The arrival of summer is always exciting for students and staff. But how should students spend their vacations? Could summer plans significantly affect future learning? Yes, say researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. And parent involvement is part of the equation. In “Lasting Consequences of the Summer Learning Gap,” an article in American[…]
It’s not too soon to prepare for fall parent involvement! Inform parents now about fall events, such as back-to-school nights or open houses. If possible, specify dates, times and whether or not children are invited. Give families as much time as possible for planning. Meanwhile, be prepared to address concerns about involvement before these key[…]
You know the adage about a picture being worth a thousand words. Pictures are also invaluable in learning more about the families and cultures of your students. To promote two-way communication between home and school, create an assignment for students to draw or take pictures of things that are important to them in their home[…]
Families often associate summer learning with students’ need to make up for academic failures. Ideally, however, summer is a time to maintain skills and even get ahead. Parent involvement is critical to making this happen. As soon as possible, get the word out about summer programs that promote success in high school and beyond. For[…]
Parent surveys are valuable tools for assessing everything from interest in volunteering to support for school policies. They can be administered in person (such as in a focus group) or in writing (via handouts, mailings or email). The most effective surveys are brief and specific, but be sure to also include room for open-ended responses[…]
A fun activity for a parent-child workshop this month might be kite-making. But rather than making kites to fly outside, parents and their children can make reading kites. All they need is colored construction paper and some yarn. For each book they read this month, children can add another “tail” to their kite. The tail[…]
Why do some teachers get along well with parents … and others don’t? Research points to several personal attributes that have a positive influence on teachers’ relationships with both parents and students: warmth, openness, sensitivity, flexibility, reliability and accessibility. Parents say that these teacher characteristics are also desirable: trust, closeness, positive self-image, effective classroom management,[…]
Most schools strive to turn out responsible citizens—people who not only know how to read, write and compute, but are guided by basic moral and ethical principles. To help instill these principles, schools implement character education programs. Perhaps the most successful programs have at least two things in common: They focus on students’ moral development,[…]
There is no single profile of a hard-to-reach parent. One might be a recent immigrant struggling to manage language barriers and transportation issues. Another might be a single mom who has difficulty arranging for child care. Yet another might be a busy professional whose long hours and hectic schedule leave little time for anything else.[…]
When parents are interested and actively involved in their child’s homework assignments, that child is more likely to complete the assignments, and also to complete them successfully. Interactive homework assignments offer a great opportunity for parents to get involved. Following are some research-based findings about interactive homework. When you make such assignments: Provide opportunities[…]