Most educators will tell you that the only time they see parents is during “parent-teacher conference nights”. In fact, the higher the grade students are in, the less likely you are to see parents. Is this an indication of parental apathy or do parents feel unwelcome in today's public schools?
In my experience, many parents are too busy working to provide for their families, but make an honest attempt to play a role in their child's education. However, I am also aware that far too many parents don't feel welcome in their school community. School leaders have a responsibility to welcome and honor parents as part of the educational process. Parents must be given opportunities to serve the school community in a variety of ways (bake sales, school improvement plans, and curriculum reviews).
When parents are able to contribute to the school mission and vision, they are more likely to support school improvement efforts and provide the political clout that school leaders need to make bold changes in the curriculum and instructional process. School leaders have an obligation to include parents as collaborators within the community to assist with partnerships in order to strengthen programs, family practices, and student learning. When you include parents in the process, they feel welcome and are more likely to claim ownership in the school’s success or failure.
Here are some practical ways to boost parent involvement at all educational levels:
1) Make a commitment to involving parents during the decision making process. Parents hate to be told "after the fact". If your school is aiming to make big changes, make sure the committee that explore these options have parents on board.
2) Increase communication frequency and improve parent outreach methods. Don't wait until Parent-Teachers conference night to give parents an update on their child's academic performance. Utilize technology to provide parents with updates on their child's latest academic process (ie: performance on interim assessments, quizzes, tests, etc...). If you have a large Spanish-speaking population, or some other language, provide school newsletters and all important communications in their native language. Also, if possible have translators on-hand to help with communication during conferences and parents meetings.
3) Acknowledge the gifts and talents of parents. Hold award ceremonies or find a place in the school entrance to celebrate the contributions of parents. Make sure that when they walk in the school, they feel embraced and part of the learning community. All major initiatives should have parent input during the planning and implementation process.
4) Ensure that teachers communicate with parents about the home-school connection. If your school uses thematic units, teachers should write home to parents to tell them how to connect and practice what is being learned in school at home. Show parents how to provide a rich learning environment at home to support their child's academic achievement.
The bottom line is that healthy schools have good communication with parents and caregivers. When schools get serious about stepping up parent involvement and, if necessary, change attitudes towards parent involvement, student achievement will increase. There is a connection between healthy families, healthy kids, and healthy schools. Let's connect the dots and get to work by making progress each and every day towards improving parent involvement.
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