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First-year teacher Katy Goldman (Pine, Arizona) believes that children learn best "when given the opportunity to taste, feel, see, hear, manipulate, discover, sing, and dance their way through learning."

But the parents of her students were clamoring for a more back-to-basics approach. Goldman could have given in, turning her back on strongly held beliefs, or she could have ignored her parents' concerns altogether, promoting bad relations. Instead, she navigated the tougher but more rewarding course. She showed parents how effective her pedagogical strategies could be and ultimately won parents' support, which has proven invaluable.

She began a weekly newsletter to inform parents about learning events in the classroom. She also invited parents into the classroom.

"This created a sense of well-being since they knew I had nothing to hide. Watching the children's excitement and 'aha' looks of accomplishment said it all," Goldman remembers. The long-term benefits of Goldman's efforts became clear over time: parental support for her teaching methods, which yielded a cadre of classroom volunteers and an improved, solidly reinforced learning environment.

Connecting With Parents

Teacher outreach efforts to parents most typically include writing a newsletter or inviting parents into the classroom. Calling parents with good news about a child's progress also strengthens the teacher-parent relationship.

Home visits, done either before or after the school years starts, can also be extremely valuable. These visits can improve significantly the relationship between teachers and parents.

"From the very beginning, I knew the importance of soliciting help from parents," says Julie Gutierrez (Richardson, Texas). "I sent a weekly newsletter home explaining our week's worth of activities, and in it, I gave ideas for working with the children. Conferences and phone calls also served as wonderful opportunities for me to get parents involved. Periodically, I sent papers explaining developmental stages of reading and writing so that parents might gauge their child's progress and look forward to the next step. It's amazing how quickly a child can achieve mastery when the support of a parent is present."

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Making Parents Allies and Helpers

Teachers say parents may not make the first move but generally will respond when asked to help at home or play a role in the classroom. Some teachers involved parents in academic activities such as reading and tutoring, while other teachers turned to parents to relieve them of duties that otherwise would get in the way of teaching.

Marie Mallory (Reno, Nevada) writes: "It wasn't until I discovered just how handy parent volunteers can be, that I finally got the paper tidal wave under control. I overcame my time and paper management issue by delegating to my parent helpers. I had them construct the bulletin boards that I would create in my mind, so I could spend that time giving feedback to my students. I have one parent who could give any Kinko's employee a run for their money. She not only is the fastest copier person in the West, but she can run more types of machines in this school than anyone. It's rumored that she can fix them too, but we try to keep some things quiet around here," Mallory writes.

Sometimes parents require new teachers to earn their trust, recalls Mike Benevento (Upper Saddle River, New Jersey). "Parents have a hard time with first-year teachers. They view us as experimenting with their kid. If you show them you really care, then they are supportive."

Parents Make a Difference

Successful first-year teachers say parental involvement in education--at home and in the classroom--is vital to effective learning and discipline.

"Parental support can improve your outcomes immensely," says Melanie Rinaldi (Storrs, Connecticut).

"If parents back a teacher's discipline of a student, and the parent restricts privileges at home, the teacher notices real improvements in the student," says Mercedes Huffman (Washington, DC).

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Disinterested Parents

Some first-year teachers are saddened to learn that not all parents can be persuaded to take an active role in supporting their children's education. When this happens, teachers must recognize that they are limited by factors outside their control.

"Naturally, I expected that the parents of my students would be active in helping their child at home.... I expected to have full support from each student's parents, for who wouldn't want to help their most precious gift, their child?", writes Pilar Geisse (Torrence, California). "Unfortunately, my expectations were not always realistic. Although they may want to help their child succeed in their educational career, some parents do not always have the time to help their child. In addition to this problem, I was shocked to find that other parents did not seem interested in their child's success (or failure) in school at all."

Firsthand: Going the Extra Step for Parental Involvement

Jennifer Rego-Brown (Portland, Maine) made it a priority to bring parents into the educational process. She sent home mid-quarter progress reports, checklists, and a written evaluation. Her comments noted areas where a student was doing well and showing improvement, and where the child needed to work harder. Her reports also discussed academic standards and behavioral expectations.

"If I could only pass along one important piece of information to first-year teachers it would be, keep the communication lines open between you and your students' families," Rego-Brown writes. "Keep your door open to visitors, volunteers, and parents who just want to drop in and say "Hi!". Send home weekly letters to let families know what is going on in the classroom for that week. Often times children do not tell their families everything that goes on. Call or send home letters as soon as a problem or concern arises with a student. Create family-oriented projects for homework and classroom activities for families. Part of a healthy and successful education comes from the home. If you involve families and the community you will have more resources for your classroom. You will find that an extra set of hands in the classroom or supplies that are sent in from home will help you as much as the children. Families will feel as if they are a part of the classroom and their child's education. Learning will also happen at home, not just in school."
Look to Parents to...

Show support for learning at home;

Communicate positive feedback about a teacher's influence or performance;

Welcome new teachers;

Volunteer to help in the classroom;

Support fair discipline measures that teachers impose;

Refrain from assuming the worst about first-year teachers;

See that children do their homework;

Offer the workplace for a field trip when appropriate;

Talk to a teacher directly about a problem; and

Become active partners in education.

Tips for Working With Parents

Contact parents early on and before a problem occurs, particularly when there's good news to report;

Consider writing a weekly newsletter or report on classroom learning and activities;

Invite parents to come into the classroom and assign them tasks if they are willing;

Involve them in reading groups and remedial assistance when possible, being aware that all parents may not read or write English;

Let parents know how they can reinforce classroom learning at home; consider asking them to sign a contract requiring them to make children complete homework and other home learning activities;

Visit families in their homes if possible to see firsthand how well learning is supported there;

Address parents' concerns head on. If you are taking a pedagogical approach that raises questions, work to show parents the benefits of your methods and explain your reasoning to them; and

Hold a parent meeting the first month of the school year in which you talk about your expectations for student achievement and behavior, leave time for questions, and if you don't know the answer promise to call soon with one.

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teachers; teacher effectiveness; teacher orientation; teacher morale; teacher motivation; parents;

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First-year teacher Katy Goldman (Pine, Arizona) believes that children learn best "when given the opportunity to taste, feel, see, hear, manipulate, discover, sing, and dance their way through learning." But the parents of her students were clamoring for a more back-to-basics approach.

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The Pros and Cons of Parent Involvement Pros of Parent Involvement Cons of Parent Involvement*Teachers are always short handed...

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Research shows that children are more likely to succeed academically and are less likely to engage in violent behavior if their families are involved in their education. Many parents say, however, that they feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in their children's schools. Teachers often feel under attack by parents who are highly involved. Learn how to bridge the gap. Included: A dozen activities to promote parental involvement and ten tips for involved parents.
The following quote comes from Fathers' Involvement in Their Children's Schools, a report from the National Center for Education Statistics. "School-aged children in both two-parent and single-parent families are more likely to get mostly A's, to enjoy school, and to participate in extracurricular activities and are less likely to have ever repeated a grade and to have ever been suspended or expelled if their fathers or mothers have high as opposed to low levels of involvement in their schools."

Additional studies have found that parental involvement is more important to student success, at every grade level, than family income or education. However, Strong Families, Strong Schools, a report that reflects 30 years of research on family involvement in education, stated the sad fact that "in many instances parents don't feel as if we welcome them in school."
Build a Bridge
"Educators need to be willing to recognize the extent of this disconnection as a precondition for involving families in their children's education," the report continued, offering the following suggestions for reducing that feeling of disconnection:

Be sure the first contact with parents is a positive one.

Communicate with parents straightforwardly and simply, avoiding educational "jargon."

Ensure that all parents have regular access to clear, concise, and easily readable information about their children's school and classroom.

Ask parents to share their concerns and opinions about school, and then address those concerns.

Accommodate parents' work schedules.

Accommodate language and cultural differences.

The National PTA has also set the following National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs:

Encourage active parent participation in student learning.

Establish regular, meaningful communication between home and school.

Collaborate with parents to ensure that children have a supportive learning environment at school and at home.

Welcome parents as advocates for their children as well as the school's other students.

Invite parents to act as full partners in making school decisions that affect children and families.

Reach out to the community for resources to strengthen schools.

The activities below will help you meet those standards by letting parents know they are welcome in school and by helping them find ways to contribute to their children's education both in and out of school.

Put Out the Welcome Mat

Create a school climate and structures that support family involvement.

Provide families with a list of required mastery skills for each subject taught at your grade level.

Invite families to share hopes for and concerns about children and then work together to set student goals.

Print and send home:

Initiate a classroom volunteer program.

Create a parent resource center. Provide materials on issues of concern to parents, such as child development, health and safety, drug education, special education, and so on. Include information about local parenting and social services agencies. If possible, provide sample textbooks, extension activities, software, and audio and videotapes.

Create a classroom Web site and include a parent page.

Set up a homework hot line students or parents can call to get forgotten or missed assignments.

Invite parents to present talks and/or demonstrations about their specialized knowledge or skills.

Following conference or report card time, offer workshops on improving grades and study skills.

Maintain regular communication by sending home

Weekly folders of student work.

Monthly calendars of special events to be celebrated or taught.

A regular class newsletter.

Weekly work sheets containing activities students and families can do together.

Compile a wish list that includes both goods -- from craft sticks to carpet squares to software -- and services -- from stapling newsletters to chaperoning field trips to coordinating special events -- that parents might provide. Be sure the list includes many free or inexpensive items and activities that do not demand a great deal of time or a long-term commitment.
Additional Resources

Project Appleseed
This non-profit, national campaign advocates improvement in public schools by increasing parental involvement in U.S. schools.

The National PTA
This site provides a number of documents offering ideas for teachers and schools who want to encourage and promote parental involvement in education.

National Network of Partnership Schools
Established by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, this organization helps schools, districts, and states develop and maintain programs that promote school-family-community partnerships.

Article by Linda Starr
Education World®
Copyright © Education World

Don't miss dozens of additional resources on Education World's special Parent Involvement page.

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Activities to Promote Parent Involvement

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Research shows that children are more likely to succeed academically and are less likely to engage in violent behavior if their families are involved in their education. Many parents say, however, that they feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in their children's schools. Teachers often feel under attack by parents who are highly involved.

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Improving parental involvement with public schools can improve schools. Parental involvement is highly important for pushing the public school systems to higher standards. Also, research reports that engaging parents in an active role in the school curriculum can open alternative opportunities for children to succeed in academics. This report will present information that addresses the amount of contact that parents have with school and the amount of time they volunteer in the classrooms. To develop effective parent-involvement programs, which range from greater support for the school programs to improved student achievement, researchers must investigate how to help school leaders identify practices and policies that encourage parent trust and involvement in the process of schooling.

Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/jip.html

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ERIC - EJ774130 - Parental Involvement in the Classroom, Journal of Instructional Psychology, 2005-Mar

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Improving parental involvement with public schools can improve schools. Parental involvement is highly important for pushing the public school systems to higher standards. Also, research reports that engaging parents in an active role in the school curriculum can open alternative opportunities for children to succeed in academics.

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Photo: Digital Vision/Thinkstock

Parental involvement in the classroom has had a proven, positive effect on children's success. But how do you find time in your already-busy schedule to volunteer? Try these 38 simple ways to make the most of the upcoming school year.

On your very last day of school, you probably relished the fact that you'd never have to step foot in a classroom ever again. Goodbye, homework! So long, teachers! School is out, for good.

Until you became a parent, that is.

According to decades of scientific research-including a study from the Department of Education that reviews 30 years of research-parental involvement in the classroom is a key factor in improving students' academic performance. Returning to the classroom and showing up to school translates into your child's overall success.

With study after study revealing the dramatic impact of parental presence, it's been drilled into the heads of moms and dads across the country that they must make an effort in their children's classrooms. Sure, you know that's what you need to do, but do you know how to do it?

Between demanding work schedules, family responsibilities, household upkeep, frequent errands and cooking for what sometimes seems like a small army, it may seem impossible to find time to devote to being in yet another place at another time, all school year long. But even the busiest parents can get involved in the classroom without spending time they don't have or stretching themselves too thin. The secret is knowing how to allocate your limited availability and which small-scale ideas have a big impact.

The Power of Three Hours
Volunteering in the classroom for just three hours over the course of the entire school year is enough to make an impact. In fact, this idea is the foundation of The National Parent-Teacher Association's Three for Me program, encouraging and guiding busy parents through different ways to get involved at their children's schools.

With free online resources, sample forms, promotional fliers and a forum for idea-sharing, Three for Me does a huge part of the time-consuming work for you-all you need to focus on is your child. So, find just three hours over the course of nine months to volunteer in your child's classroom, and you'll be helping set him up for success not just now, but in the future as well.

Get 8 ideas for how you can get involved in the classrooms of younger and older children

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oprah oprah.com back to school b2s classroom parent parental involvement ideas ways easy simple fast working teacher teachers education educator family relationships year three for me 38 volunteering pta association child children kids

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38 Easy Ways to Get Involved in the Classroom

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Photo: Digital Vision/Thinkstock Parental involvement in the classroom has had a proven, positive effect on children's success. But how do you find time in your already-busy schedule to volunteer? Try these 38 simple ways to make the most of the upcoming school year.