Making Time for Parent Involvement Parents can balance work and their involvement in their child’s education and school by: Taking Time at Home Setting expectations and establishing routines Making time to volunteer Joining your PTA Keeping in touch with the school Staying informed Taking advantage of school functions Putting your talents to work Getting your employer involved

Take time at home Support learning at home Support learning at home Talk with your child about school activities Talk with your child about school activities Monitor homework and class projects Monitor homework and class projects Plan together for family activities that support or supplement what is being learned in class Plan together for family activities that support or supplement what is being learned in class

Set expectations and establish routines Set high, yet realistic, expectations Set high, yet realistic, expectations Help develop a routine for studying and homework Help develop a routine for studying and homework Limit part-time job hours and restrict nighttime employment Limit part-time job hours and restrict nighttime employment Provide educational resources at home and help access additional resources Provide educational resources at home and help access additional resources

Make time to volunteer Contact the PTA president, the classroom teacher, the school secretary, and school volunteer coordinator to find out what volunteer jobs are available Contact the PTA president, the classroom teacher, the school secretary, and school volunteer coordinator to find out what volunteer jobs are available Let them know your schedule, times and ways to contact you, and when you are available to volunteer Let them know your schedule, times and ways to contact you, and when you are available to volunteer

Join your PTA (Parent Teacher Association) Your PTA works to address issues with school and community Your PTA works to address issues with school and community Allows you to add support and voice to others to make a difference for all children Allows you to add support and voice to others to make a difference for all children

Keep in touch with the school/Stay informed Establish a method of regular communication with the teacher Establish a method of regular communication with the teacher -make phone calls -make phone calls -write notes -write notes -send s -send s Find out what you can do to reinforce at home what is being learned at school Find out what you can do to reinforce at home what is being learned at school Read school newsletters, calendars, or fliers sent home Read school newsletters, calendars, or fliers sent home Websites – specific classes, schedules, important activities, homework assignments, tips, and project requirements Websites – specific classes, schedules, important activities, homework assignments, tips, and project requirements

Take advantage of school functions Get a schedule of school and PTA programs, projects, and ceremonies Get a schedule of school and PTA programs, projects, and ceremonies Volunteer to help with school functions Volunteer to help with school functions See if families can meet with other parents to share ideas and ask questions See if families can meet with other parents to share ideas and ask questions

Put your talents to work Talents and skills can be used to benefit school and students Talents and skills can be used to benefit school and students Computer skills Computer skills -school newsletters -school newsletters -fliers -fliers -update web pages -update web pages Provide curriculum activities in class, or before or after school programs Provide curriculum activities in class, or before or after school programs Speaking a different language Speaking a different language -interpreter for parents at school events -interpreter for parents at school events -translate materials for other parents -translate materials for other parents

Get your employer involved Successful schools have support from local businesses and community members Successful schools have support from local businesses and community members Ask about allowing employee flextime to volunteer or attend school activities Ask about allowing employee flextime to volunteer or attend school activities