Focusing on Helping our Parents in our After School Programs

Influences Influences Pop Stars Pop Stars Athletes Athletes Mentors Mentors Tutors Tutors Friends Friends Parental Influence Parental Influence %86 of the general public believes support from parents is the most important way to improve schools %80 percent of youth cited their parents as the most influential people in their lives, in a survey of a thousand teenagers By the time a student reaches the age of 18 they will have spent %10 of their life in the classroom. The other %90 is spent at home and in the community Parental Involvement Is Necessary For Your After School Students to Succeed * See Resource Guide for Articles Relating to the Power of a Parents Influence and for Citations of Statistics

Identify the ways in which your After School Program has made it easy for parents to relinquish their power. i.e., “Favors for Parents” Identify the ways in which your After School Program has made it easy for parents to relinquish their power. i.e., “Favors for Parents” All After School Program Activities should have a parent element. All After School Program Activities should have a parent element. Consider in each Action Plan how your parents can be involved. Consider in each Action Plan how your parents can be involved.

*Parent Celebration -appreciation dinners -holiday cards from child *Know Your Parents -assign 1 volunteer/staff person to each family *Parent Meetings -home visits -beginning of the year planning -end of the year debriefing *Parent Responsibilities -snack -field trips -classes (Parent Classes) -parent/child tutoring projects (Literacy Bags) -teacher visits -school events

Guidelines for Volunteers/Staff Maximum 1 to 3 Ratio of Tutor per Family Maximum 1 to 3 Ratio of Tutor per Family Minimum of a 1 Year Commitment to Program Minimum of a 1 Year Commitment to Program Commitment to Invest “Outside Time”; spend time with Student and Parent(s) outside of program hours Commitment to Invest “Outside Time”; spend time with Student and Parent(s) outside of program hours Stay in Constant Communication with Parent(s) Stay in Constant Communication with Parent(s) Set Monthly Goals for How Many Phone Calls and House Visits Should be Made. Set Monthly Goals for How Many Phone Calls and House Visits Should be Made. relationships Solid Relationships Between Volunteers/Staff and Families

Parent Classes: Monthly Classes Focused On Helping Parents Help Their Children with their Education Parent Classes: Monthly Classes Focused On Helping Parents Help Their Children with their Education Literacy Bags: Take Home Reading Activities that a Student is Suppose to do with their Parent Literacy Bags: Take Home Reading Activities that a Student is Suppose to do with their Parent

Goal #1: To Equip Parents with the Information and Resources They Need to Help their Child Succeed in School Goal #1: To Equip Parents with the Information and Resources They Need to Help their Child Succeed in School Goal #2: To Provide Support and Council for Specific Topics Pertinent to Parents Immediate Situations and Questions. Goal #2: To Provide Support and Council for Specific Topics Pertinent to Parents Immediate Situations and Questions.

1.Begin Early *Set clear guidelines for what is expected from a parent before they sign up their child Example: Every Parent is Required to Attend 3 out of 5 Classes Provided *Establish an agenda with all the dates of classes so parents can plan ahead to be there 2. Create a Curriculum for Your Parents: Do Your Research * Meet with teachers, parents, and students before picking topics for each class. *Use the information you gather from prospective students of your program and their parents and teachers, to plan your topics for the year. *Use the expertise of your instructors to assemble the material for each class. Example Classes: How to Manage Your Child’s Backpack, Ways to Help your Child with their Homework Even When you Don’t Understand it Yourself 3. Parent Instructors *Ask Parents from Church or Community who have demonstrated a quality of parenting to teach these classes. *Keep Instructors Consistent *Give Parents a Model Agenda for Each Class *See Resource Guide for Example Agenda 4. Potluck Community *Food is a great incentive for parents to come to class, and a great way to get them involved in class. *Have parents sign up to bring a snack or a meal for each class. Or have people from church or community sign up to bring food for each class.

Goal #1: To Give Parents a Practical Way to Get Involved in their Child’s Education. Goal #1: To Give Parents a Practical Way to Get Involved in their Child’s Education. Goal #2: To Promote Fun, Hands On, Reading Activities. Goal #2: To Promote Fun, Hands On, Reading Activities.

1.Establish each Students Reading Level *Give Reading Assessment Tests First Week of Program *See Resource Guide For Assessment Test 2. Fun Reading Activities *Each Activity Should be Fun; Critical Thinking Games, Puzzles, Creating Stories *Decorate Bags to Keep it Looking Fun *Establish at Least 5 Activities per Reading Level *See Resource Guide for Fun Activity Ideas and Resources 3. Create a Check In and Check Out System for Each Bag *Keep Track of All Items in Games and Bags *Check In Bags Only With All Contents *See Resource Guide for Check In/Out Template 4. Tutorial for Parents and Students on How to Use Bags * Hold an Initial Class for Parents and Students to Explain Purpose of Bags and Expectations to Use Bags. *Walk Through Specific Activities with Parents and Students *Include Same Activities to Your Tutoring Time: Students will then know how to do the activities, and the benefits from each activity will be reinforced.

Help Your Parents Help their Child