Module 2: Case Scenarios

Considering Culture

For these case scenario questions, please review the Four Core Beliefs for Family Engagement, as found in Module Two:

1. All families have dreams for their children and want the best for them.
2. All families have the capacity to support their child’s learning.
3. Families and school staff are equal partners.
4. The responsibility for cultivating and sustaining partnerships among school, home, and community rests primarily with school staff, especially school leaders.

Paul

1. What are some skills that Paul might need to be more successful in the classroom?
2. How could Paul’s teacher build a stronger relationship with him?

Paul’s Mother

1. How could the family’s previous bad experience with a school impact how trusting Paul’s mother might be with the current school staff?
2. Describe some of the family’s funds of knowledge.

Paul’s Teacher

1. How could Paul’s teacher learn more about the family’s culture and funds of knowledge?
2. How could she acknowledge the bad experience the family had with their previous school to provide meaningful support?
3. How can she demonstrate the four core values of family engagement?

Kamaria

1. What are some skills that Kamaria might need to be more successful in the classroom?
2. How could Kamaria’s teacher build a stronger relationship with her?

Kamaria’s Father

1. What barriers might be impacting the relationship between home and school?
2. Describe some of the family’s funds of knowledge.

Kamaria’s Teacher

1. How could Kamaria’s teacher learn more about the family’s culture and funds of knowledge?
2. What school or community resources might be helpful to him and the family to build a meaningful partnership?
3. How can he demonstrate the four core values of family engagement?

Ava

1. What are some skills that Ava might need to be more successful in the classroom?
2. How could Ava’s teacher build a stronger relationship with her?

Ava’s Mother

1. How could the family’s previous experiences with the early intervention special education team impact how trusting Ava’s mother might be with the current school staff? How might it impact Ava’s mother’s expectations of the team?
2. Describe some of the family’s funds of knowledge.

Ava’s Teacher

1. How could Ava’s teacher learn more about the family’s culture and funds of knowledge?
2. How could she learn more about the ways the early intervention team supported the family and apply the strategies to develop a strong partnership with the family? 
3. How can he demonstrate the four core values of family engagement?