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The importance
of parent involvement
We hear it all the time - parents are their children's
first and most important teachers. That role seems more
clear cut when they are very young and need help with
just about everything - from practicing how to tie their
shoes to looking both ways before crossing a street. But
once a child enters school, other adults assume the
teacher role, leaving many parents wondering what they
can do to support and encourage learning... in school
and out.
One thing is certain: for children to learn their
lessons well and remain curious about the many new and
interesting parts of their world, they still need their
parents' help and daily encouragement. Research
repeatedly shows that children are better, more
successful learners when their parents are actively
involved in their learning, both at home and at school.
Before you rush to the store for a pack of flash cards
consider this: When it comes to helping children grow as
learners, many of the things that parents do each day
are what really matter most. For example:
Create a home where learning is encouraged.
This includes setting aside a consistent time each day
when children will complete their homework. It also
means encouraging children to read and write for
pleasure and setting limits on television, computer and
video game usage. (FYI: The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends that school-age children spend no
more than one to two hours a day watching TV and playing
computer games - and that children not watch TV while
doing homework).
Set high expectations for learning.
Parents know better than anyone else what their children
are interested in and what their talents are. Take the
time to encourage your children's strengths and find
ways to support them when they struggle. This sends the
message that you are ready to help them succeed. For
example, offer to help younger children sound out words
as they read to you. Play math games as you drive in the
car. Meet with the teacher to discuss how you can work
together to help your child master a difficult subject.
Encourage exploration and discovery.
Just because the school day is over doesn't mean that
learning has to end. If your child is learning about
different types of communities, a family trip to a local
farm can provide an interesting lesson on rural
community life. Try turning an interest in cooking into
an international theme dinner. If you have a
skateboarding enthusiast in your family, subscribe to a
magazine on his/her favorite topic. The point is to make
learning fun. Libraries, museums, local historical sites
and the Internet are all wonderful resources to help you
nurture your child's interests while spending quality
time together. Two kid-friendly search engines to try
are
Yahooligans and
Ask
Jeeves for Kids.
Build a strong home-school partnership.
Open house at the beginning of the year is a great time
to get to know your children's teachers and learn about
ways you can support the year's learning at home.
Parent-teacher conferences are a good time to talk about
the areas where your child may need extra help or ways
you can expand upon classroom lessons. Volunteering in
the classroom, attending school events and sending notes
or e-mail messages are great ways to keep in touch with
teachers throughout the year and stay informed about
what your children are learning.
Parent involvement pays off
Decades of research show that when parents are involved
in their children's education, students have:
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Higher
grades, test scores and graduation rates
-
Better
school attendance
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Increased motivation and better self-esteem
-
Lower
rates of suspension
-
Decreased drug and alcohol use
-
Fewer
instances of violent behavior
-
A
greater chance of going on to college and other
secondary education
Source:
National PTA
For permission to reprint this article, please contact
the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service.
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