended
Materials, Outcome, Instructions, and
Conclusion.
 Activities are designed to be adaptable to
a specific site or group’s needs.
 Activities with a
have specific tools in
the module toolkit.

Activity #1
 What
is your definition of partnering?
Partnering is ______________________.
Please share with your team.
Activity #2

Examine Your Own Attitudes and
Assumptions…
(Special thanks to the Colorado Parent Information and
Resource Resource Center for this activity. www.cpirc.org )
Perceptions and Assumptions
www.cpirc.org
6
Labeling Activity
www.cpirc.org
Activity #2 (Closure)
Listen to a Story…
“Lead Others By Looking In Their Eyes”
www.cpirc.org
Activity #3
How Do You Partner Now? Choose A
Survey, Complete and Share

School-Wide


Measure of School, Family,
and Community Partnerships (Davis et al.)
Educators, Families, Community Resources


Planning Team Feedback
RtI Partnering Survey and Needs Assessment
Activity #4
Family-School Partnering Continuum
Where are you and your school staff members, families, and community
resources on the partnering continuum ? Give it a number!
Home and school
Schools share the
are separate, very
responsibility for
different worlds. It is
education with
the school’s
families. The
responsibility to
partnership
educate children,
with families is
and the family’s
flexible: on some
responsibility to see
issues the parents will
that the children are
be the more active
dressed, fed, and
partner and on
prepared for school.
others, the school
will be.
1
Adapted from Henderson
et al., 2007
10
Activity #5
What Are Your Challenges? Prioritize Your “Big 3”.
Challenges
Educators
Families
Solutions
Activity 5:
Research Summary of Challenges for
Educators AND Families
 Limited
time to build trust, relationships,
ongoing two-way communication
 Limited skills and knowledge in how to
partner
 Fear of inadequacy, conflict, “reliving”
negative experiences
 Cultural and linguistic differences between
families and schools
 Lack of clearly stated partnering beliefs,
expectations of shared responsibility, and
role descriptions
(Esler, Godber, & Christenson, 2008)
Activity #6
What Are Your Solutions? Prioritize Your “Big 3”.
Challenges
Educators
Families
Solutions
Activity #6: Thinking About Solutions…
Flexible Hours: Come in early or stay late once a week with “comp
time”
 Stated Beliefs and Expectations: Partnering plan, shared responsibility,
equal partners, homework, behavior
 Creative Communication: Texting, emailing, list serves copied to
students, voice mailing, websites, breakfasts, lunches, meeting at
school day cares
 Joint “Professional Development”: Families, educators, and
community resources learning together, online opportunities
 Small Gatherings with Families and Students: Class open houses at
various times, drop-in centers
 Interactive Homework: Families participate and provide feedback
 Student Ambassadors: Assigning home and school communication
tasks, teaching parents, calling all parents to invite to school
 Cultural and Language Liaisons: Family to family, home and
community visits
(Suggestions from the field)

Activity #7
View Universal Partnering: The O’Hearn
School
1.
2.
3.
4.
What was the role of the principal,
teachers, and families?
How would a family center work at your
school?
What about parents reaching out to
parents?
How would this system work for you?
http://fsp.unl.edu/future_module1_video1.htm
l
Activity # 8
Define Partnering Roles, Responsibilities, Job
Descriptions - Walk and Write
School





Principal
Teachers
Specialists
Mental Health
Clerical, Cafeteria,
Custodial Staff
Home




Family
Student
Community
Resource
PTO/PTA
Activity # 9 Universal Tools
(Hint: Ask Family Representatives to Review School Communication)
School









Sample Principal Family Letter/Newsletter Article, Community Letter
Sample RtI Brochure (CDE)
Sample Job Descriptions
Sample RtI Family Slides
Sample Compact (Title I, ESEA)
Sample English/Spanish Family-School Components (CPIRC)
Sample Professional Conversations (CPIRC)
Partnering Vocabulary
Secondary Fact Sheet
Classroom



Sample Teacher Letter, Partnering Pledge, Home Sharing Sheet
Establishing Trusting Relationships
Easy Two-Way Communication: Teacher’s Practical Points
Activity #10
Problem-Solving Process Video and Group Reflection






What had the teacher and family been doing
together?
How was data shared?
How were home and school learning coordinated?
How would your problem-solving team do this?
What might have you done differently?
How might you use this video with families or
colleagues?
Video: http://www.cde.state.co.us/rti/ProblemSolving.htm
Activity # 11
Targeted/Intensive Tools
(Hint: Ask Family Representatives to Review School Communication)
RTI Problem-Solving Partner Packet






Best Practices and Questions to Ask
Sample Phone Script
Sample Problem-Solving Card/Brochure Insert
Samples: Referral, Invitation, Home Information Form, Intervention Plan,
Sociocultural Interview/Interpreter Information
Helping Families Understand the Special Education Process Within RtI
IEP Partnering Within an RtI Model
Coordinated Interventions



Sample School-Home-School Note
Sample Conjoint Behavior Consultation
Wraparound: Description
Activity #12:
RtI Family & Community
Partnering is
___________ because
______________.
Activity # 13
Tiered Checklist
Mark which components you have in place
for each tier; add or revise.
 Check your list with a colleague - “What is
There and What is Not?”

Activity #14
Ask and Answer: FAQs

What are YOUR questions? What are YOUR
answers?

What will be YOUR school community’s questions
- staff, families, community resources? And YOUR
answers?

Questions That Have Been Asked…


How will we have time to partner with families in the
problem-solving process?
How can we involve our ELL families?
Activity #15
Tiered Planning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Universal and Targeted/Intensive
Leaders
Data: Surveys, Tiered Checklist, FAQs,
Challenges and Solutions
Goals
Action Steps
Responsibilities and Resources
Timelines
Evaluation