Forging a better school-parent partnership-using an Emotional Intelligence approach

Dr. Kunal Kala • • Dr. Pulkit KhannaMRCPsych (London) PhD Psychology (IIT)

What is wrong with parents today?

Dr. Kunal Kala • • Dr. Pulkit KhannaMRCPsych (London) PhD Psychology (IIT)

Agenda

1. Survey on Parental Involvement2. Child development and Emotional Intelligence (EI)3. Using an EI framework – Self Awareness, Awareness of

Others, Self Management, Better Relationships4. Setting clear expectations5. Institute level solutions6. School leaders 7. Teacher level initiatives8. Individualized development plan9. Discussion & Questions

Survey on Parental Involvement

Identifying various concerns (What & how much ?)

• Lack of attendance at PTM• Unrealistic expectations from children• Unrealistic expectations from teachers• Expecting teachers to handle parenting

issues• Displaying irritable/aggressive behaviours• Any other concerns

Child development

Home Environment

School Environment

CommunityInfluences

Child Development

So what seems to be happening ?

• Less self-awareness

• Less self-regulation

• Decline in empathy

• Weaker relationships

• Social & emotional learning (SEL) offers a solution to these issues

• Trainable & modifiable• Abundant research evidence showing benefits of

SEL

Understanding SEL

Understanding SEL

Understanding SEL

Understanding SEL

Understanding SEL

The 5 Core CompetenciesSource: 2013 CASEL Guide – Effective Social & Emotional Learning Programs

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Now that we know the ‘problem’ , & we understand SEL ……Let’s take a relook through an EI lens

Self Awareness (Self = school)

• What (all) do we do to engage parents?• What works?• What doesn’t?• How do parents perceive us ? • What do parents say about us?

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Empathy & Awareness of others (Others = parents)For a moment, step into parents’ shoes

• What is life like for a parent today?• What type of challenges do parents face today?• How does school ‘occur’ to parents? ( a building/ principal/ teacher/ rules/ PTA/ rigid/judgemental )• Trying to understand parents’ competence in parenting

skills

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After Self awareness and Awareness of others

• Shared goal - What is the one thing that is equally important to both parents and the school?

• Parent behavior is a function of the parent’s personal circumstances how ‘school’ occurs to themParent awareness and parenting skill or competenceAmount of time parents spend with children – quantity vs

quality• Every parent experiences a unique attachment to school• Schools are powerful

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So what can be done to strengthen the school parent relationship ?

We need INITIATIVE, STRATEGIES & MONITORING & EVALUATION

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Setting Clear Expectations

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Setting Clear Expectations

• What do parents need to do to help the school ?( e.g. attend PTA meetings, provide a nurturing, caring, violence

free home environment)

• What do parents expect from the school?• What are the desired outcomes you’re working towards?• How do you plan to assess these outcomes?

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Making the right moves… … for desired outcomes

Institute Level Policies

Leader Level Steps

Teacher Level Steps Community Level Initiatives

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Strategies – School Policies

• School – parent bond

• Parents’ point of contact at schools

• Parent engagement policy

• Parent education and training

• Looking at long-term initiatives – instead of sporadic strategies

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StrategiesLeader Level Steps

• Adopting a more pre-emptive and perceptive approach instead of fire-fighting

• Parent surveys

• Identifying training requirements

• Appointing a point of contact for parents

• Transparent parent –school relationship

• Engaging teachers

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Teacher Level Steps

• Teacher development

• Training for groups of parents and teachers together

• Bridging the distance between parents and school

• Understanding parental circumstances and context

• Frequency of teacher-parent contact

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Community Initiatives

• Platforms for reciprocal engagement between school & parents

• Appointing peer leaders among parent community

• Truly engaging parents as partners in the educational process

• Creation of active + meaningful parent forum

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Individualized School-Parent Engagement Strategy

• ‘One size fits all’ won’t work

• Evaluating steps according to your context

Questions ?

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Thank you