George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia

Family Engagement

Teachers, administrators, and other school personnel will find relevant and valuable tools and resources here for strengthening bonds between schools, families, and communities.

  • Sharing College and Career Options With Families

    A middle school and a high school host an informational event for parents and guardians on some of the post-graduation options open to their children.
    Jill Fletcher

  • Growing a School Community

    An elementary school garden has fostered community by giving English-speaking staff and Spanish-speaking families a shared goal.
    Juliana Urtubey

  • Supporting Families to Boost Students’ Success

    Addressing the financial, social, and emotional wellness of preschoolers’ families supports the students’ progress in school.

  • Thank-You Letters to Teachers

    Keith Heggart

  • Designing a Public School From Scratch

    On a mission to reimagine traditional schooling, a K–8 school in San Diego puts teachers and students at the center.
    Nora Fleming

  • The Power of the Positive Phone Call Home

    Calling students’ parents or guardians with good news encourages more good behavior and creates strong teacher-student bonds.
    Elena Aguilar

  • 5 Strategies for a Successful Parent-Teacher Conference

    Parent-teacher conferences don’t have to be such a headache. Educators weigh in on how to solve common problems.
    Emelina Minero

  • Parent Workshops: Strengthening the Learning Community

    During in-school workshops, parents learn what their kids are studying and how to support it at home.

  • Homework vs. No Homework Is the Wrong Question

    Does your school have a homework policy? How does your school ensure that teachers don't overload students with busy work?
    Maurice J. Elias

  • 7 Questions to Ask Parents at the Beginning of the Year

    A set of questions that will help teachers form partnerships with parents in support of their children’s learning.
    Elena Aguilar

  • Two Kinds of Parent-Teacher Conferences

    Ben Johnson

  • 32 Strategies for Building a Positive Learning Environment

    Lina Raffaelli

  • Research Trends: Why Homework Should Be Balanced

    Research suggests that while homework can be an effective learning tool, assigning too much can lower student performance and interfere with other important activities.
    Youki Terada

  • 5 Resources for Parent-Teacher Conferences

    Browse a curated list of resources for improving parent-teacher conferences, including ideas for highlighting student progress, ways to encourage students to take the lead, and questions every parent should ask.
    Matt Davis

  • 3 Ways to Make Meaningful Connections With Your Students

    Edutopia blogger Nick Provenzano believes there's more to teaching than dispensing curriculum, and he shares three practices that lead students and their families to trust him on a personal level.
    Nicholas Provenzano