Hamam- Dissertaion
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Family Engagement in US Schools Through the Lens of Four Saudi Mothers Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Ruba Hamam Graduate Program in Education: Teaching and Learning The Ohio State University 2020 Dissertation Committee Laurie Katz, Advisor Sarah Gallo Michiko Hikida Melinda Rhoades Copyrighted by Ruba Hamam 2020 Abstract In this study, I examined how four Saudi mothers, temporarily living in the United States, engaged in the education of their elementary school-aged children. I used the framework of Humanizing Family Engagement to discover the ways in which these mothers reported being engaged in their children’s education and how they viewed their roles in relation to their children’s education while in the U.S. Through a qualitatively designed project, I observed the authentic ways in which the Saudi mothers actively engaged with their children’s education and with the schools they attended. I employed what has come to be termed “friendship ethnography” (Stevenson & Lawthorn, 2017), as well as observation to conduct semi-structured interviews, establish a focus group, and collect artifacts. Findings indicate that the mothers engaged when the schools welcomed families, valued their cultures and their input, and communicated with them. This study also reveals that the Saudi mothers involved, embraced opportunities to participate freely in the U.S. schools. i Dedication إ ـھ اﺪء إ ﻟ ـ ﻰ و ا ﻟ ـﺪَﺗﻲ ِو ْﺟـﺪَان ووا ِﻟـﺪي َﻋﺒـْ ﺪ اﻟ ّﺴـ مﻼم Dedicated to my parents, Wijdan and Abdul-Salam {اﻟﻠﱠ ُﮭ ﱠﻢ ا ْﻧﻔَ ْﻌﻨِﻲ ﺑِ َﻤﺎ ﻋﻠ ْﻤﺘَﻨِﻲ، َو َﻋ ِﻠّ ْﻤﻨِﻲ َﻣﺎ ﯾَ ْﻨﻔَﻌُﻨِﻲ، َو ِز ْدﻧِﻲ ِﻋ ْﻠ ًﻤﺎ} Oh God, help me with what you have taught me, teach me what helps me, and increase my knowledge ii Acknowledgments First and last, thank you, ALLAH, for the amazing power that you have given me throughout my life. Thank you for your goodness and for your blessings. Thank you, too, for leading me on this journey to receive my Ph.D. You provided hope on the darkest of days. Thank you for surrounding me with amazing people who always supported me. From the depths of my heart, I offer words of gratitude to my beloved country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Thank you for making this opportunity possible and providing support for even the most minute details. May God bless you and uphold you, and may I continue to grow to be an honor for you. I would like to also express my deepest appreciation and thanks to my superb advisor, Dr. Laurie Katz. You have provided me with guidance and have continually motivated me from the time when I first arrived in the United States. Your insight, knowledge, wisdom, and nurturing support have been the foundation of my success as a student. Thank you for believing in me, and for pushing me out of my comfort zone. You provided opportunities for me to develop my skills as a presenter and writer. I will always treasure in my heart, the time that I have had as your student. Special thanks to my wonderful committee members for their invaluable guidance and mentorship. Dr. Rhoades, you have encouraged me through your professional wisdom and your always helpful actions. You have supported me from the beginning of my journey to the end. Thank you for accepting me into your full class when I first arrived in the United States even though the semester had already started. I am grateful for the opportunity to have learned from iii you. As I approached the end of my journey, you stepped up again when I needed another committee member. Dr. Gallo, your work has been an inspiration to me and a foundation for my dissertation research. Your work encouraged me to take a “humanizing” approach to the study of family engagement with schooling. Thank you for your continuous awareness of and support for the needs of international students. I also appreciate the path that you have carved for the field of family engagement. Dr. Hikida, your support has greatly strengthened me throughout this journey. Your thoughtful and kind presence often comforted my heart on stressful days. Thank you for taking the time to understand my needs and my learning style, as well as supporting me as an international student. Thank you for the Origami flower you made for me on one of my presentation days. You have been an amazing source of encouragement and guidance throughout my journey. Thank you to all of you participants who gave so willingly of your time to participate in my study. You opened your lives to me and trusted me with your stories. You shared with me, your personal experiences of engaging with schools in the United States, and I am forever grateful to you what I learned in the process of working with you. I greatly appreciate your commitment to and throughout the research process. A special thanks to my beloved family for encouraging and motivating me to strive for my goal. In particular, thanks to my loving parents for their ever-present support and your heartfelt prayers. You have always inspired me to be the best I can be, and to accomplish my dreams. I would also like to extend my thanks to my brothers and sisters who have been with me iv every step of the way and who never left my side. You have been such a blessing to me, not only through the doctoral journey, but also throughout all of my life. I would like to thank my husband for encouraging me to accomplish my vision, for seeing my potential, and for believing in my abilities. I would also like to extend my thanks to my amazing children, Nour, Majd, and Abdulrahman. You have been the light in my heart from the moment that I first held each of you in my arms. I am thankful for how your unique gifts touched me at significant moment on my doctoral journey. Thank you for making it easier for me to keep going when I was feeling down. Thank you to my first grandchild, Kayan, who came to this world as I began my journey and were often my source of energy and hope. During this journey, I gained two sons-in-law. Thank you to both of you for your support and kindness. I also gained a wonderful sister, Barbiti, without you, this would not have been possible. Your generosity and patience have been the greatest gifts to me. You opened your heart to me. You are one of the most gifted friends from ALLAH to me. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you. Thank you for your great love and care. I would like to extend my appreciation to my wonderful friend Shaimaa, who was three in one to me. You have been a friend, sister, and daughter as you have looked out for me and helped me without hesitation. I would also like to thank my friend, Halah, for the wonderful companionship throughout the entire doctoral journey. Thanks to Dr. Amal Altoaimi for her ongoing encouragement and belief in me. You have a special place in my heart. Thank you to these special people; Dr. Boone, Dr. Soter, Bonnie, Maryalice, Flavia, Mimi, and Tamara. You have supported and helped me with your encouragement and prayers. v Vita Personal Information Work Experience: • 2012-2013………Princess Nora University, Lecturer and Assistant of vice dean, KSA. • 2011-2012………Education Expert, Project manager at preparatory year, and academy manager of Self Development section and health Edu, Riyadh, KSA. • 2008-2011………Dar Al Uloom University, Director of Student Affairs department, KSA. • 2007-2008………King Saud University, Supervisor of internship students in education early childhood college, KSA. • 2006-2007………King Saud University Kindergartens, Kindergarten teacher, KSA. • 2004-2006………The Kingdom Schools, Council member Collaborator parent, KSA. • 1996-2000………King Saud University Kindergartens, Kindergarten teacher, KSA. Education: • 2010……………. Master of Educational Administration – King Saud University, Education College, KSA • 2010……………. Certified Trainer – Vocational Training Corporation, Riyadh, KSA • 1996……………. Bachelor of Early Childhood - King Saud University, Education College, KSA Publications Katz, L., & Hamam, R. (2018). Creating and Sustaining Community Schools: A Review of Creating Engagement Between Schools and Their Communities: Lessons from Educational Leaders. School Community Journal, 28(1), 349-352. Fields of Study Major Field: Teaching and Learning Specialization: Early Childhood Education vi Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................... iii Vita ................................................................................................................................................. vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Issue ................................................................................................................. 3 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................................