Guiding Children Successfully, Episode 2: Helping Children Use Their Gifts

Dr. Wally Goddard shares with educators how high self-esteem has become more detrimental than helpful to children. Instead, he believes we should help children use their gifts. In this episode, Goddard explains three ways he believes we can achieve this. First, teachers must focus on a child’s strengths because every person has a gift. Second, it is necessary to teach children that no one has every gift. Third, we all need to use our gift to help others through some kind of service. Ultimately, by using our gift to help others; our gifts will help make the world a better place and individual’s self-esteem will be raised.

Guiding Children Successfully, Episode 3: Parents and Teachers Working Together - Parental Involvement

This course instructs teachers and parents on how to work as partners to assist children. Three main points for parent and teacher cooperation are discussed by host and Family Life Specialist, Dr. Wally Goddard. Also among the topics discussed are negotiation skills, strategies for helping children succeed in school, and strategies for handling hostilities.

Parental Involvement: Introduction

This course includes a PDF, a PowerPoint, and a video with graded questions. The PDF and PowerPoint discuss in detail Arkansas Acts 603 of 2003 and 307 of 2007 and their implementation and application within the school. In the video, a group of experts from around the country answer the question, "What is parental involvement?" Experts also discuss the implementation and application of Arkansas Acts 603 of 2003 and 307 of 2007, the federal NCLB definition of parental involvement, and what research says about quality family engagement.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Administrators' Roundtable

Family and community engagement in schools is much more than parent-teacher conferences and organizing fundraisers. In the state of Arkansas, involving families in public schools is mandated by law. This professional development course features school administrators discussing the legal requirements of family and community engagement in Arkansas schools and the difficulties and successes of that implementation.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Elementary Roundtable

Family and community engagement in elementary schools is much more than parent-teacher conferences and organizing fundraisers. This professional development course features a panel of experts discussing how teachers can help families understand the importance of family engagement and ideas on how families can be involved in the child's education in all areas, and not just in the classroom. They also discuss the difficulties and successes of implementing an effective family and community engagement program.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Middle School Roundtable

This professional development course features a panel of teachers and administrators discussing the challenges and unique requirements of parental involvement at the middle school level. What tools do middle schools have to reach parents? What is the role of a parent at this transitional age? Panelists also discuss the challenges of communicating to parents and students about sensitive social and developmental issues.

Parental Involvement: High School Roundtable

This professional development course features a panel of teachers and administrators discussing the challenges and unique requirements of parental involvement at the high school level. The panelists, who are also parents themselves, discuss topics such as: What tools do high schools have to reach parents? What is the role of a parent at this transitional age? How does a parent's responsibility change as they prepare their child for the real world? Panelists also discuss the challenges associated with reaching at-risk students and frustrated parents who have lost hope for their child's academic success. 

Parental Involvement: Applications - Elementary

This course is designed to provide teachers with practical ideas and inspiration for maximizing the impact that parents can make. Teachers and educational leaders from across the state of Arkansas discuss what teachers can learn from parents, how changes in our culture have affected family engagement, and what great ideas they have implemented to involve families on a regular basis.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Parental Involvement: Applications - Middle School/High School

As a student transitions from elementary school to middle school and high school, family engagement changes. This course shows what family and community engagement looks like in middle school and high school, what teachers can do to encourage family engagement, and tips for promoting a positive and inviting school environment for families. 

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.

Family & Community Engagement: Inviting Caregivers & Community Partners Into School

It is vitally important that we take deliberate, intentional steps toward creating a collaborative network of support for our students. Becoming partners in our advocacy for educating the whole child influences student success and strengthens relationships throughout the community. In this course, parental involvement consultant Dave Shepard introduces steps educators can take to invite caregivers into the daily operations and activities of schools. Melissa Dunbar-Gates moderates discussions on broadening the definition of parental involvement toward a more inclusive, community-based definition that encompasses all types of caregivers.

This course meets the family and community engagement requirements of ACA 6-15-1703.