I think the real question might be "how do we build care values in *
parents* of FLL team members?" ;)
  As an art teacher, we deal with this all the time-  How to show
successes, lessons gained and value to what is a non-quantitative subject,
and I feel your frustration.  You might handle this in two or three ways
throughout the season. Start with an expectation parent form.  The
expectation parent form can be a part of the form you have them sign when
they join the team and is in included in all the important stuff like
attendance requirements and financial contribution by adding ways in which
what they can expect their child to grow during the season.  At the end,
give them a list of what the goals are for the season- contributing to the
research, discovering or adding to an innovate solution, learning to
program, creating a mission solution, working with team members on
challenges, helping another team member on a problem they are having...
.etc. I would list about ten areas of growth.  This sets up the expectation
that the POINT of the group is to grow intellectually and by adding skills
specific to the group's purpose, not points at the tournament.  I have also
answered the question,"how many points does that mean they got?" with, "I
dunno, but I'm really proud of (so-so) improving (x skill). S/He's really
grown in that area!"  When we come of the judging rooms, if I went in to
them, I talk about how much each child contributed and what this means to
work as a team. I never mention or stress points to uninvolved parents.
      A second way to show growth is through photos. Get one of the parents
or students to keep a team log/online blog site.  Have team photographer
and upload images from each meeting. You can do this at the end of the
meeting as a part of the end meeting routine, or you can take the sims card
home and do it yourself.  Seeing the kids having fun, videos of their
missions working out and their obvious pride and success in that mission is
usually enough to keep parents from asking what they got for their money.
(This is especially important in art. We have lots of on-line art galleries
to help highlight the success and growth of an artist from the beginning to
the end of the year.  And so that I can explain what skill we were
developing.)  If security is an issue for one of the kids, don't include
them in photos, use a lego head to block just their face, or create an
unsearchable blog. (Trust me, most blogs are pretty unsearchable unless
they have thousands of hits or followers.)
     We also have an end of the season round-up. We do this as a potluck
and gather for fun. We watched the videos taken at the tournament or
sometimes we watch the videos we posted on our blog.   I give them
*appreciative
inquiry* questions- What was your favorite part of FLL? What was your
favorite part of being on a team? How do you feel better prepared for (next
year/other challenges) by having gone through this season?  And my favorite
question- what would be your elevator speech- your 30 second response to a
person asking you, "What is FLL?"  For at least for one parent, this was
the moment- after the team was totally done- that she realized how much her
child loved the group and what* **he* felt he got out of it.
 Regards,
Brandy



On Sat, Nov 17, 2012 at 8:40 PM, Laura Dysart <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> My team had a good season- I didn't have parental help during season,
> never have- (I should say as a second coach) but did at the tournament
> which was nice. It is exhausting to be solo coach. I felt really proud of
> my kids, they worked hard, got a lot of positive feedback from judges- but
> parents who came to the tournament and had no involvement all year seemed
> obsessed by the "points"  and then a little on "who will win." The children
> seemed fine! I feel like no matter how great our team functions- if no
> award- or low points- parents seem worried-  question of parent buy-in-I
> think we had a GREAT season! Robot didn't perform as it did at school- and
> kids frustrated- but they got it- our best round was practice which didn't
> count- I had 2 ADHD kids and an Asperger's kid- lots of work as a solo
> coach on just being a team- and the fact that we got through the season and
> tournament as a true team in my personal goals- was a major feat! and they
> did well- they just didn't win. I felt like they really bonded.  Parents
> always seem disappointed? Any thoughts? Have tried to educate about the
> experience for the kids not the win- "It's what we learn, not what we win."
> I really believe that and appreciate that about FLL.  The experience in and
> of itself is huge!!!!
>
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