Overcoming Family Barriers to Authentic Family Engagement

Educators understand the importance of family engagement in a student's academic achievement, but unfortunately this is often easier said than done.  One of the factors that prevents this from happening is family barriers-- from busy lifestyles and work to the tasks of parenting multiple children.  How can we work to overcome this barrier and promote authentic family engagement?

 I have brainstormed a quick list of possible activities that may help reach families despite barriers.  These ideas are far from perfect, but a good starting point if looking for a solution.  I honestly feel that the best way we can work towards authentic family engagement is to build the parent's confidence in the educator through continuous respectful communication and collaboration.

• After-hours family activities a few times a month would permit busy families an after-hours opportunity to engage in their child's education.  These would help eliminate the planning part of parental engagement, be minimally time consuming, highly educational, offered after work hours, and fun for the whole family.
• Science experiment night--families work together to complete a project related to the current science unit.
• Reading night--families visit the library, learn about featured titles and read together.
• Creative writing night--give everyone a writing prompt and share short stories.  Could focus on current language arts objectives.
• Museum night--arrange with a local museum or exhibit related to social studies or history curriculum to host a free family night.
• Math night--hold monthly math nights that could follow the style of a math competition, or just put current math concepts to use in fun ways.
• Write a classroom blog that features current classroom curriculum and instruction in action.  This could include explanations of assignments, videos of how you are approaching a new math concept, clips of songs that you have used in class to teach a subject, or even feature student writing and art.  It could have supplemental ideas for subjects, allowing families to pick and choose projects that would benefit them and fit their schedule.
•  Offer a parent math night that gives parents a crash course in what and how their children are learning in math this semester.  This could open a lot of doors for parents to more readily help their children without the struggle of trying to figure it out themselves.
• Offer a babysitter during parent-teacher conferences.  This could be just a teacher's aide who entertains siblings with an activity in one corner of the room while the parent and teacher discuss the student at the desk.  
• Find out what the parent has to offer the classroom.  Maybe mom is an accountant who can help teach a math lesson about money, or perhaps dad is a writer who can share some tips about character development.  Each parent will have his or her unique strengths to contribute to the classroom, even if in a small way.  
• Teach children to ask their parents to schedule a time for help.  Sometimes, children may assume that their parent is too busy to help based on what they see at home.  Or, when they ask for help, mom and dad are in the middle of something else.  Teaching children to say "Hey guys, I need help with math.  When would be the best time for you to help?"  gives them an opportunity to ask without seeming impatient. 
• Consider home situations when assigning homework and projects.  Where ever possible, provide opportunities for children to work on these things during class time using classroom supplies.  Be available to help where necessary.  
• I would love to hear your ideas!!