PARENTS PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATION WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH INSTRUCTORS, OTHER PARENTS

Parents can make every effort to encourage children to make the most of the school experience, including academics and extracurricular activities. Though a parent's level of engagement is up to them, their involvement at school can be crucial for student success.

According to the National Education Council, when parents get involved in their children’s education, those children are more likely to do better in school and be more positive about the school experience. They also may be well-behaved. Wondering how to assist at the school level? Consider these possibilities.

School board meetings

Many community school boards have volunteers who work with superintendents and other personnel to advocate for policies and procedures. Decisions typically are up for vote, and parents can run for school board positions or simply attend meetings each month and let their voices be heard about various issues.

Open houses and conferences

Parents can make every effort to get to know teachers and other staff. Putting faces to names can help parents develop a connection to teachers and vice versa. Most schools schedule opportunities for parents to meet coaches and teachers, such as open houses, and parent-teacher conferences.

Attend school events

Families can make it a point to support students in all endeavors. Whenever the opportunity to visit the school comes up — whether for a concert, sports game, trivia night, or fundraiser — parents can make an effort to attend.

Volunteer

When parents want to be involved even further, they can head committees at school or volunteer with the PTA or PTO. They also can help out in the cafeteria, library or in the main office. Parents who have particular skills may volunteer to provide tutoring or mentoring as needed. Furthermore, parents can volunteer to be leaders in school-sanctioned extracurriculars, such as athletics or theater productions.

How Parents And Educators Can Work Together

Parents and educators alike aspire to help students perform their best in the classroom. An effective parent-teacher partnership can go a long way toward helping children reach their academic potential. With that goal in mind, parents and educators can employ the following strategies to develop a working relationship.

Keep lines of communication open

Communication between families and educators is of paramount importance. The Early Learning Network, an organization devoted to improving the academic success of children that is funded by the Institute for Education Services, emphasizes the importance of routine communication between parents and educators throughout the school year. The ELN notes that open, clear, constructive, and timely communication can help parents know what’s going on at school and ensures teachers know important things about their students.

Make use of parent-teacher conference sessions

Both parents and teachers can utilize parentteacher conferences to communicate directly with one another. Parents can prepare a list of questions regarding their child’s academics, while teachers can provide a clear assessment of each student with feedback that celebrates the positive developments a student is making and offers constructive advice on areas where students can improve.

Develop a plan together

Establish routine intervals to communicate to discuss a student’s progress. Discuss what seems to be working and any areas where the approach by both parties may need to be tweaked. For example, parents should be open to suggestions regarding homework if the work students are submitting is not reflective of their abilities. Similarly, if students indicate to their parents that a certain in-class approach is not resonating, educators can remain open to suggestions or offer extra assistance.

A collective effort on the part of parents and educators can increase the likelihood that each student fulfills their academic potential. Parents and educators can work together to keep lines of communication open and make the most of opportunities to speak directly with one another.