Parents: Get Involved in Your Children's Education Essay

Communication between teachers and the parents of students is essential for the growth and success of the student both inside and outside of the classroom. This communication is best achieved through parent conference opportunities. One way that this is achieved is through regular open house nights. This is where parents, and other members of the community, are invited to come to the school and talk to the teachers and other faculty at the school. Another conference opportunity presents itself in a scheduled appointment between the teacher and the parent. This will enable the parent to meet face-to-face with their child’s teacher during a time that is more convenient to them, as these appointments can occur before, during, and after school. Additionally, conferences can take place over the phone. This is a convenient way for both parties to communicate effectively in a way that works best for them.

It is doubtless that most of parents want their children get a well-rounded education which will lead children to a successful future. Some parents believe that the obligation of educating their children only belong to schools, whereas parental involvement is definitely important to their children’s education. For those parents who are willing to spend money and energy on getting involved into their

An obstacle I have witnessed in my school is the lack of parental involvement. Throughout this year, I believe the parents' investment in their children education has been disheartening. I can say in my own classroom, nearly one-third of student’s parents have no idea how they are doing in school academically. About one-sixth of student’s parents don’t sign daily agendas or notes that are sent home. Only about one-fifth of parents consistently attend school programs. My biggest concern is that too many parents are disengaged. Parent involvement can indeed make a difference in a child’s education. Students would perform better academically and behaviorally if their

By informing parents of the ways in which they may be able to assist (Fellowes, 2010), paired with flexible commitment offers, teachers are setting a comfortable and casual scene for parents to become involved in their child’s learning.

Since research supports the need of parental involvement, I have decided to use several methods to keep parents informed and involved in their student’s education. First, each Friday I plan for students to take home their “Friday Folder.” In the “Friday Folder” I will place graded papers for parents to sign and return, a class newsletter (one can be viewed below in the attached artifact) with essential dates and information for parents to keep in mind, and a weekly progress report with information regarding behavior, work habits, and missing assignments that parents will need to initial and return to school on the following Monday. Other means of communication with parents include providing parents with the school phone number and my extension number, providing my email address and asking for parents email addresses, and using the student’s agenda as a form of communication between the home and the school.

Student and families can have collaborative partnerships with educators, by having contact and involvement opportunities created by the school that build connections with parents. Creating and involving parents in meaningful roles within the school can strengthen this partnership. Opportunities for parents and students need to be created by educators that will allow parents to show their interest in their child (Amatea, 2013). California Department of Education advocates with policies and laws to support parent involvement to support student’s academic success. Federal and state laws play a role in linking families and schools together to build and strengthen social, emotional, and academic growth of children (Amatea, 2013).

According to Michael Seville, a writer for Eutopia Magazine, “… parental involvement is a key ingredient in how well a student learns.” The idea of parental involvement in their school is not a concept exclusive to charter schools. There are many traditional public schools that are launching programs to do just that. In Saratoga, California, an elementary school has made it mandatory for parents to volunteer and attend a seven-session STEP (Systemic Training for Effective Parenting) class. This class is designed to help improve the parent’s usefulness when they appear in class. According to the principal of the McAuliffe Elementary, Michael Kalb, even single working parents are able to find a few hours a month to help out, even if it is in the evening. Since the inception of this program, teachers have noticed more cooperative behavior of their students and a willingness that was not present before. These types of programs could be and should be incorporated into any traditional public school in any part of the country and would create a synergy within the school of parents, teachers, and students.

Parental Involvement has been a focus of education for decades. In the 1960’s, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) was introduced and focused on emphasizing the involvement of parents in their child’s education (Lunts 2003). Around the same time, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, advocated for the importance of family involvement in the education of children with disabilities (Lunts 2003). More recently, the Federally mandated government policy, Section 1118, Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was enacted, which specifically requires public school districts to work collaboratively with parents living in the community to author a family involvement policy in order to receive Title I funding from the

The symbiotic relationship between teachers and parents is crucial to the educational success of a student. Parents must be involved with their child’s education through consistent attendance of IEP meetings and advocate for their child and their needs at school. Teachers can encourage parent involvement through, traveling notebooks home and note home programs which establish an open line of communication between teacher and parent. Parent-teacher conferences are a great way for teachers and parents to be involved in the success of the student's educational experience.

Parents play a pivotal role in the academic success of students. Therefore, it is important for educators to provide frequent opportunities for collaboration with families so they can support student learning at home. Additionally, regular communication with parents helps them understand the educational programs in school so they can monitor student progress and advocate for their child’s needs.

Teachers can increase parent participation in the child’s learning by, updating them in upcoming activities and events; so they can be included in their child’s education, stay informed in their child’s successes and concerns, participate in special events, and

Parental involvement has been an issue in the United States since before the turn of the nineteenth century. Perhaps one of the most well-known organizations in support of parental involvement in schools was created in 1897. The National Congress of Mothers set up a statement of purposes that created the basis for their organization. The purposes included: “the education of parents for child development; the coöperation of home and school; the promotion of the kindergarten movement; the securing of legislation for neglected and dependent children; and the education of young people for parenthood,” (Butterworth, 7). The Congress of Mothers evolved in 1908 into the National

Parental involvement in education is a vital essential for creating a cooperative environment for the student to thrive and succeed in. When a student knows that he or she is receiving support both inside and outside the school, the chances of that child becoming responsible for and active in their education are more likely. I know that there can be difficulties including parents for many reasons. Such parents may be too busy, uninterested or just feel helpless. However, as an educator, I will still have an obligation to reach out to these parents and assist them.

Parent Involvement has been an issue in the United States since before the turn of the

Many of the schools in my district believe in developing a strong parental presence in their child’s education. My current school provides multiple opportunities for parents to enter their student’s learning environment throughout the school year. First, I believe that it is appropriate to discuss the first attempts of my school’s parent involvement efforts. Before the school year commences the parents and students are invited to “Meet the Teacher Night”. During this meet and greet, the parents receive the first opportunity to interact with the new teacher before the school year begins. This is also a moment for the teacher to share their goals and expectations for the upcoming school year. The next parent involvement opportunity takes place after the second week of school, known as Parent Orientation. Parent orientation is designed for parents to become familiar with their child’s daily class routines, and examine work samples or baseline assessment results. Many parents enjoy having the orientation because they