6 minute read
Parenting
Why YOU should be involved in Your Child's
There’s the old saying “It takes a village to raise a child.” This saying used to be a way of life for most people. Everyone looked out for used to be a way of life for most people. Everyone looked out for each other’s children and had their best interest at heart. Nowadays, it seems like it’s everyone for themselves. Every school year, many parents send their children to school with the expectation that the teachers and parents send their children to school with the expectation that the teachers and school administrators will provide all the learning and stimulation they need to be school administrators will provide all the learning and stimulation they need to be intelligent, productive members of society. Though teachers and staff are there to intelligent, productive members of society. Though teachers and staff are there to foster the educational development of children, the job is not theirs alone. Parental involvement in education is a key factor in the growth of children and adolescents.
In a paper “Analyzing Parental Involvement Dimensions in Early Childhood” published in Educational Research and Reviews, author Zeynep Kurtulmus found that involved Educational Research and Reviews, author Zeynep Kurtulmus found that involved parenting promoted healthy education outcomes for children. Kurtulmus said, “Par parenting promoted healthy education outcomes for children. Kurtulmus said, “Parenting is the parental involvement dimension that includes the attitudes, values, and enting is the parental involvement dimension that includes the attitudes, values, and practices of parents in raising young children. Nurturing, warm, and responsive par practices of parents in raising young children. Nurturing, warm, and responsive parent-child relationships in child-centered activities relate to positive learning outcomes ent-child relationships in child-centered activities relate to positive learning outcomes in early childhood.” When children are raised in a welcoming environment, they have a in early childhood.” When children are raised in a welcoming environment, they have a
BY URSULA BRANTLEY
better chance at absorbing a quality education. Their outlook on education Their outlook on education is more positive, and they’re is more positive, and they’re more receptive to learning when their environments ar when their environments aren’t toxic. A child’s first classroom is always at home and a parent/guardian is always the first teacher. The home is the foundation of a child’s development on multiple levels, especially education. This is where they should be learning the basis and importance of education. Kurtulmus’ research showed that parents with higher levels of involvement in their
children’s educational experiences at home have been associated with children’s higher achievement scores in reading and writing. The research also showed that parents’ higher level of involvement at school activities and interaction with the teachers is associated with better achievement in mathematics and reading. The best way for parents to get involved with their children’s education is to go straight to the source. There’s no one who will know your child’s educational needs better than the teacher. Parents should take every opportunity that they can to discuss how their child is doing in class and
what they can do to cultivate their young minds. Children’s teachers know their strengths and weaknesses and are always elated to have parents who are just as concerned as they are about the children’s education. In a survey “Parent and Family Involvement in Education: 2019” published by the U.S. Department of Education in July 2020, well over half of the parents who participated had attended a at home have been associated with general school or PTO/PTA meeting, attended regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences, and attendalso showed that parents’ higher lev ed school or class events. This shows that many parents are doing what they can when they can to support their child’s education, but there is still a gap in the level of parental involvement in education. The best way for parents to get in One of the best times for parents and volved with their children’s education teachers to introduce themselves is to go straight to the source. There’s would be at back-to-school night, designed specifically for the purpose of giving parents and teachers a chance teacher. Parents should take every to meet face-to-face at the beginning opportunity that they can to discuss of the school year. During this time, how their child is doing in class and teachers lay out the goals and expecta-
what they can do to cultivate their young minds. Children’s teachers know their strengths and weaknesses and are always elated to have parents who are just as concerned as they are about the children’s education. In a survey “Parent and Family Involvement in Education: 2019” published by the U.S. Department of Education in July 2020, well over half of the parents who participated had attended a general school or PTO/PTA meeting, attended regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences, and attended school or class events. This shows that many parents are doing what they can when they can to support their child’s education, but there is still a gap in the level of parental involvement in education. One of the best times for parents and teachers to introduce themselves would be at back-to-school night, designed specifically for the purpose of giving parents and teachers a chance to meet face-to-face at the beginning of the school year. During this time, teachers lay out the goals and expectations for the school year while parents tions for the school year while parents are given the opportunity to ask any are given the opportunity to ask any questions about the upcoming school questions about the upcoming school year. year. Here are some great questions Here are some great questions
to ask teachers and administrators to ask teachers and administrators on back-to-school night (or any other on back-to-school night (or any other time during the school year). time during the school year).
�������� �������� What skills and/or mindset What skills and/or mindset should my child be developing should my child be developing during the school year? during the school year? �������� �������� Will my child be able to set their Will my child be able to set their own academic goals? own academic goals? �������� �������� What types of tests will be given What types of tests will be given during the school year? during the school year? �������� �������� What are helpful apps/websites What are helpful apps/websites when it comes to homework? when it comes to homework? �������� �������� What apps/websites are used What apps/websites are used during the school day? during the school day? �������� �������� How much homework will How much homework will require internet access? require internet access? �������� �������� What is the grading scale? What is the grading scale? �������� �������� Is extra credit ever an option? Is extra credit ever an option?
What types? What types? �������� �������� What type of practice/learning What type of practice/learning will be dedicated to standardized will be dedicated to standardized testing? testing? �������� �������� What is the best way and time to What is the best way and time to contact the teacher? contact the teacher?
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