You can listen to the recording of this webcast at www.edtechtalk.com/ParentsasPartners

Five interactive workshops!

Agenda for the Day
Keynote and interactive dialogue with Debbie Pushor
Workshops
National Child Day Celebration
Refreshments and lunch will be provided

Details
Cost $75 for members and $100 for non-members
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
at Delta Toronto East, 2035 Kennedy Road, Toronto (Kennedy Rd. & 401)

Registration
Register now at www.onlineregistrations.ca/fsio_conference/

For more information on the FSIO conference
Sharing our Stories, Finding our Voices
November 17-19, 2010 at Delta Toronto East
visit www.fsio.ca/conference.html

Research on early learning and child care is conclusive: a child’s experiences during the first five years of her/his life can set a critical direction for future success in school and for living a healthy and fulfilling life (Pascal’s Early Learning Report, 2009; Canadian Council on Learning, 2007). The research on parent engagement is equally as conclusive: when parents are engaged in their children’s schooling, children stay in school longer, do better in school, and like school more (Henderson & Mapp, 2002).

What this research means for us is that when we join our voices as parents, educators, and staff, rigt from the start of our children’s lives and through the school years, we can make a significant difference to their health and security; emotional, social and academic competence; and their interest, confidence, and success as learners.

Join Our Voices – PDF

Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Quality Parkway Hotel & Convention Center, 325 Ontario Street, St. Catharines ON
No cost, however registration is required by Monday, Janurary 18, 2010
To register please contact the ECCDC at 905.646.7311 ext. 304 or email eccdc@eccdc.org

Debbie Pushor Keynote

Full Article on YCDSB

Prof. Debbie Pushor of the University of Saskatchewan has been studying the relationship between families and schools for many years and will share the latest research at the 12th annual Parent Learning Forum, a partnership between the Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee and the London District Catholic School Council.

“Research shows the more we’re engaged in our children’s education, the more successful they will be,” said TVPIC Chairperson Arlene Morell, noting that Pushor is one of Canada’s leading researchers into the effects of parent engagement.

The day-long forum on Saturday, Oct. 24, kicks off with remarks from Annie Kidder, Executive Director of People for Education, an independent parent-led organization working to improve public education in Ontario’s English, Catholic and French schools.

People for Education promotes greater civic engagement in the public education system and conducts research into the effects of policy and funding changes on schools.

Wrapping up the forum, Dr. Peter Jaffe and Teacher Katie Cole will lead a workshop intended for parents who want to learn more about the harmful impact of media violence and how to engage other parents, students~and school communities to address this issue.

Jaffe and Cole are on the cutting edge of research which suggests children and adolescents are being flooded with images of violence, racism and sexism through video games, movies, television, music, the internet and advertising.

Parent Learning Forum Saturday, Oct. 24,~ 2009 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m

8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks

Annie Kidder, Executive Director, People for Education

People for Education, an independent parent-led organization, working to improve public education in Ontario’s English, Catholic and French schools. In 1996, it began as part of the parent association at a downtown Toronto school and has grown to become a provincial organization. Annie will share her views on public education, which she believes has the capacity to transform and enrich children’s lives and is the foundation of a civil society. In a fully publicly funded education system, every child should have access to the education that meets his or her needs.

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Parent Leadership and Engagement

Dr. Debbie Pushor, Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Saskatchewan

Debbie will lead us in exploring how we can move from practices of parent involvement in schools to practices of parent engagement and leadership.~This interactive workshop session will focus on increasing our knowledge of the value of parent engagement, and discover solutions to promote long-term partnerships between families and schools in support of increased student achievement.~

11:30 – 12 noon LUNCH

12 noon – 2 p.m. Media Violence – A Workshop for Parents

Dr. Peter Jaffe, TVDSB Trustee and Academic Director, Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children, University of Western Ontario

Katie Cole, English Department Head, Medway High School, Consultant to the Provincial Coalition on Media Violence

Current research on media violence suggests that our children and adolescents are being flooded with images of violence, racism and sexism through video games, movies, television, music, the internet and advertising. Parents need to get involved and work with other parents and educators to address this problem. The workshop is intended for parents who want to learn more about the harmful impact of media violence and how to engage other parents, students~and school communities to address this issue. The workshop will provide up to date information on media violence as well as~ideas on how to implement a similar workshop in your community.

In her keynote presentation, Debbie will discuss current research and practices in the field of parent engagement. Following her keynote, Debbie will assist in facilitating a process in which participants develop a parent engagement action plan to enact in their home school board: this is what I learned, this is what I can and will do to act on what I know.

The audience for this session will include:

• All Public and Catholic School Council/ Home and School/ Parent group leaders in the geographical area ( London – Woodstock – St. Thomas and surrounding area)
• South Western Ontario neighbouring PIC leaders
• Teachers/principals/ administration, trustees and all stakeholders/community partners in education
• Partners in the First Nation community and the ESL community

Debbie, together with participants, will be discussing the two big questions: So what? Now what?