Encouraging Non-English Speaking Parent Participation

Parents from other cultures are often not aware of, or comfortable with, the emphasis RIF puts on parental involvement. Here are some suggestions from RIF programs across the country to help attract these parents to your program and to help them become involved and enthusiastic partners in their childrens success.

• Provide ESL classes in the evening
  Language skills help parents acclimate to a new culture. Offering English classes or simple conversation hours at your site can help foster relationships between native and non-native English speaking parents and staff. Familiarity with the setting will help make parents more comfortable about becoming involved in other aspects of your program.
  
  
• Choose an individual to serve as a community liaison
  This person could be a staff member, volunteer or parent, but it should be someone who is familiar with the language and culture of the student population. This person can help to develop relationships with parents and families in order to encourage their participation in events.
  
  
• Materials
  Send parents flyers and letters in the languages students speak at home. If possible, provide interpreters for non-English speaking parents at PTO meetings or parent/teacher conferences or acquire headphones for simultaneous interpretation. Parents will feel that their input is welcome and desired if you make the effort to communicate with them.
  
  
• Create Spaces
  Have a designated time once a week when parents may address and discuss issues in their native language in an informal setting. You might also consider having a small corner in every classroom or in the main hall providing resources about the community in different languages (flyers, schedules, calendars, business cards, and contact information).
  
  
• Use local resources
  Churches, community centers and local cultural organizations are a great way of reaching non-English speaking parents. Staff members from these organizations can help get information to the families that may not attend school-related functions. These organizations can also help provide translators for parents. 

Involving Parents in RIF Events

• Culturally themed RIF events
  Have parents come to book distributions and talk about their native culture. Include food, music, holidays, geography, folk tales, art, language and anything else you can think of that is specific to their culture.
  
  
• Parents as Teachers
  Everyone has skills that they like to show off to others, and parents are no exception. Use their talents as a resource. Invite parents to book events to show children what they do well: cooking, art, woodworking, dance, music, sports, etc. Remind non-English speaking parents that they can become involved by demonstrating their special abilities to the children.
  
  
• Read-Aloud Time
  Set aside a time during the day when parents can sit down with their children to read a book together. Drop-off time in the morning is a great time since parents are already in the classroom.
  
  
• Organize a Parent Leadership Committee for your Program
  Let parents know that their opinions, concerns and participation are important to you. Set up a committee to help parents express their ideas and needs. Ask them to get involved in book selection, activity planning and volunteer recruitment.
  
  
• Side by Side Volunteers
  Parents can team up to conduct read-aloud sessions. Get copies of the same book in both English and the native languages represented in your program, and read them together page by page. Or have parents tell folktales, legends or other stories from their native countries to encourage multicultural awareness. Compare them with traditional American stories or those from other cultures. Follow up with a craft or activity in which parents can also participate.
  
  
• Advertise your RIF Program
  Make sure that non-English speaking/reading parents are informed about RIF events. Ask a parent or community volunteer to translate an invitation to the events into the language spoken by those parents and include it in letters or notices sent home with children. Post copies near entrances to your building. Ask local churches or cultural centers that parents attend to announce the events as well. It will make parents feel more comfortable and welcome.

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