5 ways parents can get involved in schools

5 ways parents can get involved in schools

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Parents Engagement

Introduction

Parents play a prominent role in a child’s learning and growth. A child spends maximum time with their parents. However, when they start going to school parents’ involvement starts to reduce as they rely on the school to take care of their child’s growth. It is essential to understand the importance of parental involvement in school and provide opportunities for them to be part of it.  

What is parental involvement?

Parental involvement refers to the active engagement of parents in their child’s education and school activities. It includes a range of actions such as helping with homework, attending parent-teacher meetings, volunteering at school events, and fostering a positive learning environment at home. When parents participate in their children’s education, it can lead to better academic performance, improved behavior, and enhanced social skills. 

Schools often encourage parental involvement through regular communication, inviting parents to workshops, and creating opportunities for them to contribute to school decision-making processes. Effective parental involvement requires collaboration and commitment from both the parents and the school staff. By being involved, parents can better understand the curriculum, support their child’s learning needs, and reinforce the importance of education

How can parents expand their role in their child’s education? 

Parents play a vital role in their child’s education, and expanding this role can significantly enhance their child’s learning experience. By being more involved, parents can support their child’s academic and personal growth in meaningful ways. Here are specific ways parents can expand their role:

  • Create a Learning-Friendly Home Environment: Parents can set up a quiet and organized space at home dedicated to studying, free from distractions. This environment encourages focus and consistency in their child’s learning routine.
  • Engage in Daily Educational Activities: Parents can incorporate learning into daily activities, such as reading together, discussing current events, or exploring educational games. These activities reinforce school learning and make education a part of everyday life.
  • Stay Informed and Involved with School: Regularly communicating with teachers and attending school meetings allows parents to stay informed about their child’s progress and the school’s expectations. This involvement helps parents to better support their child’s educational needs.
  • Encourage Extracurricular Participation: Supporting their child’s involvement in extracurricular activities like sports, arts, or clubs can help parents foster well-rounded development, teach teamwork, and encourage the exploration of new interests.
  • Promote Time Management and Goal Setting: Parents can help their child develop good time management skills by setting study schedules and discussing short- and long-term academic goals. This guidance helps children learn responsibility and achieve success in their studies.
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Role of parents in children’s education

Parents play a crucial role in enhancing the school environment and supporting their child’s education. Their active involvement positively impacts both their child’s learning and the broader school community. Here are key ways parents contribute:

  • Support Home Learning: Parents assist with homework and reinforce classroom lessons, helping to solidify their child’s understanding and academic skills.
  • Participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences: Engaging in discussions with teachers allows parents to stay informed about their child’s progress and collaborate on addressing any challenges.
  • Contribute to School Activities: By participating in school events and serving on committees, parents help shape school policies and build a positive, supportive school culture.
  • Maintain Open Communication: Regularly communicating with teachers ensures that parents are aware of their child’s academic and social development, enabling timely support and intervention.
  • Show Commitment to Education: Their involvement in school activities and discussions emphasizes the importance of education, motivating their child and reinforcing the value of learning.

Importance of parental involvement in school

Research by the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education says that parental involvement in a child’s education improves their academic performance, regular attendance, and social skills despite their educational and financial background. Here are a few benefits of how parental involvement in school can be advantageous for students, schools, and teachers.

Benefits to students

  • Academic performance i.e. higher test scores and grade points
  • Higher success rates in class and lower dropout rates
  • Higher rates of continuation of further studies
  • Student’s personality development i.e.better social and behaviour and better school adaptation

Benefits to school and teachers

  • Increase regular school attendance
  • Enhancement in school operation
  • High student retention
  • Active classroom engagement

Challenges in parental involvement in school

  • Lack of time – To keep the family’s financial state stable, most parents can’t take out time and prioritise their child’s school activities. Sometimes due to hectic job schedules, they don’t show much interest in it or fail to participate even if they are interested.
  • Illiteracy and lack of motivation – Some parents choose not to get involved in their children’s school because they believe that they are illiterate and lack confidence to speak with teachers. Additionally, they believe that the teacher alone should be in charge of their children’s education.
  • Lack of engagement program- Most schools don’t offer any proper educational program which can engage parents. As a result, many parents remain unfamiliar with the educational system.

Also Read: 5 reasons why a physical learning environment is the best for students in the long run

Strategies to improve parental involvement in schools

1. Adopt Communication initiating tools

Effective communication tools will help in filling the communication gap between the school and invested parents. Many communication platforms allow easy communication and regular follow-up with parents.

Schools can share information through texts, student information systems (SIS), phone calls, emails, and diaries. Also, there are free apps available in the market which help in feedback collection, and curriculum tips. Ex: Bioomz, Parents Square, Klassly, Remind, etc.

2. Volunteering opportunities for parents

Providing different volunteering opportunities to parents will boost their motivation and interest. It is the best way of giving direct opportunities to parents for leadership and to showcase their talents such as event coordination (school trips, exhibition competitions), painting activities (wall painting), and logistics arrangement (venue, photographs, prints, food, etc).

3. Community awareness

To engage with parents effectively, community awareness can be a good tool for increasing direct interaction and parental involvement in school. Interested schools can organize various community-centered awareness programs such as health sanitation, mental health, and nutrition. 

4. Decision-making and advocacy

One good way to enhance parental involvement in school is by providing them a platform where they can share their concerns and be part of the decision-making that will build trust in schools. By arranging meetings or conferences.

It will provide them opportunities to be part of the school and take ownership of the child’s learning. Also, most of the conflicts such as lack of communication, teaching, delivery, feedback related to health and safety concerns, and infrastructure quality can be addressed here.

5. Implementing parental involvement in academics program

Adequate parental involvement programs strengthen the relationship between parents and the school. It is important to understand the need and opt for a suitable program to cater to it. Schools can involve third parties to improve parental involvement in school such as through the Varthana Smart Fee Program. It will help schools to engage parents without hampering their relationship with parents. 

Hence engaging parents in school is not an easy job. But using smart tools and effective strategies can increase parents’ involvement in school. Schools need to put constant effort to make it successful. 

How can we involve parents in school activities?

Involving parents in school activities is essential for fostering a supportive and engaged community around students. By actively participating, parents can contribute to their child’s educational experience and help build a stronger school environment. Here are specific ways to involve parents in school activities:

  • Parent-Led Events: Organize events where parents take the lead, such as cultural programs, sports days, or career talks. This allows parents to share their expertise and actively contribute to the school community.
  • Interactive Homework: Design homework assignments that require parent-student collaboration, encouraging parents to engage in their child’s learning process and reinforcing concepts taught in class.
  • School Communication Platforms: Use dedicated communication platforms or apps to keep parents informed about school activities, upcoming events, and their child’s progress, making it easier for them to stay involved and engaged.
  • Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs): Establish or strengthen a Parent-Teacher Association, where parents can collaborate with school staff on initiatives, provide input, and work together to improve the school environment.
  • Celebration of Achievements: Involve parents in celebrating student achievements, such as awards ceremonies or project exhibitions, where they can see their child’s progress and feel connected to the school’s success.

FAQs

1. What are 5 specific ways to get parents involved?

To get parents involved, schools can organize regular parent-teacher conferences, create opportunities for parents to volunteer in classrooms, host workshops on relevant topics, establish a parent-teacher association, and maintain open communication through newsletters or digital platforms.

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2. What are the 6 types of parent involvement?

The 6 types of parent involvement include: participating in school governance, helping with homework, attending school events, volunteering in classrooms, engaging in parent-teacher conferences, and supporting learning at home with educational activities

3. What are the factors of parent involvement?

Factors influencing parent involvement include the level of parent education, the availability of time and resources, the school’s outreach efforts, effective communication between parents and teachers, and the parents’ understanding of their role in supporting their child’s education.

4. What are the 5 ways of responsible parenting?

5 ways of responsible parenting include: providing consistent and supportive discipline, setting a good example through behavior and attitudes, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment, engaging in open communication with children, and actively participating in their education and activities.

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