Student Success Plans for Families: How and Why to Use Them

Your child needs to know that you are on their team. But, what does that look like? How can you create a doable and developmentally appropriate plan for success? What do student success plans look like? It’s certainly not completing their homework assignments for them to help them get an A. 

Cate Reed, seasoned administrator, current Senior Vice President of Teach For America, and Possip Reporter, explores ideas on how families can develop plans to ensure students can stay on a path for academic success.

Families and students may find developing a success plan effective to clarify each person’s responsibilities in supporting a student’s academic progress. These plans, which can be developed yearly, every semester, or monthly, help articulate where a student wants to be headed and give them a path to get there.

Below are ideas for parents to use with their child to build strong student success plans.

Jump to...

• Help Your Child Clarify and Visualize Goals and Plans
• Create Realistic Goals
• Review Goals and Progress Frequently
• Conclusion

Help Your Child Clarify and Visualize Goals and Plans

There is nothing motivating about vague or opaque goals. Children want to know where they are headed, and the adults in their lives should be aligned on those goal posts as well. Here are some concrete tools you can use:

• Goal Setting Worksheets: Structured forms that guide students through the process of setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals.

• • How to Use: Sit down with your child to fill out these worksheets, breaking down large goals into smaller, manageable steps. Regularly review these goals and adjust them as necessary.
• Progress Charts and Graphs: Visual representations of a student’s progress over time.
  • How to Use: Create charts that track grades, completion of assignments, or progress in specific skills. Review these charts regularly to celebrate improvements and identify areas needing attention.

Create Realistic Goals in Your Student Success Plan

Getting a perfect SAT score or a 4.0+ GPA are not goals that are likely attainable and set up students for failure. Consider incremental milestones that can be tracked and adjusted over time.  

Clear, realistic goal examples:

• Complete all assignments on time for two weeks.
• Move from a C+ to a B in a specific class.
• Be on time to school and class for a full month.
• Meet with a teacher to get extra help twice a week for three weeks. 

Review Goals and Progress Frequently

Ensure that you are creating many opportunities for stepping back to check in on progress, celebrate successes and adjust as necessary to give tangible chances for success.  Ensure you are liking actions taken (“Wow – you turned all your homework in on time for three weeks and your grade went from a 72% to an 81% – that is great!”). 

Ways to step back and take in the big picture:

Family Meetings: Regularly scheduled discussions involving all family members to talk about each person’s progress and goals.

• How to Use: Set aside time weekly or monthly to discuss each family member’s achievements and areas for growth. Use this time to set new goals and plan how to support each other in achieving them.

Feedback Sessions: One-on-one or family discussions focused on providing constructive feedback.

• How to Use: Use a structured format such as “Two Stars and a Wish” where you discuss two things that went well and one area to improve. Ensure the feedback is specific and actionable.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Meetings between parents and teachers to discuss a student’s performance and development.

• How to Use: Prepare for these conferences by reviewing your child’s work and any reflections or goals they have set. Use the conference to gain insights from the teacher and collaboratively develop strategies for growth.

Journals and Reflection Sheets: Written documents where students can regularly note their achievements, challenges, and future aspirations.

• How to Use: Encourage students to spend a few minutes each week writing about what went well, what didn’t, and what they hope to improve. Parents can review these journals periodically and discuss them with their children.

Conclusion

Student success plans are a specific strategy to set realistic academic goals that can help them find long term school success.  Reflecting on successes, areas for growth, and setting new goals is essential for a student’s development and can be greatly supported by family involvement. For further reading on related topics, consider exploring the following resources:

• 12 Examples Of Student Success Plans

• Academic Success Tip: Using Customized Academic Plans to Boost Retention

By thinking about the use of a student success plan you can increase the likelihood of your child being on track to their academic goals. Moreover, they will be aligned with their biggest cheerleaders – the adults in their life – on the path to get there!

What matters most to your families, staff, and students? Find out with Possip.

Speed Read (tldr) of Student Success Plans: What Are They and How Can Families Best Use Them?

1. Be clear on your goals: Make sure you and your child align on what they want to accomplish and by when. Write out a student success plan.
2. Be realistic: If your child is currently on the verge of failing, don’t set a goal of an A+.  Encourage them to aim for goals that are ambitious but also feasible so they can see the fruits of their labor. 
3. Review frequently: Step back often with your child to check on their progress and make adjustments to the plan as necessary.

Read below for resources, tips, and the why!

The post Student Success Plans for Families: How and Why to Use Them appeared first on Possip.

The Power of Parent Praise

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Parent Engagement at Schools: Building A Plan for Student Success

Speed Read (tldr) of Parent Engagement at Schools: Building A Plan for Student Success

1. Definition and Evolution: Parent engagement involves active involvement in children’s education, from attending meetings to assisting with homework. Historically passive, it has evolved to include direct involvement in decision-making and educational activities, reflecting its increasing impact on student success.
2. Benefits: Effective parent engagement enhances academic performance, social-emotional well-being, and teacher satisfaction. It also positively impacts community health and civic participation, making it a crucial element in holistic student development.
3. Plan for Success: Successful engagement requires clear communication, building trust, and involving parents in school decisions. Utilizing both traditional methods and digital tools like Possip, along with overcoming barriers such as language and socio-economic disparities, is essential for fostering meaningful connections between schools and families.

Read below for resources, tips, and the why!

Table of Contents

• What is Parent Engagement?
• Historical Context and Evolution of Parent Engagement
• Benefits of Parent Engagement
• Strategies for Effective Engagement
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Building a Community Engagement Plan
• Challenges and Solutions
• Conclusion

Parent engagement and community engagement effectively contribute to a supportive learning plan and environment that fosters student success on multiple levels. This comprehensive guide explores the essence of parent and community engagement, its evolution over time, and the manifold benefits it brings to students, teachers, schools, and the wider society. We will also delve into strategic methods to enhance engagement, outlining the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved and the impact of these collaborative efforts on educational outcomes.

What is Parent Engagement?

Parent engagement refers to the active involvement of parents in their children’s education and school-related activities. It involves everything from participating in parent-teacher meetings to assisting children with homework. Think of it as a collaborative endeavor between home and school, aimed at enhancing educational outcomes and creating a supportive learning environment. Check out this article to learn more about How Possip Meets the Core Competencies of Family Engagement.

Here are the latest eight core competencies in family engagement from the National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), which emphasize a holistic and inclusive approach to education:

You can read more about the competencies as defined by NAFSCE here: Family Engagement Core Competencies: A Body of Knowledge, Skills, and Dispositions for Family-Facing Professionals.

Historical Context and Evolution of Parent Engagement

Historically, parent engagement often meant limited visits to school or occasional volunteering. However, as research has underscored its impact on student success, schools have increasingly sought to deepen parent involvement. This evolution has shifted from passive to active parent engagement. Schools are now employing various strategies to involve parents more directly in decision-making processes and everyday educational activities.

Benefits of Parent Engagement

Academic Benefits for Students

Engaged parents significantly boost their children’s academic performance. Research shows that students achieve higher grades, attend school more regularly, and are more likely to pursue higher education when their parents are involved.

Social and Emotional Benefits

Parent engagement leads to better social skills, improved behavior, and enhanced self-esteem among students. Children feel more supported when their families are involved in their school activities, contributing to better emotional health.

Benefits for Teachers and Schools

Parent engagement improves teacher morale and job satisfaction. Engaged parents provide valuable feedback and support, helping teachers refine their teaching strategies and effectively manage their classrooms.

Community and Societal Benefits

Effective parent and community engagement strengthens the whole community. Schools that successfully engage parents and community members often see benefits like lower crime rates, improved student health, and increased civic participation.

Strategies for Effective Parent Engagement

Communication Channels

Schools need to establish clear, consistent, and accessible communication channels. Possip’s platform, with its capabilities to gather real-time feedback, is a vital tool for maintaining open communication between parents and schools.

Traditional Methods of Parent Engagement

Traditional methods such as parent-teacher meetings, newsletters, and community events remain effective. These methods provide direct, personal interaction, which is crucial for building trust and relationships.

Digital Communication with Parents

In the digital age, tools like emails, school websites, and mobile apps enhance parent engagement. Possip’s platform excels in offering streamlined digital communication methods that include feedback loops and data analytics, making it easier to promptly address parents’ concerns.

Building Trust and Relationships with Parents

Schools must work to foster relationships with families through consistent positive interactions and by being responsive to their concerns and feedback.

Involvement in Decision Making

Encouraging parents to participate in school decisions that affect their children can lead to greater commitment and satisfaction. This involvement also helps parents understand the challenges schools face, creating a more cooperative environment.

Providing Support and Resources to Parents

Schools should equip parents with resources to help them support their children’s education at home. This includes educational materials, workshops, and access to support services. Here are some additional Ways To Win and our Top 7 Family Engagement Tools.

Roles and Responsibilities

Role of Parents

Parents have a primary responsibility to support their children’s educational journeys by staying informed and actively participating in school activities and decision-making processes.  NAFSCE describes the importance of seeing families as funds of knowledge: “Funds of knowledge is a term that underscores how family-facing professionals can activate and capitalize on building on the strengths of students and their families as resources for learning.”

Here are 60 Parent Engagement Ideas To Boost School Involvement.

Role of Teachers and School Staff

Teachers and school staff should encourage parent engagement by providing a welcoming environment. This can happen through being approachable, and sharing resources that help parents support learning at home.

Role of Non Parent Community Members

Community members, including local businesses and organizations, can support schools by providing resources, funding, and expertise, thereby enriching the educational experience for students.

Role of Educational Administrators

Administrators are crucial in setting the tone by creating policies that encourage collaboration between staff and parents and by allocating resources for engagement activities.

Building a Community Engagement Plan

Steps to Develop a Comprehensive Community Engagement Plan

Developing an effective engagement plan involves assessing current engagement levels, setting clear goals, and outlining strategies to achieve these goals. It involves continuous evaluation and adjustment.

Involving Local Businesses and Organizations

Partnerships with local businesses can provide schools with additional resources and support, from sponsorships to educational programs, enhancing the overall quality of education.

Measuring the Success of Your Community Engagement Initiatives

Success measurement can be achieved through surveys, attendance records at school events, and academic outcomes. Regularly reviewing these metrics helps in fine-tuning engagement strategies. Here are other basics to measure and increase parent engagement. 

Challenges and Solutions of Parent Engagement

Common Barriers

Common barriers include lack of time, language differences, and cultural disparities. Addressing these effectively requires tailored strategies that consider the diverse needs of the school community.

Overcoming Language and Cultural Differences

Possip’s platform, which offers multilingual support, is an excellent tool for bridging language gaps, ensuring that all parents, regardless of their primary language, can engage with their children’s education. For more ideas and a deep dive into the patterns in data Possip has regarding responses we see submitted in languages other than English, check out this event recap: Breaking the Language Barrier.

Addressing Socio-Economic Disparities

Socio-economic disparities can be mitigated by providing equitable access to resources and support for all students and families, fostering a more inclusive school environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Conclusion

By actively involving parents and the community in the educational process, schools can create more supportive and inclusive environments that promote student success and well-being. While challenges such as cultural differences and resource limitations exist, strategic approaches and tools like Possip can effectively bridge these gaps. Utilizing tools fosters  deeper engagement and cooperation. Moving forward, embracing these practices and continuously refining engagement strategies will be crucial in adapting to future trends and changes in education. Emphasizing the collective effort and commitment to student success, this guide serves as a resource for educators and administrators seeking to harness the full potential of their communities.

Click here for Parent Engagement 101!

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Your Essential Guide to Giving, Listening to, and Responding to Feedback

Speed Read (tldr) of Your Essential Guide to Giving, Listening to, and Responding to Feedback

1. Listening to Feedback: Feedback is crucial for personal and organizational growth, encompassing praise, needs, and ideas, not just criticism. Effective feedback systems are vital for improving performance and saving time, but feedback is often seen negatively despite its potential for positive impact.

2. Effective Feedback Systems: To gain valuable feedback, it must be solicited proactively through routine, systematic, and equitable methods. Similarly, giving feedback should be done with permission, focusing on specific behaviors, and delivered with empathy to ensure it is constructive and actionable.

3. Responding to Feedback: Listening to feedback requires an open mind and patience. It’s essential to acknowledge, thank, and communicate actions taken in response to feedback. Implementing changes based on feedback demonstrates a commitment to growth and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

Read below for resources, tips, and the why!

Table of Contents

Books, like Dare to Lead by Brene Brown and Radical Candor by Kim Malone Scott, got folks invested in efforts to get or give feedback. However, getting, sharing, and responding to feedback can be much easier in concept than execution. And yet effective feedback systems are powerfully important – not just for individuals but also for organizations.  

• Feedback Gets a Bad Rap
• Example of Praise
• Example of Needs
• Example of Ideas
• How to Ask for Feedback
• How to Give Effective Feedback
• How to Respond to Feedback That Makes People Feel Heard
• How to Change the Game by Acting on and Listening to Feedback
• Conclusion

Possip Founder and CEO, Shani Dowell, shares insights on requesting and using feedback and why we consider it crucial for growth and progress.

Personal and organizational feedback drives developmental growth, improves performance, and saves time (no need to consternate when you know what people think).

So even though it’s hard, we’ve got to get over the hard.  This essential guide to giving, listening, and responding to feedback can help.

Feedback Gets a Bad Rap

One of my teammates asked an interesting question in her first weeks at Possip: “We talk about feedback like it’s a presumed negative. But isn’t praise a form of feedback?”  Even though positive (positive+gossip=possip) is in our name, her observation was a new insight.

Indeed! Praise is feedback. Sharing a need is feedback. Ideas, issues, and concerns are all feedback. Feedback encompasses the system or loop of sharing with a person, entity, or organization.

Here are some formal definitions of feedback according to Merriam-Webster.

Feedback doesn’t have to be bad. Sometimes, we automatically assume that when we invite feedback, we will hear from an angry person who is sharing a complaint. But consider these examples of feedback:

Example of Praise

“Thank you for reaching out to close the loop after the last possip survey. I feel heard and that my concerns were addressed. Big shout out to Dr S, who has been very up front with all of my concerns and made sure to address them right away. Love that communication has increased and that I feel more connected to what my son is currently doing at school. Huge shout out to Dr. J, who truly cares for my child and ensures that all of his academic needs are met. Huge shout out to Ms. N, who has him in a social group, allowing him to form positive relationships with peers.”

“Darles las gracias ya que cualquier cosa que tenga que ver con mi hija ustedes me lo an hecho saber de inmediato gracias TRANSLATION: “Thank you because anything that has to do with my daughter you have let me know immediately, thank you

“Professor F has really made me more excited about learning.”

Example of Needs

“We need help with lunches and other costs”

“I don’t know how to enroll my son, I don’t know when I should do it so he can go to high school.”

“We need help filling out our FAFSA forms.”

Example of Ideas

“I think the meetings we are having at the end of the day aren’t the most effective idea.  If we had them earlier people would be in a better mind space to contribute.”

“It would be great to get buses to away games so we can have more student spirit and support our teams. Maybe we can do some fundraisers for them.”

The challenge with feedback can be that it’s often not solicited proactively. If it’s not requested, it can only be received reactively—typically from folks who have an issue. But there are many forms of feedback.

How to Ask for Feedback

The first step in getting holistic (not just negative) feedback: ask for it. 

How? Create strong systems for asking for feedback. Getting feedback personally – or organizationally – means you need a way to ask for feedback that is:

• Routine
• Systematic
• Easy-to-digest
• Equitable 
• Open-ended

When you are asking for feedback, put parameters into it.  It’s okay to ask for feedback in ways you can handle it.  For example, if you know you are one person trying to ingest feedback from tens of thousands of people, you may not be able to solicit open-ended feedback.  But it’s important to explain the how and why for your feedback systems.  At the very least, you can create routine and systematic ways to get feedback and communicate that with your community.

Possip has created an easy way for any organization to create a routine and systematic feedback loop.  For higher-capacity organizations, you can ask for quantitative and qualitative feedback.  For organizations developing in your capacity, you may decide only to do closed-ended feedback until you can handle more open-ended feedback.  Meet with our specialists to learn the right approach for your team!

How to Give Effective Feedback

Unsolicited Feedback

Unsolicited feedback can be a bit trickier to give. But there’s one crucial step that can make it easy! Make it solicited or at least prepared for. So, the first step is to ask for permission to give feedback.  

After you’ve asked for permission, there are general frames – but include: 

1. be kind; 
2. share the action and outcome/impact of the action; 
3. identify the ideal outcome.

Importantly, whether positive feedback or adjusting/constructive, ask for permission.

Focus on specific behaviors rather than personal attributes, and always aim to be constructive. When people deliver feedback with empathy and give clear, actionable thoughts, it becomes a gift that helps others grow. Here are three examples from a school context that are very relevant to a broader use case:

• How to Write An Email With Feedback to a Teacher – Possip 
• A Guide for Teachers: Giving Effective and Compassionate Feedback to Administrators – Possip 
• What To Say To Feedback On Things You Can’t Control – Possip 

Solicited Feedback

When people request feedback, it immediately becomes easier to give than unsolicited feedback – because, ideally, it means there’s a system and structure for doing so. The only difference between solicited and unsolicited is how you create a culture of feedback that welcomes the conversation.

Here are a few other resources: 

• Sharing Feedback: A Quick How To Guide – Possip 
• What You Can Do When Your Staff Gives You Critical Feedback – Possip 

How to Listen to Feedback

Listening to feedback can be hard. It is natural to feel defensive or dismissive when you get feedback.  It’s okay to start there – but don’t stay there.  Here are a few tips.  

Listening Essentials – Give yourself:

1 – A model or protocol for listening and digesting feedback.  

Human nature is – well – natural.  While you may be the superhuman who can get harsh feedback and not internalize it, that is not likely.  A model or system to digest feedback, like the one from Howard University Middle School, can be helpful.

2 – Time!

I’ve been part of a few youth sports programs. They often have a 24-hour rule.  This rule states that you don’t give feedback to a coach until 24 hours has passed from the game.  Similarly, if a coach receives an angry email from a parent, they wait at least 24 hours to respond.  You can review feedback once.  It may bother you.  But give yourself some distance.  With time, you may even see the validity of the feedback and feel more prepared to solve the problem.

3 – Freedom from a solution. 

Sometimes, the challenge isn’t the feedback.  The challenge is the pressure of having a solution to the problem.  When you free yourself from needing to come to a solution, you can spend more time understanding and empathizing with the problem.  Possip offers our customers 360 Scripts because we know that communicating that you have heard your community is Step 1.  Having the space to listen is Step 2.  Having the opportunity to solve and respond is Step 3.

In an actual conversation, this is akin to Active Listening. Instead of listening to respond, you spend time truly listening to understand.

4 – The luxury of praise. 

We often see customers breeze past the positive and transformational feedback they get.  Don’t.  Bask in the luxury of praise and the people who love you.  Respect the time, effort, and opinions of the people who love your organization at least as much as you do the folks who have issues. 

Getting the benefits of feedback means we have to listen with an open heart and mind and a willingness to learn. We have to get okay with a bruised ego, resist the urge to respond, and be patient – with ourselves and the feedback.  We have to sit in the good, at least as much as we do the bad.  And create a space so we as leaders and our team, can receive, reflect upon, and integrate feedback into future actions.

• Howard University MS’s Protocol for Using Family Feedback in School Improvement – Possip 
• The Best School Boards Listen – Possip 
• In a Time of Unrest, How Can College Students Feel Heard on Campus? – Possip
• The Path to Safer Schools: Top Questions to Ask – Possip
• 52 Effective Parent Survey Questions For Meaningful Feedback – Possip 

How to Respond to Feedback That Makes People Feel Heard

It’s not enough to just listen; you need to acknowledge the feedback, thank the person for their input, and communicate the steps you plan to take. When people see that you value their feedback and that it leads to action, they feel heard and respected. This not only builds trust but also encourages a culture of continuous improvement.

How to Change the Game by Acting on and Listening to Feedback

Firstly, show in your outbound communication that – and how – you are listening: 6 Tips on How to Communicate to Listen and Hear (while this article discussed feedback in the context of schools, it applies to all).

The true power of feedback lies in how you use it to drive change. After gathering feedback and responding appropriately, implement changes that reflect the insights you’ve gained. This could mean adjusting processes, enhancing communication, or making other strategic shifts. By acting on feedback, you demonstrate a commitment to growth and improvement, creating a feedback loop that’s effective and transformative.

• Howard University MS’s Protocol for Using Family Feedback in School Improvement – Possip 
• Possip: We want to hear from you! 
• How to Share Hard Family Feedback with Teachers – Possip 

Conclusion

By creating systems to listen, effectively sharing and responding to feedback, and taking action, you can change the way you and your team perceive and use feedback. What will you do differently in your feedback loop? Start by embracing feedback as a tool for growth, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a culture of continuous improvement.

Let’s talk about how Possip can help you gather and use feedback effectively!

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Making a Great Car Line Experience: Car and Transportation Solutions

We all know that drop-off and pick-up in the car line at schools can be a headache. Families express frustrations about inefficiency and concerns about safety. Teachers often dread the assignment of carline duty. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

This article was originally published July 2022. We’ve combined it with an awesome recording of Making a Great Carline Experience!

With planning and thoughtfulness, the carline can be a place of joyful interactions between students, parents and staff.

Make Car Line a Great Experience!

It is the first and last moment of each child’s school day and arguably the most frequent face-to-face encounter that families have with school employees.  So, it is worth spending some extra time thinking about your school’s carline logistics for both arrival and dismissal. 

Watch this recorded webinar in our membership platform to walk through the details needed to make a great carline experience! 

1. Gather information

Gather information from families before the first day of school to ensure that your teachers know exactly which of their students are car riders.  This can happen via text or email, or even in person during orientation.  If you are a Possip customer you can use your Possip pulse check to ask in advance and get a general sense for how many car riders you might have. 

2. Provide backpack tags

Provide backpack tags for all students indicating how they get to and from school!  This is especially helpful in elementary schools.  Include bus routes and/or carline numbers on these tags (for a detailed description of how to effectively use a carline number system, click here).  Color-coded, laminated tags that are attached with zip-ties work best! Support teachers with the distribution of these on the first day of school – or better yet, provide the tags at orientation, if possible. 

Click here to read the full article in the Possip Membership!

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August: What We Are Thinking About – Monthly Round Up

Unlock a world of exclusive content and insights for leaders who listen!

Join our community of Possip Members to get ahead of the trends, access free resources, and more!

SIGN UP NOW or sign in below.

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