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Increasing Parental Involvement in Elementary Education

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Increasing Parental Involvement in Elementary Education

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This journal article highlights the importance of parental involvement for children at the elementary level. It focuses on the importance of developing programs for parents to get involved in because results have shown that when parents are involved in their child's education, the academic excellence increases. A study was conducted in a school district that had numerous amount of programs for parental involvement including using parent volunteers and creating greater communication between parents and teachers. This article was interesting because it used the study to look into the positive and negative outcomes of parental involvement. Parents and teachers should be aware and have the same goals in mind when parents are involved to create more student achievement success and less conflict between parents and teachers. School wide programs should be discussed with teachers because they play a huge role in making decisions on how parents can be involved in classrooms. If conflict arises, administration should communicate with teachers that they are supported even though parents may have a greater role in the school. Overall, if parental involvement programs are set in place, teachers should be aware and the same outcome goal should be communicated to parents so that everyone shares the same outcome goal and student achievement is increased.

Reference:
Schweingruber, H.(1997). Increasing parental involvement in elementary education: An
analysis of the effects of schools' practices on parents, teachers, and children.
ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 1-215.doi: 304356632

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Parental Involvement in Elementary Education

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Parent Mentors at James Monroe Elementary

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Parent Mentors at James Monroe Elementary

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At James Monroe Elementary, 300 parents on average graduate and get a diploma. This graduation ceremony is in celebration of parents committing one year of working alongside teachers in the classroom as parent mentors. Due to this, one teacher said that having parent mentors in the classroom helps out with her class of 31 students with a range of needs. It lets the teacher support and work with students who need more intensive interventions so that they do not fall behind. Not only did this program increase test scores, it broke down barriers between teachers, parents, and the community. Watching this video and this program, I learned that when you educate parents, you educate the community.

Reference:
LSNA. (2012, September 25). Putting parents to work in the classroom [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubo6L0qQv6Q

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NBC Today Show: Education Nation - Putting Parents to Work in the Classroom

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This video focuses on Cecile Carroll and her involvement as a parent and the work she has done as a Parent and Education Organizer to build stronger connections between the home and the school. Cecile lists strategies that teachers have used with her children to increase communication and involvement within classrooms. These include sending out a survey for the parents to fill out before the school year so that the teacher can understand and get to know each student and their parents better, sharing teaching philosophies at an open-house so that parents and teachers share the same expectations, asking for volunteers in the classroom to help out with specific lessons or centers, contacting parents anytime to discuss good things that happened and not just contacting when a student misbehaves, and sending newsletters home so parents can know what is going on in the classroom and have meaningful conversations with their children about what they are learning. Cecile concludes by stating that teachers can build relationships and get parents involved and advocating in the classroom and community by showing respect, meeting parents where they are at, and not stigmatizing parents.

Reference:
TEDxTalks. (2013, November 13). Teacher and parent relationships - a C
crucial ingredient: Cecile Carroll [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxJIsZsYKQQ

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Teacher and parent relationships - a crucial ingredient: Cecile Carroll at TEDxWellsStreetED

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PARENTS

Setting goals with children.

Advocating for improvement in the school building and with local school boards.

Assisting with homework.

Reading with the child at home.

Teaching songs.

Working on school projects together.

Playing sports.

Visiting the library.

Attending parent leadership meetings.

Volunteering in the classroom.

Attending parent-teacher conferences.

Attend science nights or events put on by the school.

Discussing with the child what they learned at school each night.

TEACHERS

Communicating with parents about the good and the bad.

Sending out newsletters for parents to know what is happening each week.

Sending out a survey at the beginning of the year to get to know the student and the parents.

Ask for parent volunteers in the classroom.

Never stigmatize parents.

Meet parents where they are at.

Break down bridges and build bonds with parents.

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This article highlights the American Education Week and celebrates everyone who makes school systems great including parents, teachers, education support professionals, elected officials, community leaders, and students. November 18th this past year was Parents Day to encourage parents to visit their child's school and spotlight the importance of family engagement in education. Research shows that family engagement increases student achievement, reduces absenteeism, increases parent's confidence in their child's education, increases test scores and grades, children have better social skills, and misbehavior occurs less. The article lists how parents can get involved with their children in and out of the school.

Setting goals with children and fostering achievement of those goals;

Accessing and using children’s academic scores to ensure they’re on track;

Frequently viewing the parent portal (or whichever tool their school uses);

Developing a relationship with children’s teachers and keeping in touch with them often; and

Advocating for improvements in the school building and with local school boards and state and federal government to ensure schools have the resources they need to provide a world class education to every student.

Reference:
neaToday. (2014). The enduring importance of parental involvement. Retrieved from
http://neatoday.org/2014/11/18/the-enduring-importance-of-parental-involve
ment- 2/

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American Education Week (AEW) is celebrated each year during the last full week before Thanksgiving. Founded by the National Education Association (NEA) and The American Legion in 1921, with the U.S. Department of Education joining in 1922, AEW was created in response to 25 percent of World War I draftees being illiterate and nine percent deemed physically unfit to serve their country.

In its resolution, NEA called for "an educational week... observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs."

Today, American Education Week is co-sponsored by National PTA and 11 other national education organizations. The theme for this year's celebration is Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility, a renewed call to all citizens-parents, teachers, education support professionals, elected officials, community leaders, and yes, students-to make our schools great for all Americans.

As part of the weeklong celebration, Tuesday, Nov. 18 has been designated "Parents Day" to encourage parents to visit their child's school and spotlight the importance of family engagement in education.

While the nation and our public education system have changed a lot since 1921, one factor-family engagement-remains critical to student achievement. Ongoing research shows that family engagement in schools improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores parents' confidence in their children's education. Students with involved parents or other caregivers earn higher grades and test scores, have better social skills, and show improved behavior.

Becoming active in a school's parent group is an important way to increase involvement. Involvement also encompasses:

Setting goals with children and fostering achievement of those goals;

Accessing and using children's academic scores to ensure they're on track;

Frequently viewing the parent portal (or whichever tool their school uses);

Developing a relationship with children's teachers and keeping in touch with them often; and

Advocating for improvements in the school building and with local school boards and state and federal government to ensure schools have the resources they need to provide a world class education to every student.

The most significant type of involvement is what parents do at home. By monitoring, supporting and advocating, parents can be engaged in ways that ensure that their children have every opportunity for success.

As the leaders of the nation's largest education and child advocacy associations, we have seen firsthand the positive impact of family engagement on student success and school improvement. We encourage all parents to take an active role in their children's education on "Parents Day" and all year round.

Great schools are a basic right and our shared responsibility. To all parents and families, "thank you" for being part of the education team. Find out more on how parents and families can contribute to student success by visiting the National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association.
Lily Eskelsen García is president of the National Education Association. Otha Thornton is president of the National Parent Teacher Association.

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The Enduring Importance of Parental Involvement

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American Education Week (AEW) is celebrated each year during the last full week before Thanksgiving. Founded by the National Education Association (NEA) and The American Legion in 1921, with the U.S. Department of Education joining in 1922, AEW was created in response to 25 percent of World War I draftees being illiterate and nine percent deemed physically unfit to serve their country.

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This article includes research to support that parental involvement in children’s education does make a positive difference to pupils’ achievement. "The vast majority (92%) of parents surveyed in 2007 reported that they felt at least ‘fairly involved’ in their child’s school life. What parents do is more important than who they are for children’s early development – i.e. home learning activities undertaken by parents is more important for children’s intellectual and social development than parental occupation, education or income" (2008). This article lists strategies for parent involvement that show progress in students' achievement. These strategies include assisting with homework, reading with the child at home, teaching songs, working on school projects together, playing sports, and visiting the library.

Reference:
(n.a.). (2008). The impact of parental involvement on children's education.
DCSF Publications, 1-11. doi: 978-1-84775-252-9

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One Struggling School Increased Parent Involvement

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One Struggling School Increased Parent Involvement

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One struggling school in the Bronx area had test scores so low that they needed major improvements made quickly. One parent that was consistently involved worked with the school and teachers to help get parents more involved in the education system for students. She scheduled a meeting to bring parents in to have discussions about the education system, leadership trainings, and social service agencies to promote health and nutrition workshops. When only two parents showed up, these two parents worked with the school and took bigger steps to increase parental involvement. They made home visits and daily phone calls to schedule parent-teacher conferences. On conference day, while parents lingered in the hallways, nonprofit organizations were set up including one that gave out bags of groceries to families and one focusing on after school programs. Due to this, more parents started getting involved in his or her child's education through volunteering. This resulted in the school becoming more of a community, more communication between teachers and parents, and attendance started to increase at the school.

Reference:
WNYC. (2016).  How one bronx school got more parents involved. Retrieved
from http://www.wnyc.org/story/parents-bronx-middle-school-
engagement-struggling-school-renewal-school-parent-engagement-
involvement/

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How One Bronx School Got More Parents Involved | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News

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WNYC has been following efforts to improve M.S. 22 in the South Bronx. Here's the story of how a few involved moms managed to lure more of their peers into the middle school.

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This video shared three strategies that a school district in Southern California uses to help parents/guardians feel empowered to get involved in schools. This school district focuses on building communication with parents, teachers, administration, and the community through various PTA meetings, volunteer events, booster events, Parent Leadership Conference, and Parent Science Night. The Parent Leadership Conference is for all parents to attend to provide educational workshops focusing on cultural tendencies, cyber bullying, helping with homework, and nutritious meals. Parent Science Night is a way for parents and children to attend an event together and to learn together because when parents are involved and work alongside administration to improve the school there is increased student success.

Reference:
TeachingChannel. (n.d.). The abcs of parental involvement [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/getting-parents-
involved#

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Parent involvement is an integral part of one school's success. Learn how the school has gotten parents involved, along with tips on improving parent involvement in your school.