LEP Parent Involvement Project: A Guide for Connecting Immigrant Parents and Schools.

This guide is a set of materials developed for use in adult education settings such as English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes, community-based organizations, and parent groups for the purpose of helping immigrant parents see themselves as active participants in their children’s learning. These materials are intended to meet the following goals: (1) to build on what people already know from their experience as parents and caretakers in their own countries; (2) to help parents restore their vision of themselves as first and primary teachers (something often lost in the immigration process); (3) to create opportunities for parents to explore similarities and differences between their new and native countries and to build bridges to link the two experiences; and (4) to encourage parents to define and keep values and traditions which are meaningful parts of their culture. This guide is divided into the following six modules: “Bridging Cultures”; “Schools Are Part of the Culture”; “Parents and Teachers”; “Discipline”; “Life at School”; and “Families.” A “User’s Guide” is also included. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education) (KFT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the ori inal document. LEP Parent Involvement Project A Guide for Connecting Immigrant Parents and Schools PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS RANTED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement j EDU TIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION I CENTER (ERIC) his document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. CI Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning 2001 BEST COPY AVAILABLE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF Childen Families( e a r n ng 1500 HIGHWAY 36 WEST ROSEVILLE, MN 55113-4266 LEP Parent Involvement Project Overview T: (651) 582-8022 TTY(651) 582-8201 The LEP Parent Involvement Project is a set of materials developed for use in adult education settings such as ESL classes, community-based organizations and parent groups for the purpose of helping immigrants parents see themselves as active participants in their children’s learning. In designing the materials we had the following goals in mind: 1. To build on what people already know from their experience as parents and caretakers in their own countries. 2. To help parents restore their vision of themselves as first and primary teachers. (This vision is often lost in the immigration process). 3. To create opportunities for parents to explore similarities and differences between their new and native countries and to build bridges that will link the two experiences. 4. To encourage parents to define and keep values and traditions which are meaningful parts of their cultures. It is important to teach newcomer parents about the American education system and to enable them to find their role in the process. We hope teachers, trainers and community leaders will use these materials with parents as a means to help them develop the skills and confidence to make those first steps toward becoming an integral part of their children’s education. Diane Pecoraro, Adult Basic Education and ESL Specialist, CFL Bounlieng Phommasouvanh, former K-12 ESL Program Specialist, CFL Paul Magnuson, K-12 ESL Program Specialist, CFL Modules 1, 2 and 3 1990 Revised 2001 Module 4 and Users Guide 1991 Revised 2001 Modules 5 and 6 2001