A current perspective on the challenges being faced by Catholic schools is captured in this recent New York Times article. The Notre Dame Task Force report is cited. Here's the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/education/18catholic.html
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Volunteers, How did Week 1 Go?
Hit the "COMMENTS" link immediately below and let us know how your volunteer experience went Monday night (Jan. 26).
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Week 1 Addendum from Heather
I have placed "getting to know you" materials in your mailboxes (except for Devon's). If you want to use these materials for tomorrow night, please bring them with you as they will not be made available at St. Adalbert's. If you would prefer not to have them placed in your mailbox (i.e. you want me to bring them to the school, please let me know). The worksheets are for your use and to assist with your conversations with your family. Some of the sheets have pictures on them if you are unable to give descriptions in words and gestures, but I would encourage you to use pictures only after you have attempted other forms of communication.
I will bring the family tree forms for the families with me, so you will not have to worry about that.
Also, we will be taking pictures tomorrow and throughout the program so the families can put them in their scrapbook (they will each receive a binder with page protectors to help them document their experience). If you want duplicate pictures, please let me know.
Finally, I have included volunteer reflection forms in your mailboxes and will bring more with me tomorrow. As we mentioned in the orientation, Carmen and I want your feedback and want to help you help this family to the best of your ability, so we need to know what is and is not working. I would like you each to take a moment after the program ends tomorrow night to fill out the form and hand it to me or Carmen before you leave.
Thanks so much for your help! Also, Lauren Fischer has been kind enough to lend her talents to designing our logo, so I will send it to your when it is complete.
Have a great night!
Best, Heather
I will bring the family tree forms for the families with me, so you will not have to worry about that.
Also, we will be taking pictures tomorrow and throughout the program so the families can put them in their scrapbook (they will each receive a binder with page protectors to help them document their experience). If you want duplicate pictures, please let me know.
Finally, I have included volunteer reflection forms in your mailboxes and will bring more with me tomorrow. As we mentioned in the orientation, Carmen and I want your feedback and want to help you help this family to the best of your ability, so we need to know what is and is not working. I would like you each to take a moment after the program ends tomorrow night to fill out the form and hand it to me or Carmen before you leave.
Thanks so much for your help! Also, Lauren Fischer has been kind enough to lend her talents to designing our logo, so I will send it to your when it is complete.
Have a great night!
Best, Heather
Week 1 Plan from Carmen ... If you have Questions ... Hit the Comment Link Below and Post
Hi everyone!
As promised, here is our plan for Monday [ Jan. 26, 2009 ] and the format for the future meetings.
Keep in mind that we can’t and won’t give you an exact script because we want you to go at the pace of your families.
We will provide you with enough curriculum to keep you busy, options, and support on Monday nights.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you!
Carmen
------------------------------------------
La Familia Extendida: Format
Please note: this is a very flexible curriculum as we are tailoring to the families needs and will base the curriculum on their progress. Feel free to be creative! Carmen and Heather will visit each of you to provide support.
5–5:30 Social time/food
5:30–5:45 Talk about the week, how the homework went, questions, concerns, review last week.
5:45–6:15 Practice with Sed de Saber Program
6:15–6:30 Live tutoring conversation, extension activities, homework
6:30-7:30 PACT (Parents And Children Together) Tim
Week 1: January 26, 2009 Theme: Getting to know each other, Introductions
5–5:30 Social time/food
5:30–5:45 Introductions.
My name is… My family is…wife, son ,daughter, etc. Tell them where you are from. Repeat- Repeat- Gesture ! Get them talking! Don’t over-correct, especially the first day. This is your chance to get comfortable and start forming your tutoring relationship. Their comfort level will be essential to the amount of learning they will be able to accomplish. It is okay to spend a little time doing this, and it will be awkward at first. It is okay!
You will be provided with a packet that has questions to practice asking and answering and pictures that you can point to in order to convey meaning. This is also an opportunity to confirm a list of who will be coming every week.
5:45–6:15 Practice with Sed de Saber Program Help them to manipulate the machine. Go through the things they know quickly and spend more time on what is new. Make a note of where they are.
6:15–6:30 Live tutoring conversation, extension activities, homework.
This is your chance to tell them what they did well, what they need to practice, and to send them home with vocabulary words or phrases to practice. You will both fill out a short evaluation of the first day so we can help you with the curriculum for the next week.
6:30-7:30 PACT (Parents And Children Together) Time
Read aloud: Mi familia/my family
Create autobiographies, begin work on a family tree. Take pictures and demonstrate by creating your own autobiography and family tree.
Depending upon the levels of the parents kids, you can:
Level 1: concentrate on the pictures and simple vocabulary such as my name is, my wife is, my son is, my occupation/age, etc…
Level 2: Add adjectives and descriptions. I am tall, I have dark hair, etc.
Level 3: Write a paragraph including likes/dislikes, etc…
Homework: finish autobiography and family tree to bring next time.
Devon: Carmina wants to practice writing essays, how to write bibliographies, etc. I’ll have something separate for you on Monday.
Week Two Theme: Family Stories
Week Three Theme: Family Recipes
Week Four Theme: Food/$/Groceries
Week Five Theme: Health Care guest speaker from community agency
Week Six: Health Care/plan celebration
As promised, here is our plan for Monday [ Jan. 26, 2009 ] and the format for the future meetings.
Keep in mind that we can’t and won’t give you an exact script because we want you to go at the pace of your families.
We will provide you with enough curriculum to keep you busy, options, and support on Monday nights.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you!
Carmen
------------------------------------------
La Familia Extendida: Format
Please note: this is a very flexible curriculum as we are tailoring to the families needs and will base the curriculum on their progress. Feel free to be creative! Carmen and Heather will visit each of you to provide support.
5–5:30 Social time/food
5:30–5:45 Talk about the week, how the homework went, questions, concerns, review last week.
5:45–6:15 Practice with Sed de Saber Program
6:15–6:30 Live tutoring conversation, extension activities, homework
6:30-7:30 PACT (Parents And Children Together) Tim
Week 1: January 26, 2009 Theme: Getting to know each other, Introductions
5–5:30 Social time/food
5:30–5:45 Introductions.
My name is… My family is…wife, son ,daughter, etc. Tell them where you are from. Repeat- Repeat- Gesture ! Get them talking! Don’t over-correct, especially the first day. This is your chance to get comfortable and start forming your tutoring relationship. Their comfort level will be essential to the amount of learning they will be able to accomplish. It is okay to spend a little time doing this, and it will be awkward at first. It is okay!
You will be provided with a packet that has questions to practice asking and answering and pictures that you can point to in order to convey meaning. This is also an opportunity to confirm a list of who will be coming every week.
5:45–6:15 Practice with Sed de Saber Program Help them to manipulate the machine. Go through the things they know quickly and spend more time on what is new. Make a note of where they are.
6:15–6:30 Live tutoring conversation, extension activities, homework.
This is your chance to tell them what they did well, what they need to practice, and to send them home with vocabulary words or phrases to practice. You will both fill out a short evaluation of the first day so we can help you with the curriculum for the next week.
6:30-7:30 PACT (Parents And Children Together) Time
Read aloud: Mi familia/my family
Create autobiographies, begin work on a family tree. Take pictures and demonstrate by creating your own autobiography and family tree.
Depending upon the levels of the parents kids, you can:
Level 1: concentrate on the pictures and simple vocabulary such as my name is, my wife is, my son is, my occupation/age, etc…
Level 2: Add adjectives and descriptions. I am tall, I have dark hair, etc.
Level 3: Write a paragraph including likes/dislikes, etc…
Homework: finish autobiography and family tree to bring next time.
Devon: Carmina wants to practice writing essays, how to write bibliographies, etc. I’ll have something separate for you on Monday.
Week Two Theme: Family Stories
Week Three Theme: Family Recipes
Week Four Theme: Food/$/Groceries
Week Five Theme: Health Care guest speaker from community agency
Week Six: Health Care/plan celebration
Friday, January 23, 2009
A brief introduction
The decline in Catholic school enrollment (from 5.2 million in the mid-1960's to 2.2 million today) has many causes. One big challenge has been in figuring out ways to help acculturate new immigrant populations. The natural focus has been on changing or adapting the schools. This project is about a different approach: helping the families themselves to change and grow, in a way that enhances children's academic performance and builds the school's value proposition.
Hence, the premise as written by Heather Burns, Notre Dame MBA:
La Familia Extendida is designed to provide English language training to every member of the Hispanic elementary student’s family to include parents and siblings. This program will take place at St. Adalbert’s school and will place them as the “extended family” that is central to Hispanic culture. The goal of this program is to enhance the schools value proposition for the family; building trust and improving student performance and achievement.
Hence, the premise as written by Heather Burns, Notre Dame MBA:
La Familia Extendida is designed to provide English language training to every member of the Hispanic elementary student’s family to include parents and siblings. This program will take place at St. Adalbert’s school and will place them as the “extended family” that is central to Hispanic culture. The goal of this program is to enhance the schools value proposition for the family; building trust and improving student performance and achievement.
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