Survey the school's staff and parents to discover skills they have that they would be willing to teach others. Basic car repair, dancing, painting, literacy skills, cooking, resume writing, family math, bike repair, ceramics and knitting are just a few of the talents you might unearth. Set a regular meeting date like "Third Thursday" and offer free classes in these skills. For classes that aren't appropriate for families to attend together, provide childcare. If possible, partner with a local college to identify and develop a pool of volunteers to support this effort.
Parents generally love to watch their children perform and welcome the opportunity for a family-friendly night out. Reserve the gym and the cafeteria and invite parents to a simple dinner and student performance. Soup, hot bread and a salad make a satisfying meal that is economical and easy to serve to a large group. Student performances can include poetry readings, skits, singing, jokes, fables and music.
Celebrate the cultural heritages of all the members of the school's community; families feel more welcome when they see their traditions being embraced. This can be as simple as inviting community members to the school to talk about their heritage and then breaking out into small groups for a discussion of participants' traditions, hosting a family movie night on a cultural theme or as involved as a Pow Wow or Latin Dance night.
Engage parents in their children's education by communicating with them frequently regarding their children's progress. Phone calls, notes, home visits and emails that convey a positive message about the child or contain helpful suggestions on how to support classroom instruction build confidence, strengthen the school-home connection and make parents more likely to be involved. Use school newsletters to announce family events, give updates on classroom activities and homework tips.