You’ve knocked down every barrier to parent involvement, but they still won’t come. What’s the solution? Take involvement to parents. Many schools have set up a program of home visits as a bridge between home and school. For a variety of reasons, some parents are not able to get involved. Others are simply not comfortable visiting the school.
Home visits can:
- Provide information about the school.
- Address issues about a student’s progress.
- Offer support to parents.
- Serve as personal invitations to get involved.
In preparation:
- Contact parents well in advance.
- Explain the purpose of the visit.
- Schedule the visit according to family convenience.
- Review the student’s record.
- Leave a schedule and emergency contact information with office.
During the visit:
- Begin with positive comments.
- Discuss the purpose of the visit.
- Listen to parents’ concerns.
- Establish goals.
- Model learning activities.
In conclusion:
- Invite parents to get involved, perhaps to attend an event.
- Leave contact information and encourage parents to call with questions.
- Make plans to follow up.