How We Can Help Our Parents

How We Can Help Our Parents

By Olivia Artusa DeKatch

I am very passionate about finding more ways to help parents become more involved. After working in a Title I school for three years, I became very interested in ways to increase parent involvement in schools. Thinking about my time there, I realized many things about getting parents involved.

First, I learned that parents do want to know how to help their child. They want to help! They just need help to get there. For example, parents are not as familiar with Common Core math methods. Instead of helping their children, they either don’t help or teach them “their way.” We, as teachers and leaders, need to help out our parents and let them know what they can do at home!

While at a Title I school in Gwinnett County, we implemented nights called Academic Parent Teacher Team nights. These have been a huge success! Parents were invited to come learn what they can do at home to help their child succeed. We, as teachers, would focus on teaching the parents one reading activity and one math activity to practice at home with their child. In addition, parents would be able to look at class data and determine exactly where their child stands with that specific skill. We would create S.M.A.R.T. goals with parents. In addition to all of these amazing things, teachers volunteered to provide free daycare for parents at school while the sessions were occurring. This was an awesome experience.

Second, I learned that parents do want to be involved. However, working parents do not have the easiest schedules for involvement at schools. We need to help our parents know the different ways to become involved with their child’s school.

Third, I learned that if parents know we are all on the same side, they will be much more helpful in the learning process. Sometimes, I found that parents thought we were on different sides or not on the same team. False. We are all on the same team here and we are all acting in the best interest of the child.

When I am a leader, I hope that I can increase parent involvement wherever I may be. I know that each school is different with their level of involvement. But, I want parents to feel supported at home and welcome at school.