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18 Parent Involvement Ideas That Really Work
Provide some parent education classes at the
workplace. Convenience works for 7-11 stores and it also works for schools.
Try providing "Good News Postcards" for teachers to write short
positive note about students and mail them home. One thousand postcards cost less than
$200 to mail.
Ask parents' help in developing questions for a school "audit" to see
if your school is family friendly.
Invite parents to a program about helping children do well on homework and
eliminating things that distract them. Most have never had such information.
Ask parents to fill out a "Contact Sheet" listing home and work
addresses and phone numbers--and the best times to be contacted in either place.
Have children write personal notes to their parents on school papers, surveys,
invitations to school programs, etc. Watch parent response rates soar!
Help all school staff understand the central role they play in building parent
attitudes, support and involvement--secretary, custodian, food service staff, bus driver,
librarian, aides, everyone
Try sending home "Resource Bags" filled with games, videos, reading
materials and instructions on specific activities parents can do with children at home.
They're very popular.
Having problems getting parents involved with a child who's having discipline or
other problems? Try videotaping class sessions. Showing the "candid camera" tape
to parents and children works wonders.
Make sure all staff know the top things parents report they want to know about
school: 1) How they can be involved with their child's education, 2) How they can spend
more time at school, 3) How to talk to teachers, other school staff, 4) How to help their
child at home.
Try holding "non-academic" social events to draw parents to school to
see students' work.
Try an evening Curriculum Fair to give parents a better understanding of what's
being taught.
Try a "Family Math Night" to inform parents about the math curriculum
through math games.
Try "refrigerator notes." Ask students to "Take this note home and
put it in the refrigerator." That gets attention!
Know that parents are also looking to schools for help in dealing with
non-academic problems (child care, raising adolescents, advice on drugs, sexual activity).
Providing help can build parent support.
Understand one key reason for parent non-involvement: Lack of information.
One memo won't do. Try letters & notes & signs & calls & newspaper &
radio & TV. Repetition works & works & works.
Transition Nights (or days, or afternoons) for parents and students getting ready
to go to a new school help answer questions, relieve anxieties, build involvement and
support.
Want to get parents out for school meetings? Make children welcome by offering
child care.
--These ideas from a presentation by John H.
Wherry, Ed.D., President, The Parent Institute, P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA
22039-7474. The Parent Institute publishes the What's Working in Parent Involvement
newsletter for school staff (from which all ideas for this handout have been taken), the Parents
Make the Difference! newsletter for schools to distribute to parents of elementary
grade children, the Parents STILL Make the Difference! newsletter for
parents of secondary school children, as well as booklets and videos for parents. For
information about publications and services call toll-free: 1-800-756-5525. Copyright ©
1996, The Parent Institute.
Copyright-1996 The Parent Institute
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