Three Keys to Engaging Parents in Student Learning

January 29, 2014

Presented by Ron Valenti, Ed.D.

The Added Significance for Nonpublic Schools

Relationship between nonpublic faith based schools and parents is rooted in the practice of shared partnership.

This partnership is grounded in shared beliefs and tenets

Expectations of parents are more demanding

Parents have made a definitive choice both academically and financially of how their children are to be educated.

Faith based schools must continually nurture and cultivate the partnership between parent and school

Know the Barriers

First administrators need to know what could prevent parents from being engaged in student learning:

Are there language/culture barriers?

Are there community limitations?

What are the outside commitments? Working more than one job?

Are there negative attitudes about the school?

What is the communication culture of the school?

Some Guiding Principles

Recognize that all parents regardless of income, education level, or cultural background want to be involved in their children’s education. Parents are the primary educators.

Develop the capacity of school staff to work with families

Focus efforts to engage families on developing trusting and respectful relationships

Embrace a philosophy of partnership and be willing to share power with families

Children's development is a collaborative enterprise

Three Keys to Engaging Parents

Need to realize that there are other factors but here are the three that I feel are the most central:

Effective Two-Way Communication

Curricular Transparency and Support

Willingness to Share Power

Developing Effective Communication

What is communicated?

When is it communicated?

How is it communicated?

Question?

How would parents rate your institution’s communication efforts? Good? Average? Fair ?

Are you satisfied with the communication efforts at your institution? Yes? No? Could be better?

Does your faculty understand the importance of communicating with parents. Yes? No? Could be better?

Meaningful Two-Way Communication

Increases trust between school and parents

Encourages higher and realistic parental expectations

Serves as the first step to other types of parental involvement

Actions needed both by parent and school to accomplish

Some Essential Actions of Parents

Embrace the philosophy of partnership with the teachers and the school

Ask information about how the education system works

Ask teachers about the curriculum, the textbooks and other materials.

Get involved with the decision making process

Ask for information that addresses your needs and concerns

Share the ways encouragement is given at home for learning

Some Essential Actions for School Personnel

Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

Create a welcoming environment for families where they feel comfortable sharing ideas

Stay in touch with parents

Ask families what are their expectations for their children's education

Meet families face to face

Communicate the positive. Use language that promotes cooperation

Make home visits to build relationships

WATER BREAK!

Questions ?

What is the present attitude of parents of your school’s curricular program? Favorable? Unfavorable? Don’t know?

Do parents understand the school’s curricular program? Yes? Somewhat? No?

What role does the parent play in planning the academic program of their students? Significant? Somewhat? None?

Setting the Stage: Curricular Transparency & Support

Objective is to have a holistic approach to students’ learning, such involvement means transparency and openness

The learning process is a full circle it takes place at home and at school

The partnership between parent and school has to be defined and the curricular goals explained and understood in clear language – no edubabble--no jargon

Actions for Curricular Transparency & Support

Share your expectations and data regarding students’ learning habits, attitude toward school and academic progress. Be clear and help to interpret.

Ask about families expectations for their students’ education

Give families information how your class works

Ask parents what they need to help their children to learn at home. Provide opportunities in a variety of formats. Offer workshops based on needs.

ASK! LISTEN! PROVIDE!

Some Tips

Develop and share a “tool box” for helping students at home

Provide parents with guidelines that will help them monitor and supervise their children's homework

Share effective practices with parents about involvement

Make “homework” interactive but not to the point that the parent has to be the teacher of the learning

Provide a family center in school building

Questions?

Do parents feel empowered to share ideas and offer suggestions? Yes? Somewhat? No? Don’t know?

Do parents feel that they are part of the decision making process? Yes? Somewhat? No? Don’t know?

Do you see your school as a collegial community? Yes? Somewhat? No? Never thought about it?

Willingness to Share Power

Does not mean school leadership forfeits authority

Does mean the school leadership recognizes the value of a collegial environment where the common good is to serve the students well and all stakeholders are engaged

Empowers the parent to fulfill their responsibility as the primary educator

Some Basic but Meaningful Tips

Work with families to identify mutually convenient times for class events and/or meetings

Partner with families to plan academic program of their students

Provide a variety of options for participation of parents, and let them choose.

Have parents participate as active members of the building’s leadership team.

Involve the parents in the decision making process as contributors to the discussion

Two Major Key Findings for Engaging Parents

1. Respectful two-way communications which engage parents as partners in their child’s learning have an impact on student achievement.

2. Programs and interventions that engage families in supporting their children's learning at home are linked to higher education.

Research Has Shown

Students with involved parents are more likely to:

Earn higher grades and test scores

Be promoted, pass their courses and earn credits

Attend school regularly

Have better social skills and improved behavior

Graduate and go on to postsecondary education.