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68 Parent Involvement Ideas That Really Work
Know THE SECRET to
getting parents to attend meetings at school--make sure they know they're genuinely
invited.
Establish a friendly contact with parents early in the year, "In Time of Peace."
Insist that teachers not wait until it's too late to tell parents about
potentially serious problems. Early contact helps.
Ask teachers to make at least two positive phone calls to parents each week. Add
a phone line or two if needed. Parent
communication is a cost-effective investment.
Remember the 3 "F"s for success--Food, Families, Fun.
Focus on the strengths of families--they know their children better than anyone
else. Find ways to get that information to teachers, other school staff.
Learn how to deal with angry parents--separate the parent from the argument he is
making. Use active listening. Don't get angry. Look for areas of agreement, "We both
want your child to do well." Find a win-win solution. If you're not sure about a
parent suggestion say, "I'll certainly keep that in mind." If necessary, devise
a temporary solution.
Provide a brief parent newsletter. One sheet of paper is best.
Remember "30-3-30" in writing school newsletters. Eighty percent
of people will spend just 30 seconds reading it. Nineteen percent will spend three
minutes. One percent will spend 30 minutes (your mother).
Remember the dollar bill rule for newsletters. A dollar bill placed anywhere, at
any angle, on any page should touch some element of graphic interest--headline, box,
screen, bullets, bold type, picture--or it's too dull for most people to read.
Develop written policies encouraging parent involvement. If it's not in policy,
the message is we don't care much about it.
Write for parents at 4th to 6th grade level. Use a computer to check the reading
level.
Know why parents say they are not involved: 1) Don't have time, 2) Don't know
what to do, 3) Don't know it is important, or 4) Don't speak English.
Take heart from the "one-third rule." Research says if you can get one-third
of a school's parents involved, you can begin to make significant improvement in student
achievement.
Be aware that teachers are more reluctant to contact parents than vice versa.
Solution: get parents and teachers together--just as people--in comfortable social
situations.
Stress two-way communication between schools and parents. "One-way"
isn't communication.
Conduct school surveys to reveal family attitudes about your school.
Use "key communicators" to control the rumor mill. Keep those to whom
others turn for school information well informed, especially the three 'B's--barbers,
bartenders & beauty shop operators.
Use simple evaluation forms to get parent feedback on every meeting or event. If
we ask, they will tell us what they want.
Try "quick notes" home--notes the day something happens. A parent
helps the child with a spelling test and the child does better. Shoot an immediate note
home to say, "It's working!"
Take parents' pictures. Tell them in advance that pictures will be taken
with their child, and prepare for a crowd.
Encourage teachers to assign homework that requires talking with someone at home.
Ask teachers what they would like to tell parents if they had the chance--and ask
parents what they would like to tell teachers. Then exchange the
information! Great program.
Put up a "Welcome" sign in every language spoken by students and
parents at your school--get parents to help get the words right.
Have handy a ready reference list of helpful materials parents might use to help
them cope with student problems. Better yet have a lending library.
Copyright-1996 The Parent
Institute To be
continued in our Winter edition
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