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Family Involvement |
Wisconsin Parent Teacher Newsletter Read It Here! |
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Children..... Reason Enough.
Study after study, researchers discover how important it is for parents to be actively involved in their child's
education. Here are some of the findings of major research into parental involvement:
Study after study, researchers discover how important it is for parents to be actively involved in their child's
education. Here are some of the findings of major research into parental involvement:
- When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school. And when
involved in school, children go farther in school - and the schools they go to are better. - The family makes critical contributions to student achievement from preschool through high school. A home
environment that encourages learning is more important to student achievement than income, education
level or cultural background. - Reading achievement is more dependent on learning activities in the home than is math or science.
Reading aloud to children is the most important their child's chance of reading success. Talking to children
about books and stories read to them also supports reading achievement. - When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.
- Three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement:
actively organizing and monitoring a child's time, helping with homework and discussing school matters. - The earlier that parent involvement begins in a child's educational process, the more powerful the effects.
- Positive results of parental involvement include improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism,
improved behavior, and restored confidence among parents in their children's schooling.
Try a few of these ideas to make a significant improvement in your involvement:
Ask questions. The best way you can get involved with your child's education is to ask him or her
questions. However, you need to try more than just the typical, "What did you do at school today"? Try
asking more specific questions about lessons in certain subjects. Do not accept "nothing" as an answer to
your questions. Rephrase the question or try a different one to get a response. If your child is resistant to
this type of questioning, give it some time, but don't give up!
Talk with the teachers. Teachers may not always have the time to contact you about your student,
especially if your student is doing well or even satisfactory. They are often too overwhelmed with problem
students to be able to take time to give glowing reports as much as they would like. However, if you make the
initiative to contact them and ask for a progress report or ask what you child is learning in class, the teachers
will be glad to oblige with a response. It is also common for teachers to maintain websites or other online
resources for you to keep up with homework assignments, projects, and lessons.
Volunteer to help at school. Yes, you are busy. Everyone is busy nowadays. Try to take time out of your
busy schedule to volunteer at your child's school. Take a day off of work to chaperon a field trip or volunteer
to organize a bake sale for the Booster Club. This will give you the chance to interact with other parents and
network with teachers and administrators. It will also show your child that you do care about them and their
education.
Offer to help with homework. This does not mean to do your child's entire science fair project. You can,
however, help them search the internet or books for project ideas and even help color the volcano. This is a
great way to bond with your child and also keep up to date with what is going on in his or her classes.
In addition, join your schools PTA, ADVOCATE and EDUCATE YOURSELF! Learn all you can about the
laws, the states standards and your school.
Ask questions. The best way you can get involved with your child's education is to ask him or her
questions. However, you need to try more than just the typical, "What did you do at school today"? Try
asking more specific questions about lessons in certain subjects. Do not accept "nothing" as an answer to
your questions. Rephrase the question or try a different one to get a response. If your child is resistant to
this type of questioning, give it some time, but don't give up!
Talk with the teachers. Teachers may not always have the time to contact you about your student,
especially if your student is doing well or even satisfactory. They are often too overwhelmed with problem
students to be able to take time to give glowing reports as much as they would like. However, if you make the
initiative to contact them and ask for a progress report or ask what you child is learning in class, the teachers
will be glad to oblige with a response. It is also common for teachers to maintain websites or other online
resources for you to keep up with homework assignments, projects, and lessons.
Volunteer to help at school. Yes, you are busy. Everyone is busy nowadays. Try to take time out of your
busy schedule to volunteer at your child's school. Take a day off of work to chaperon a field trip or volunteer
to organize a bake sale for the Booster Club. This will give you the chance to interact with other parents and
network with teachers and administrators. It will also show your child that you do care about them and their
education.
Offer to help with homework. This does not mean to do your child's entire science fair project. You can,
however, help them search the internet or books for project ideas and even help color the volcano. This is a
great way to bond with your child and also keep up to date with what is going on in his or her classes.
In addition, join your schools PTA, ADVOCATE and EDUCATE YOURSELF! Learn all you can about the
laws, the states standards and your school.
