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Parental involvement in a child’s education can play an important role in a child’s school success. However, if you are a working parent, a single parent or a parent with little spare time, you may find it difficult to find ways to be involved. Not everyone is available during the day to volunteer, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t support your child’s education. Make talking to your children about school a part of your daily routine. Ask about the people your child sees every day, the activities that are taking place and what your child likes and doesn’t like about school. Ask specific questions about what your child is learning while riding in the car or at dinner time. Let your child know that you are interested in what happens during their day. Even junior high kids will share their day if you give them a chance to do so. Keep updated about school activities. Review the school website and read the newsletters that come home. Know when special programs are taking place and ask your child to tell you about them. Drop in on extracurricular activities when possible. Arrive early when picking up your child from the skating party or the ball game. Watch your child in action and talk to them about what you see. Get to know your child’s teacher. Email is a great way to communicate with teachers quickly and often. Make them aware of your concerns or just let them know that your child really enjoyed that last science experiment. Create a network of committed and involved parents with the shared goal of advancing your children’s education. Stay in touch with the parents of your child’s classmates to carpool, arrange study groups, and stay aware of what is happening in school. Don’t be afraid to lean on others for help in staying on top of things. Be creative and find
ways to stay involved. Remember that we are all in this together.
Building a supportive system of teachers, parents, and the broader
school community will help all of our children stay on the path
to school success. Barbara Augustine |
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