Effective Schools The Role of Parents Annie Gros-Louis FNEC Educational Services Director

Presentation objectives Summarize the concept of Building Better Schools Together. Present the 7 correlates of an effective school. Give some examples of good practices. Identify the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset.

Building Better Schools Together Background

Effective Schools Students depend on us

What factors make a school effective? Which factor has a greater influence on the others? Academic success Attendance rate Attitude Behaviour

Clear School Mission Outcomes Attitude Attitude Attendance Attendance Students have better learning outcomes Attitude More positive student attitude toward school Attitude More positive student attitude toward school Attendance Student attendance is improved Attendance Student attendance is improved impact Behaviour Student behaviour is improved

Seven correlates of effective schools

What do these schools have? A safe and orderly environment. High expectations for success. Instructional leadership. A clear and specific mission. Opportunities to learn and time on task. Frequent monitoring of student progress. Positive home-school relations.

Practical ways to guide our children toward academic success

Here are some simple and practical ways to increase your children’s chance of success: Keep lines of communication open. Have a positive view of school. Provide guidance that fosters autonomy. Make plans for the future. Encourage reading. Acknowledge effort.

Keep lines of communication open Encouraging open communication that takes your children’s opinions into consideration is the best way to develop their autonomy and self-confidence, two key elements for academic success. School issues will be easier to address if you maintain a mutual dialogue on your children’s interests. Take advantage of every opportunity to talk about all kinds of subjects: current events, movies, jobs, sexuality, drugs, etc. Encourage your children to express their points of view instead of imposing yours. Establish rules that are fair for boys and girls: dating, outings, chores, safe sex, etc. Make sure that both parents are sending the same clear message.

Have a positive view of school Help your children gain an appreciation of school. Research shows that motivation and enjoyment in learning are factors that foster success. The relationship your children have with school plays a key role in their ability to succeed. Acknowledge the work teachers do to foster their learning. Remind them often of the importance you place on school. Ask people close to them (uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.) to speak positively about school. Encourage them to take part in extra-curricular activities because they increase a sense of belonging among students.

Provide guidance that fosters autonomy Autonomy is a deciding factor in student success. Children who can work independently are more responsible and more capable of accepting the consequences of their choices. Guide your children and help them develop their sense of responsibility early on. Establish a homework routine. Make sure they have an appropriate place to study. Teach them how to organize their assignments, use a school planner and anticipate deadlines.

Make plans for the future Children who are able to see a future for themselves develop stronger school ties. As soon as your children enter elementary school, encourage them to define a plan for the future based on their interests, even if this plan may change. The important thing is that they develop the ability to visualize their future. Find out and talk about what they are interested in. Get some information on the professions they are drawn to. Encourage them to take part in extra-curricular activities that can help them define their plan for the future more clearly.

Encourage reading One of the best gifts you can give your children! Students who read a lot and read in their free time have more academic success. It is important to instill the joy of reading in your children as early as possible. Make reading an entertaining family activity. Encourage your children to go to the library. Respect their tastes; the joy of reading can even come from comic books. Show your children how useful reading is in everyday activities.

Acknowledge effort There is a direct correlation between success and the amount of time and effort students spent on assignments and homework. Help your children become aware of the results and the satisfaction they can get from their hard work. Help them plan their time (homework, outings, television, sports, etc.). Refer them to resources if they run into difficulty: teachers, friends, homework assistants and peer tutors, remedial help offered at school, etc. Encourage them to stay on task and tell them how proud you are every time they make progress. Help them set realistic goals.

Scoop!!!

A difficulty at school can be overcome A difficulty at school can be overcome. Changing what you do at home and working with the school can make all the difference.

All children can learn: According to their capabilities. If they take advantage of learning opportunities. When they have an appropriate environment.

Mindset Carol Dweck Stanford University Fixed mindset Intelligence is in-born Growth mindset Intelligence can be developed

Fixed mindset Wants to seem intelligent and as a result, tends to: Avoid taking up challenges. Quit easily. Think that effort leads to nothing or worse things. Ignore useful negative feedback. Feel threatened by the success of others.

Wants to learn and as a result, tends to: Growth mindset Wants to learn and as a result, tends to: Welcome challenges. Persevere despite pitfalls. See effort as the way to learn and leading to understanding. Learn from criticism. Learn from and be inspired by the success of others.

Greater feeling of self-efficacy Growth mindset

Self-efficacy is believing in your ability to learn High self-efficacy - Sees difficult tasks as challenges and does not try to avoid them. - Sees failure as a learning opportunity and makes a greater effort or seeks further information the next time. Low self-efficacy - Greater risk of avoiding difficult tasks seen as personal threats. - Sees failure as a confirmation of personal shortcomings, hurdles that prevent success, or the lack of power to take action. - Is slow to regain confidence.

Conclusion

Thank you for your participation Annie Gros-Louis agroslouis@cepn-fnec.com