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.

  • 5 Home Learning Experiences for the Elementary Grades 

    Activities that incorporate speaking and listening, reading and writing, math, music, science, art, and drama—and are parent-friendly.
    Justine Bruyère

  • Why Learning at Home Should Be More Self-Directed—and Less Structured

    On March 18, 2020, Simone Kern tweeted that simply “recreating schools at home” passes up a golden opportunity to engage kids in authentic, self-directed learning.
    Simone Kern

  • Home Visits Make a School Community Stronger

    Getting to know every family helps schools better support students, even into high school.

  • How to Support Home Learning in Elementary Grades

    A first and second grade teacher shares his home learning plan for his students and how he is engaging their families.
    John S. Thomas

  • Responding Calmly to Upset Parents

    When an angry email shows up in the inbox, it can be tempting to respond in kind. These five tips from a middle school principal lead to better responses.
    Jessica Cabeen

  • Thank-You Letters to Teachers

    Keith Heggart

  • 4 Tips for Principals From a Parent Who Knows the Job

    Transitioning from elementary school principal to room parent opened up a new perspective on what it means to lead a school.
    Don Vu

  • ‘Not Just Tummy Time’: A Preschool Professionalizes ECE

    Part of a national network of preschools, Educare New Orleans uses a holistic approach to teaching and learning to ensure that every child is ready for kindergarten.
    Nora Fleming

  • 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

  • 6 Tips for Engaging the Families of English Language Learners

    Schools
    Louise El Yaafouri

  • 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

  • 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

  • How Parents Can Help Their Kids With Studying

    Advice that teachers can share with the parents of middle and high school students about how to get the most out of time spent studying.
    Blake Harvard

  • Parent Workshops: Strengthening the Learning Community

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