The modules on this website were designed for teacher educators. The modules provide guidance on how to tie meaningful community-based experiences to educator preparation through a set of adaptable activities. Teacher educators can use the modules in two ways:

1. Integrate all three modules into a standalone course on family and community engagement

2. Embed the modules throughout different courses in education preparation programs (our recommendation)

Strategically weaving the module activities throughout coursework, such as introductory education courses, literacy education courses, mathematics or science methods courses, or multilingual education courses, can help you:

• Avoid "Add-on": Using modules across different courses demonstrates consistency and an authentic integration of family and community engagement into by including goals of engagement as a focus in the course objectives and infusing key assignments (readings and field experiences) as opportunities for practice. 

• Address a lack of resources: Pre-designed modules alleviate some of the time and intellectual effort required of faculty to support teacher candidates learning how to integrate families and communities into their work. Instead, instructors can focus on adapting resources to meet the unique needs of educators and families in your community contexts. 

• Supplementing school-based opportunities: We worked directly with community educators and families as co-designers to create authentic community-based experiences in ways that are often not possible when teacher candidates work in our partner schools. These modules can serve as a starting point to inspire your own direct collaborations with communities and families.