Session 1 Script: Strengthening Family Engagement to Improve Attendance

Welcome & Introduction (10 minutes)

“Good morning, everyone! Thank you all for being here today. I’m excited to kick off our first session of Family First Connect. Over the next hour, we’re going to define what family engagement looks like, see how it connects to attendance, play a fun bingo game, discuss real-life scenarios, practice sample scripts, and end with a quick reflection.

Let’s start with a quick icebreaker. Think of a time when you experienced a really positive moment of family engagement—either as an educator, auditor, or even as a parent. When I point to you, please share your story in just one or two minutes.

[Point around the room, allowing 5–6 participants to share]

“Thank you all for those inspiring stories. It’s clear how powerful a simple phone call home or an in-person check-in can be for building trust.

Here’s our agenda for today:

1. Define family engagement and link it to attendance.
2. Play Family Engagement Bingo.
3. Discuss communication strategy scenarios.
4. Role-play using our sample scripts.
5. Cool down and reflection.

Let’s begin!”

Define Engagement & Attendance Link (10 minutes)

“I’m going to hand out the Family Engagement Definition Handout. Please take a moment to read through the definition and key elements.”

[Pause 1 minute]

“Okay—what stands out to you in this definition? How might it look in your school or district?!”

[Invite 2–3 quick responses]

“Great thoughts. Now, let’s look at the Attendance & Engagement Data Chart. Notice how schools with higher family engagement rates also have higher daily attendance. That’s no coincidence.

“Turn to a partner and discuss: In your context, how does strong family engagement affect student attendance? You have two minutes.”

[After 2 minutes]“Who would like to share one takeaway from your discussion?”

[Collect 2–3 responses]

“Thank you. It’s clear that when families feel connected, students show up more consistently.”

Family Engagement Bingo Game (10 minutes)

“Time for our Family Engagement Bingo! Please grab a Family Engagement Bingo Game Board. When I call out an engagement practice, mark it on your board if you have it.”

“I’ll begin: Home visit.”
(Pause 5 seconds)

“Family newsletter.”
(Pause 5 seconds)

“Text message check-in.”
(Pause 5 seconds)

“Parent-teacher coffee chat.”
(Continue calling items until someone shouts “Bingo!”)

“Congratulations! Please tell us: which strategy did you mark as your winning square, and why do you think it works?”

[Allow winner to share]

“Excellent. That’s a strategy we can all try this week.”

Communication Strategies Discussion (10 minutes)

“Next, let’s break into small groups. Each group has a set of Communication Strategy Scenario Cards. Choose one card at a time, read the scenario aloud, and discuss:

• What did the educator do well?
• What could have been improved?

You’ll have five minutes per scenario. Afterward, select one best-practice takeaway to share with the whole group.”

[Circulate while groups discuss; give 5 minutes total]

“Alright, let’s come back together. Which group wants to share their best-practice takeaway?”

[Invite 2–3 groups to report]

“Thank you. Those are great insights for effective, clear, and compassionate communication.”

Script Practice (10 minutes)

“Now we’ll practice using real language. I’m handing out the Effective Language Scripts Worksheet. In pairs, pick a script and role-play the educator and the family member.”

“Focus on your tone: aim for empathy, clarity, and respect. After three minutes, I’ll ring a bell for you to switch roles and try again with a different script.”

[After 3 minutes, ring bell; after 6 minutes total, ring again]

“Wonderful work. Did anyone discover a small tweak in wording or tone that made a big difference?”

[Gather 1–2 share-outs]

“Perfect—those subtle shifts can really build rapport.”

Cool Down & Reflection (10 minutes)

“To wrap up, who would like to share one big insight or ‘aha’ from today’s session?”

[Allow 2–3 participants]

“Thank you. Now, please take a sticky note and write one specific action step: one thing you’ll do in the next week to enhance family engagement in your school.”

[Pause as participants write]

“When you’re done, place your sticky note on this board. We’ll use these action steps to kick off Session 2.”

“Thank you all for your energy and ideas today. I look forward to seeing you in our next session!”

Session 2 Lesson Plan: Turning Ideas into Action

Objective: Leverage participants’ action steps from Session 1 to develop concrete family engagement implementation plans, explore advanced strategies (including digital tools and family leadership teams), and establish metrics for tracking attendance improvements.

Why: Building on Session 1’s foundation, this hour empowers auditors and teachers to translate insights into sustainable practices, strengthen home–school partnerships, and measure impact.

Approach: Interactive reflection, a mini-game, case‐study analysis, hands-on planning, and group discussion.

Audience: School auditors and teachers

Time: 1 hour

Materials:

• Collected Action Steps Board (sticky notes from Session 1)
• Engagement Strategy Swap Game Pack
• Home–School Partnership Case Studies
• Digital Communication Tools Cheat Sheet
• Family Leadership Team Planning Worksheet
• Family Engagement Progress Tracker Template
• Markers, sticky notes, timer or bell

Prep (15 minutes):

• Assemble sticky notes from Session 1 on the Collected Action Steps Board.
• Print case studies and worksheet copies per group.
• Prepare shuffled cards for the Engagement Strategy Swap Game Pack.
• Review the Digital Communication Tools Cheat Sheet.
• Arrange markers, sticky notes, and a timer in each small‐group area.

Instructions

1. Welcome & Session 1 Recap (10 minutes)

• Greet participants and remind them of Session 1’s goal: boosting family engagement to improve attendance.
• Invite 2–3 volunteers to share progress (or barriers) they experienced implementing their action step(s) posted on the Collected Action Steps Board.
• Facilitator Script: “Thank you for sharing! Let’s learn from your successes and address your challenges together.”

2. Engagement Strategy Swap Game (10 minutes)

• Distribute one card from the Engagement Strategy Swap Game Pack to each participant.
• How to play: In pairs, each person has 1 minute to explain how they’d implement the strategy on their card in their school/district. After the bell (1 min), swap partners and repeat with a new card.
• Goal: Spark fresh ideas and cross-pollinate strategies.

3. Case‐Study Discussion (10 minutes)

• Form small groups (3–4 people) and hand out a scenario from Home–School Partnership Case Studies.
• Discussion prompts:
  • What did this school/district do well?
  • What pitfalls did they encounter?
  • What would you replicate or change?
• Reconvene and ask one group to share their top best-practice takeaway.

4. Digital Tools & Brainstorm (10 minutes)

• Present the Digital Communication Tools Cheat Sheet: text blasts, apps, social media, multilingual platforms.
• In pairs, brainstorm one new digital engagement idea not on the sheet, then share out to the whole group.

5. Family Leadership Team Planning (15 minutes)

• Distribute the Family Leadership Team Planning Worksheet alongside the Family Engagement Progress Tracker Template.
• Task: In small groups, draft a plan for forming or strengthening a family leadership team, including:
  1. Roles & responsibilities
  2. Meeting frequency and communication channels
  3. Short- and long-term engagement goals
  4. Metrics to monitor attendance improvements

6. Cool Down & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Invite 3–4 participants to share one metric they’ll track and one next‐step action from their worksheet.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Collect planning worksheets for follow-up coaching and accountability.

Closing Script: “You’ve built a concrete plan to engage families as partners and track your impact. Keep collaborating, and let’s celebrate improved attendance together!”

Communication Scenario Cards

Use these scenario cards in small-group discussions to analyze real-life communication examples. For each scenario, discuss:

• What did the educator do well?
• What could be improved?
• How would you rewrite or reframe the message for clarity, empathy, and family partnership?

Card 1: Late Arrival Check-In

Scenario: “Hello, Mrs. Ruiz. I’m calling because Sofia has been late three times this week. Please ensure she arrives on time, or there could be consequences.”

Card 2: Absence Follow-Up Email

Scenario: “Dear Mr. Jones, Johnny was absent yesterday without notice. We need a written excuse or his absence will be marked as unexcused. Let us know why he missed school.”

Card 3: Behavior Concern Message

Scenario: “Hi Mrs. Patel, your son Raj has been disrupting class and making it hard for others to learn. Please come in for a meeting so we can address this issue.”

Card 4: Parent-Teacher Conference Invitation

Scenario: “We are holding parent-teacher conferences next week. You must sign up for a slot by Friday, or we won’t be able to meet with you.”

Card 5: Language Access Interaction

Scenario: An educator leaves a voicemail in English for a primarily Spanish-speaking family: “Please call me back about Maria’s grades.” The family does not respond.

Card 6: Proposed Home Visit Notice

Scenario: “We’d like to schedule a home visit next Wednesday to discuss your child’s attendance issues. Please confirm the time.”

Discussion Prompts (for all cards):

1. Tone & Relationship: Does the message build trust and partnership?
2. Clarity & Respect: Is the language clear, respectful, and accessible?
3. Family-Centered Framing: How might you rephrase it to center the family’s perspective and strengths?

Use sticky notes or chart paper to record your group’s suggested revisions, then share one best-practice example with the whole group.

Effective Language Scripts Worksheet

Use these sample scripts to practice educator–family conversations. In pairs, take turns reading the script aloud and role-playing. Then, rewrite the message below to enhance empathy, clarity, and partnership. Finally, discuss how your changes build trust.

Script 1: Absence Follow-Up Phone Call

Original Script:
“Hello Mr. Thompson, I’m calling because Lily was absent yesterday without a note. Please send a written excuse, or the absence will be unexcused. Thank you.”

Your Rewrite:

Reflection: What did you change, and how does it sound more family-centered?

Script 2: Behavior Concern Email

Original Script:
“Dear Ms. Lopez, your son Diego has been disrupting class frequently. We need to meet to discuss his behavior. Please contact me to schedule a conference.”

Your Rewrite:

Reflection: Which words or tone shifts promote collaboration?

Script 3: Parent-Teacher Conference Invitation

Original Script:
“We are holding parent-teacher conferences next week. You must sign up for a slot by Friday, or we can’t meet with you.”

Your Rewrite:

Reflection: How does your version invite participation and respect family schedules?

Script 4: Home Visit Notice

Original Script:
“Hello Mrs. Nguyen, we’d like to schedule a home visit next Wednesday to discuss your child’s attendance issues. Please confirm a time.”

Your Rewrite:

Reflection: How does your rewrite convey appreciation for the family’s time and perspective?

Next Steps

1. Share your rewritten scripts with another pair and role-play again.
2. Note any further tweaks that improve tone or clarity.
3. Collect your best scripts to build a shared library of family-friendly messages.

Return to Session 1 activities to apply these scripts in context.

Family Engagement Bingo
Game Board

How to Play: Facilitator calls out common family engagement practices one at a time. When you hear a practice that matches a square on your board, mark it. The first person to mark five in a row—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—shouts “Bingo!” Then share which strategy you marked and why you think it’s effective.

Attendance & Engagement Data Chart

Below is attendance data from a sample of schools, grouped by family engagement levels. Review the table to explore how engagement correlates with attendance.

Discussion Prompts:

1. What pattern do you observe between family engagement levels and attendance rates?

1. How might schools leverage this information when planning family-engagement strategies?

Session 2 Cool Down & Reflection

Time: 5 minutes

1. Invite 3–4 participants to briefly share:
   • One metric they’ll track to measure family engagement’s impact on attendance
   • One next-step action they’ll take in the coming week to advance their plan
2. After each share‐out, ask: “Why is this metric meaningful, and how will it help you refine your approach?”
3. Distribute a sticky note to each participant. Ask them to write down:
   • Their chosen metric
   • Their next‐step action

1. Participants place their sticky notes on a “Progress & Action” board. Collect the notes to inform follow‐up coaching and to celebrate successes in future meetings.

Closing: “Thank you for your reflections and concrete commitments. Your metrics and actions will guide our ongoing collaboration to boost family engagement and attendance!”

Family Leadership Team Planning Worksheet

Purpose: Establish a collaborative team of family members and school staff to guide engagement efforts and improve student attendance.

1. Roles & Responsibilities

• Team Chair (e.g., school leader):
– Responsibilities:

• Family Coordinator (liaison between families & school):
– Responsibilities:

• Family Representatives (parents/caregivers):
– Responsibilities:

2. Meeting Schedule & Logistics

• Meeting Frequency (e.g., monthly, biweekly):

• Preferred Time & Format (in-person, virtual):

• Communication Channels (email, text, app):

3. Engagement Goals

Short-Term (next 3 months):

Long-Term (6–12 months):

4. Key Engagement Strategies

1. Strategy One:
   
   
   
2. Strategy Two:
   
   
   
3. Strategy Three:
   
   
   

5. Metrics & Progress Tracking

• Metric 1 (e.g., meeting attendance rate):

• Metric 2 (e.g., family survey response %):

• Metric 3 (e.g., change in student attendance):

6. Next Steps & Action Plan

• Immediate Actions (this week/month):

• Responsible Person(s) & Deadline:

Reflection:

What challenges do you anticipate? How will the team address them?

Return to Session 2 activities to integrate this plan into your implementation process.

Family Engagement Progress Tracker Template

Use this template to record each family engagement activity, track key metrics, and reflect on outcomes. Regularly updating this tracker will help you monitor progress toward your attendance goals and inform next steps.

Instructions

1. After each engagement activity, enter the date and a brief description of the activity.
2. Note your baseline metric and target (for example, baseline attendance of 85% with a target of 90%).
3. Record the actual outcome or data you collected (e.g., attendance rose to 88%).
4. In the Reflection & Next Steps column, capture insights, challenges, and planned adjustments.

Overall Trends & Insights

• What patterns do you see across activities?

• Which strategies appear most effective?

• Next 3 action steps to refine your family engagement plan:

  1. ---

  2. ---

  3. ---

Session 1 Cool Down & Reflection

Time: 10 minutes

1. Invite 2–3 participants to share one biggest insight they gained today. Consider:
   • Which family-engagement strategy resonated most with you?
   • How does it connect to improving attendance in your context?
2. Distribute a sticky note to each participant. Ask them to write:
   • One specific action step they will take in the coming week to enhance family engagement
   • One question or challenge they anticipate as they implement this step
   
   
   
3. Participants place their sticky notes on the Reflection & Action board (or wall). As a group, briefly scan the notes and note any common themes or questions.
4. Exit Ticket: On the back of the sticky note, have participants rate their confidence (1–5) in carrying out their action step and write one resource or support they need.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Closing Prompt: “Thank you for your thoughtful reflections. We’ll use your action steps and questions to guide our next session and ensure you feel supported as you strengthen family engagement and attendance.”