Community Conversations
Today's educational practice and policy focuses overwhelmingly on academic achievement. This achievement, however, is but one element of student learning and development and only a part of any complete system of educational accountability. Communities, schools, and teachers must all support the development of a child who is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. We advocate a comprehensive approach to learning and teaching. We recognize that successful young people must be not only knowledgeable when they graduate from school, but also emotionally and physically healthy, civically engaged, responsible, and caring. We believe every child deserves a 21st century education that fully prepares him or her for college, work, and citizenship.
To help answer these questions and inspire conversations, the Whole Child Community Conversations Project allows all stakeholders to explore and discuss the best ways to support the whole child. Download background information and the resources below to use in your community conversation.
Local Community Engagement
- The Community Conversations Project: A Guide for Informal Discussion Groups
- Grade Your School and Community
- Facilitator Feedback
This facilitator's guide will allow local communities to explore how to work together to support the whole child. Some communities may choose a more formal, community-wide event, while others may prefer smaller discussion groups. This guide is designed for those interested in more informal group conversations. It contains tips and guiding questions to initiate conversations among small groups representing a school, community, or neighborhood. Small-group discussions allow participants to discuss and weigh in on issues important to them. These conversations will help communities develop increased understanding about the whole child approach to learning to help inform their decision making and inspire a shared commitment to action.
Student Engagement
- Community Conversations for High School Students: A Facilitator's Guide for Student Discussion Groups
- The Five-Point Whole Child Action Agenda
- Guiding Questions
- Facilitator Feedback
Students are experts in school reform; they understand their peers and have the intuition to identify the methods of teaching that are most effective and valuable to their education. When students are given a meaningful voice in shaping the environment of the school, they develop a shared investment in shaping the school identity. This resource will serve as a facilitator's guide to help students prepare for and lead a student discussion that inspires conversation and answers the following questions:
- What does educating the whole child mean to students? What do students understand about the initiative, and what is still unclear?
- What are the students' reactions to this initiative?
- What is the students' role in this initiative?
A facilitator's guide designed specifically for preservice teachers is also available. For more information on the Whole Child Initiative and the community conversations project, please contact us.
