Supporting Military Families
Supporting Military Families
By Farrell Moorehead, Mariam Couri, Megan Grimshaw, and Corinne Keller
What is a military family?
A military family is a member of a household who serves in the military, usually a parent(s) or guardian. A military family is technically defined by an, "Immediate family members related by blood, marriage, or adoption to a current member of the U.S. armed forces, including one who is deceased," (OneStar Foundation, 2012).
How to Support Military Children in the Classroom
Military children benefit from specialized support and engagement in the classroom. See the infographic to the right for more details!
This video illustrates the support teachers provide for parents and military children in the classroom.
How to Connect with Military Families
Develop a welcome packet for military children.
Establish a buddy program for military children at each school.
Encourage parents and guardians to be active in the school
Promote student participation in extracurricular activities
Encourage parents, guardians and students to become involved with national organizations.
How to Support Military Families as a Teacher
Create A Safe Classroom
As a teacher, you have an opportunity to to create a safe space for students who have a loved one deployed.
Be clear with expectations
Check in with students and provide resources
Recognize the academic gaps
Help them feel seen
Invite a veteran to speak to the class
Encourage student socialization and friendships
Make Meaningful Connections
It's important to create meaningful connections with the student and family of the deployed military member.
Create a care package and send it to the deployed family member
Extend a personal invitation to the military family
Avoid asking prying questions, be a listening ear
Help make the school community welcoming to military families
Invite military families to PTA/PTO boards and help them be a liaison
Supporting and Advocating for the Student
Seek professional help if a child needs it
Encourage communication and involvement from the parent that isn’t deployed
Be understanding of the child and their behavior/points of view
Help create a consistent routine for the child
Stay in contact with the service member
Help the child think about their service member each and every day
Make timelines easy to understand
Purple Star Designation for Ohio Schools
Purple Star recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Ohio was the first state to implement the Purple Star Program.
School must have a staff point of contact for military students and families who works as a liaison for the school and them
The liaison informs teachers of military-connected students in their classrooms
The school includes a dedicated web page that includes military family resources
Overall the schools must foster a supportive culture for military families
Sesame Street for Military Families Helps Children Through Life’s Milestones
Military One Source
Military One Source provides resources from Sesame Street for military families.
"The initiative aims to address the ongoing needs of military children related to their experiences and transitions. The free multimedia website — with videos, games, tips, articles and more — is offered in both English and Spanish for children and parents. You can help your child gain resilience and have fun along the way."
Recommended Books
All books can be found on Amazon.
Teacher Training to Support Military Families
MCEC
Military Child Education Coalition
Program that offers training to educators interested in supporting military families through using effective resources and additional support. This program has held virtual training programs such as a 'Social and Emotional Learning' virtual training session, accessible to any educator that is interested in learning.
“This training helps educators who work with students from military families. The content addresses student behavior and how it’s interrelated with academic competencies, decision-making, and relationship management,” said Kaci McCarley, MCEC’s program manager for professional development. “Once we can help students learn to self-manage, they do better with assignments and in their relationships with peers and others.”
RESOURCES
5 things school leaders can do to connect with military families. UtahPTA.org. (2023, February 10). Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.utahpta.org/5-things-school-leaders-can-do-connect-military-families
Amazon.com: Books. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://store.amazon.com/
Rfletcher. (2023, February 21). Sesame Street for Military Families. Military OneSource. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting/family-life/sesame-street-for-military-families/
Virtual Lab School. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://www.virtuallabschool.org/school-age/family-engagement/lesson-5 (2018). Education Revolution: Family Stories. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/OFgbeIXWHPA
Hughes, M. (2020, July 2). Training to support military children. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.barryrobinson.org/training-to-support-military-children/
“Inspiring TEAC...” NJ Alternate Route Rutgers University, https://njalternateroute.rutgers.edu/blog/6-ways-educators-can-support-students-military-families.
Lauren. “10 Ways to Support Military Families.” Military Connection, 23 Mar. 2021, https://militaryconnection.com/blog/10-ways-to-support-military-families/.
Fletcher, Robert. “Supporting Military Children during Deployment.” Plan My Deployment, 20 Sept. 2022, https://planmydeployment.militaryonesource.mil/deployment/family-members/supporting-kids-during-deployment/.