Understanding the needs of whanau is going to be instrumental when it comes to creating a home/school partnership to implement ENGAGE both at school and at home. The following activity allowed us to show empathy to those at the centre of our challenge.
Activity: Role Play
In pairs, each person demonstrates what this problem looks like when it is happening in the classroom.
For me, it was important to roleplay the challenge parents may have, understanding what is happening at school and the role we are asking them to play at home.
The scenario I acted out was a scene I have experienced during whanau conferences (a student lead meeting whereby the student, parent and teacher discuss learning goals for the year ahead).
Alethea played the teacher and I played a Tongan Parent with very limited English language.
Communication between teacher and parent was difficult and both parties had a different understanding of roles regarding education at school and at home. It showed how difficult it must be to understand what the school is asking of them and for them to know how to best support their students at home. It also showed the value our parents put in the education of their children.
The outcome of this activity was the importance of finding another way to communicate and connect with whanau in a way that they will understand. It also indicates that what we are currently doing to connect with parents isn't working.
For my design to be successful I am going to have to communicate with whanau through their own languages to find out how they perceive the challenge and what their needs are. I need to see this challenge through the eyes of the parents within our school community.
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