Chapter 5: Opening Minds to The Power of Partnerships with Families Through Online Learning Modules

This circumstance is, in some senses, unique and unprecedented because of the pandemic. However, it is reflective of other circumstances in which teachers could find themselves where family members express powerful emotions that are not always directly related to an individual teacher's actions. In this chapter, we introduce a way to begin to reflect on experiences such as this. We then share a broader online learning opportunity we have developed for educators throughout Hawai‘i and beyond, to practice reflection and learn about family and community engagement.

Often, when faced with someone who is angry and upset, people will feel defensive and may not be able to see through another's critical words to their deep distress. These emotions may also exacerbate tensions related to differences between teachers and families due to race, socioeconomic status, neighborhoods, and cultures. This may be especially true for a teacher who is under significant stress due to being new to teaching, trying to teach online for the first time, or attempting to learn different online or teaching platforms. Teachers may have learned to deal with stress and heightened emotions differently than the parents and guardians with whom they interact.