Parental Involvement Staff Training Module 1: The Importance of Parental Involvement Presenter: [Name]

Agenda Welcome and Introductions Housekeeping and Ground Rules Definition of Parental Involvement Importance of the involvement of parents in the education of their child/ren Review, follow-up, and next steps

Housekeeping and Ground Rules Housekeeping Restrooms Cell phones, blackberries, etc. Breaks and lunch Ground Rules Keep the children in mind All ideas are important Everyone participates Think about activities/response from a parent’s perceptive

Objectives Participants will be able to: Define parental involvement; Describe why parental involvement matters in the lives of children and in school improvement; Describe the six types of parental involvement; and List examples of parental involvement.

What is the role of parents in education? “Both parents and teachers believe the most fundamental job for parents is to give their children the basic upbringing and supervision that make them ready to learn, including setting limits, creating structure, and holding children accountable for their behavior.” Lezotte and Pepperl, 2001

What is Parental Involvement? Describe an “involved” parent Are there common characteristics of involved parents? Are there similar activities that let you know a parent is involved? Are there times or periods of a child’s life when a parent is more involved or needed more? Are parents who live in poverty involved in the same way as parents with more resources?

What is Parental Involvement? The participation of parents in regular, two- way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities including: Assisting their child’s learning; Being actively involved in their child’s education at school; Serving as full partners in their child’s education and being included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child; and The carrying out of other activities such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA” Section 9101(32).

Benefits to Parental Involvement At the table, discuss the benefits you have seen in your classroom when parents are involved. Think about the benefits to: Students Parents Teachers and Schools

Benefits of Effective Parental Involvement Programs* Students Positive attitude toward school; Higher achievement in reading; Higher quality homework; and Positive perception of home-school connection. *

Benefits of Effective Parental Involvement Programs* Parents An understanding of how schools work; Learning of strategies to help their children be successful in school; Confidence in helping their children learn; and Positive views of teachers and the school. *

Benefits of Effective Parental Involvement Programs* Teachers/Schools Higher morale; Improvement in student achievement; and Parental and community support for the school. *

Six Types of Parental Involvement** Parenting Communicating Volunteering Learning at Home Decision-Making Collaborating with Community **

Six Types of Parental Involvement** Brainstorm activities of schools and teachers can implement to support parents in each of the six types of parent involvement. How can the classroom teacher support parents in these activities? How can the school support parents in these activities? **

Involvement Beyond Participation Can parents be involved in their child’s education and not participate in activities at school? How? What evidence do you have that they are involved?

Parental Involvement at [School Name] Does [School Name] have opportunities in all six areas? Looking at the charts around the room, where do we need to strengthen our parental involvement program? Do I have opportunities for parents in all six areas in my classroom?

Review What is parental involvement? Why is parental involvement important? What are the six types of parental involvement? How are we making changes to ensure an effective parental involvement program at [School Name]?

Follow-up: Action Research Identify activities currently being implemented Plan and implement activities to ensure that parental involvement activities are available in all six areas; and Report results to [name] by [date].

Closing Thought Parents are children’s first and most influential teachers. By reading to children or having them read to us, by making sure homework is done, by monitoring television use, by knowing how children spend their time, parents can have a powerfully positive effect on their children’s learning. ~ U.S. Secretary of Education