Importance of Engaging Parents in their Students' Learning
Educational research over the past thirty years, exploring the issues related to the engagement of parents as partners in education, has established unequivocally a direct correlation between parental
involvement and increased student achievement. Even after all factors such as social class, socio-economic status, ethnicity, family structure and parents’ educational attainment have been factored out, parental involvement still remains a significant predictor of student achievement and adjustment.
While the majority of parents desire to be more involved in their child’s learning, there are many obstacles preventing them from doing so. Lack of money and time are two major inhibitors. The pressure on households to have all available adults contributing to family income places demands on parents to be active participants in the workforce. Add to this children with busy afterschool commitments and there is a small amount of time left for parents to be involved in school in a meaningful way. Psychological barriers may also operate for parents and inhibit participation and involvement. Some parents confidently treat teachers as equals and are comfortable using the language of education while others come to the partnership with little confidence and self assurance. In the case of some Aboriginal parents and family members, their own educational
experience may have been negative and this can impact on how they engage with and participate in their child’s schooling.
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/schoolsweb/studentsupport/programs/
schoollearning/rf6engage.pdf
involvement and increased student achievement. Even after all factors such as social class, socio-economic status, ethnicity, family structure and parents’ educational attainment have been factored out, parental involvement still remains a significant predictor of student achievement and adjustment.
While the majority of parents desire to be more involved in their child’s learning, there are many obstacles preventing them from doing so. Lack of money and time are two major inhibitors. The pressure on households to have all available adults contributing to family income places demands on parents to be active participants in the workforce. Add to this children with busy afterschool commitments and there is a small amount of time left for parents to be involved in school in a meaningful way. Psychological barriers may also operate for parents and inhibit participation and involvement. Some parents confidently treat teachers as equals and are comfortable using the language of education while others come to the partnership with little confidence and self assurance. In the case of some Aboriginal parents and family members, their own educational
experience may have been negative and this can impact on how they engage with and participate in their child’s schooling.
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/schoolsweb/studentsupport/programs/
schoollearning/rf6engage.pdf
Research in the Area:
Epstein’s (2001) research offers a comprehensive parent involvement program, and is perhaps the most frequently cited in this area of scholarship. Epstein’s typology suggests effective parent involvement programs focus on:
1. parenting skills to assist parents with understanding their children’s learning needs, and helping
teachers understand family needs;
2. communication that allows for two-way, open communication between the school and home;
3. volunteering that recognizes parents’ talents and contributions both in and for the school;
4. learning at home strategies that engage the family with their children’s school work;
5. decision making that includes parents as key stakeholders in making decisions that will impact
student learning; and
6. collaborating with the community to create mutual benefit by sharing resources and contributing to
both school and community goals.
Suggestions for Teachers
1. Help parents understand why they are so important to their children’s school success.
2. Give parents specific things they can
do to be involved.
3. Take time to assess current practices in your school before embarking on a program for parental involvement. Assess what is working well for the school as a whole and what is working well for particular grades. Determine what to continue and what new initiatives to try.
4. Develop a long term plan that includes evaluation of your success.
5. Look at parental involvement as having results for students, for parents and for teachers.
6. Epstein suggests six types of involvement: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, and collaboration with the community.
7. Each school year, provide parents with the opportunity to learn how to support, encourage and help their student at home.
8. Communicate to parents what their student will be learning in each subject.
9. Be respectful of family time and the diversity of families.
10. Encourage parents to provide input on policies that affect the education of their children.
11. Development of an effective partnership with parents is an incremental process not an event.
12. Parent/teacher/student conferences or student-led conferences can be effective mechanisms
for increasing parent knowledge of curriculum and supporting their student at home.
http://education.alberta.ca/media/6412618/literature_synopsis_parental_involvement_2004.pdf
Epstein’s (2001) research offers a comprehensive parent involvement program, and is perhaps the most frequently cited in this area of scholarship. Epstein’s typology suggests effective parent involvement programs focus on:
1. parenting skills to assist parents with understanding their children’s learning needs, and helping
teachers understand family needs;
2. communication that allows for two-way, open communication between the school and home;
3. volunteering that recognizes parents’ talents and contributions both in and for the school;
4. learning at home strategies that engage the family with their children’s school work;
5. decision making that includes parents as key stakeholders in making decisions that will impact
student learning; and
6. collaborating with the community to create mutual benefit by sharing resources and contributing to
both school and community goals.
Suggestions for Teachers
1. Help parents understand why they are so important to their children’s school success.
2. Give parents specific things they can
do to be involved.
3. Take time to assess current practices in your school before embarking on a program for parental involvement. Assess what is working well for the school as a whole and what is working well for particular grades. Determine what to continue and what new initiatives to try.
4. Develop a long term plan that includes evaluation of your success.
5. Look at parental involvement as having results for students, for parents and for teachers.
6. Epstein suggests six types of involvement: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision making, and collaboration with the community.
7. Each school year, provide parents with the opportunity to learn how to support, encourage and help their student at home.
8. Communicate to parents what their student will be learning in each subject.
9. Be respectful of family time and the diversity of families.
10. Encourage parents to provide input on policies that affect the education of their children.
11. Development of an effective partnership with parents is an incremental process not an event.
12. Parent/teacher/student conferences or student-led conferences can be effective mechanisms
for increasing parent knowledge of curriculum and supporting their student at home.
http://education.alberta.ca/media/6412618/literature_synopsis_parental_involvement_2004.pdf
Parental Involvement Possibilities:
◾Listen. Encourage your child to talk about school, social events, other kids in class, the walk or ride to and from school so you can identify any issues he or she may be having.
◾Look. Watch for symptoms that your child may be a bullying victim. Be aware of signs such as withdrawal, a drop in grades, physical signs, or needing extra money or supplies.
Homework:
◾Establish a Routine. Setting a regular time and sticking to it helps children complete their homework assignments.
◾Set the Mood. Ensure the room your child studies in is quiet, has plenty of light, and has school supplies close at hand. Remove distractions by turning off the television and discouraging social phone calls during homework time.
◾Show an Interest. Ask your child about school activities and talk about what was discussed in school that day. Take your child to the library to check out materials for homework, and make time to read with your child as often as you can.
◾Be Informed. Find out about the school's policy on homework at the beginning of the school year. Ask your child's teachers about the kind of assignments that will be given and what kind of time frame the children have to complete them.
◾Be Involved. Ask the teacher how you can help with homework. Be available to answer your child's
questions, look over completed assignments, and encourage your child to share returned assignments so you can read the teacher's comments.
◾Learn How Your Child Learns. Understand your child's learning style and develop routines that best
support how he or she learns best.
◾Encourage Good Study Habits. Help your child get organized. Ensure your child has scheduled enough time to complete assignments.
◾Talk. Discuss homework with your child. Talking about an assignment can help your child think it through and break it down into small, workable parts.
◾Provide Encouragement. Find ways to support your child's efforts in completing assignments.
Reading with Your Child:
◾Make Reading a Priority. Let your child know how important it is to read regularly. Establish a regular time and place for reading.
◾Read to Your Child. Make time to read to your child on a regular basis. It is a great way to help develop a love of learning.
◾Ask Your Child to Read to You. Have your child read aloud to you.
◾Keep Reading Material Close By. Make sure children's books and magazines are easily accessible. Keep a basket of books in the family room, kitchen, or your child's bedroom to encourage him or her to read more often.
◾Visit the Library. Make visits to the library a regular activity and let your children select their own
books.
◾Be a Reading Role Model. Read a lot. Let your child see you read and hear you talk about your books. http://education.alberta.ca/parents/role/tips.aspx
Other ways to involve parents include:
* Celebration of learning portfolios, and similar classroom events.
* Send home a “Grade __ at a glance” note home at the beginning of the year for parental informational purposes.
* Parents NEED to be involved in behaviour plans, if at all possible and conducive, in the planning, designing and executing stages. They know their child best after all!
* Providing workshops, guiding parents in specific helpful activities to do to be involved in their child's learning. For example, math and reading games and strategies.
* Have a class website, family bulletin board or journal, to which all can contribute to as desired.
* Invite the parents into the classroom to speak to the class about their jobs or hobbies.
* Give plenty of volunteer opportunities.
* Have fun days, during which you invite parents to come too!
Additional online resources:
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/schoolsweb/studentsupport/programs/school
learning/rf6engage.pdf
http://education.alberta.ca/media/6412618/literature_synopsis_parental_involvement_2004.pdf
http://www.pacer.org/mpc/pdf/CulturallyResponsivePI.pdf
http://education.alberta.ca/parents/role/tips.aspx
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mychildslearning/
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Publications/The%20Learning%20Team/Volume-14/Number2/Pages/parenttips.aspx
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/Feb-01-06-How-parents-foste.pdf
http://www.edutopia.org/home-school-team
http://www.famlit.ca/resources/TipSheet-ChoosBooks_web.pdf
http://www.famlit.ca/resources/literacy_begins_at_home_brochure.pdf
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Publications/ATA%20Magazine/Volume%2090/Number%201/Articles/Pages/ParentalInvolvementinourSchools.aspx
http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/People-for-Education-Doing-What-Matters-Most-how-parents-can-help-their-children-succeed-at-school-20111.pdf?utm_source=Bulletin+and+Updates&utm_campaign=7ebba83989-September_2011_Bulletin9_23_2011&utm_medium=email
Photo resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/parents/children/engaging-parents.html
http://www.voxxi.com/parents-hispanic-students-mobile-technology/
http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits/math/pr_math_events.html
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/schoolsweb/studentsupport/programs/school
learning/rf6engage.pdf
http://education.alberta.ca/media/6412618/literature_synopsis_parental_involvement_2004.pdf
http://www.pacer.org/mpc/pdf/CulturallyResponsivePI.pdf
http://education.alberta.ca/parents/role/tips.aspx
http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/mychildslearning/
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Publications/The%20Learning%20Team/Volume-14/Number2/Pages/parenttips.aspx
http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/Feb-01-06-How-parents-foste.pdf
http://www.edutopia.org/home-school-team
http://www.famlit.ca/resources/TipSheet-ChoosBooks_web.pdf
http://www.famlit.ca/resources/literacy_begins_at_home_brochure.pdf
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Publications/ATA%20Magazine/Volume%2090/Number%201/Articles/Pages/ParentalInvolvementinourSchools.aspx
http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/People-for-Education-Doing-What-Matters-Most-how-parents-can-help-their-children-succeed-at-school-20111.pdf?utm_source=Bulletin+and+Updates&utm_campaign=7ebba83989-September_2011_Bulletin9_23_2011&utm_medium=email
Photo resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/parents/children/engaging-parents.html
http://www.voxxi.com/parents-hispanic-students-mobile-technology/
http://www.sedl.org/afterschool/toolkits/math/pr_math_events.html