100 Ways To Be Involved in Your Child's Learning
Communicating: Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful.
- Give positive feedback and show appreciation for teachers and the principal.
- Approach interactions with a positive attitude and an open mind.
- Listen to others' viewpoints.
- Share your child's strengths, talents, and interests with your child's teachers.
- Share expectations and set goals together for your child.
- Make appointments as needed to discuss your child's progress or concerns.
- Attend parent-teacher conferences with specific questions you want to ask.
- Indicate the best way to give you information (phone, e-mail, notes, etc.).
- Understand and reinforce school rules and expectations at home.
- Participate in informal opportunities to talk with and get to know school staff and educators.
- Address concerns or questions honestly, openly, and early on.
- Attend PTA or parent meetings regularly.
- Read classroom and/or school newsletters.
- Visit your school's web page.
- Know school staff's extensions and office hours.
- Read and know your school's handbook.
- Request that information be available in all relevant languages.
- Share your family's culture, values, and parenting practices with your child's school.
- Share your perceptions with educators and school staff of how parents are treated.
- Work with school staff and educators to revise and improve perceptions and school climate.
- Meet your child's friends and get to know their parents.
- Contact your school for information on family programs and resources.
- Help establish a parent center at school and use its resources.
- Help create a toy/book lending library and visit it regularly.
- Assist in developing parent support programs/groups and attend them.
- Attend workshops or seminars on various parenting topics.
- Participate in parenting classes on child development, expectations, discipline, etc.
- Attend parent fairs and other events especially for parents and families.
- Start a parent book club to discuss current publications.
- Help create and/or contribute to a school newsletter on parenting.
- Assist in creating and/or offer your services to before- and after-school programs.
- Build a child file with medical records, pictures, fingerprints, etc.
- Make donations and/or offer to work at clothing drives or swaps, food co-ops, etc.
- Talk with your child's teacher for ideas on parent/child games and activities.
- Discuss your child's school day and homework daily.
- Learn your child's strengths and weaknesses in different areas of school.
- Provide a quiet, well lit place with basic school supplies for studying/homework.
- Help your children break down projects into smaller, more manageable steps.
- Develop a consistent daily routine and time for studying and homework.
- Provide encouragement and approval for effort and schoolwork.
- Share your interests, hobbies, and talents with your children.
- Provide children with books, magazines, and so forth, and develop a night time reading routine.
- View selected TV programs together and then review and discuss them.
- Make family trips to the library, zoo, museum, or park a fun learning experience.
- Talk with your child's teacher on creating home learning games and activities.
- Complete interactive homework assignments with your child.
- Attend meetings on learning expectations, assessment and grading procedures.
- Help set goals and develop a personalized education plan for your child.
- Participate in activities that help you understand school technology.
- Help plan and attend family nights on improving study habits, doing homework, etc.
- Help develop, visit, or offer services to your school's study/tutor center.
- Participate in fairs and tests for math, science, history, and so forth.
Volunteering: Parents are welcome in the school and their support and assistance are sought.
- Respond to school surveys on your interests, talents, and skills.
- Let school staff know your availability to volunteer (days, times, and how often).
- Supervise and coordinate evening and weekend volunteer activities at school.
- Assist your child's teacher in the classroom or on field trips when you are able.
- Work with school staff and teachers to develop volunteer activities you can do from home.
- Assist school staff and educators in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for parents.
- Help provide childcare and/or transportation for volunteering parents.
- Help develop creative ways to use volunteers at school.
- Actively help school staff recruit parents and community members as volunteers.
- Attend training and orientation on how to be an effective volunteer.
- Learn and uphold school discipline, confidentiality, and other policies as a volunteer.
- Plan a regular time each week to talk with school staff and educators with whom you are working.
- Help develop volunteer job descriptions and evaluations.
- Participate in organizing and planning ways to recognize and appreciate volunteers.
- Respond to school surveys/questionnaires on how effective volunteer programs are.
- Help develop and distribute a volunteer directory to parents, school staff, and teachers.
- Provide volunteer consulting services to school staff or educators on your areas of expertise.
School Decision Making and Advocacy: Parents are full partners in decisions that affect children and families.
- Learn of school and district policies and practices that affect children.
- Voice your support or concerns on any issue that will affect your family.
- Be involved in decisions on student placement and course and textbook selections.
- Participate in meetings to determine special educational needs and services.
- Attend workshops on problem solving, conflict resolution, public speaking, and so forth.
- Serve on school advisory councils or committees on curriculum, discipline, and so forth.
- Serve on a site-based school management team with teachers and the principal.
- Encourage and support older children in serving in student leadership positions.
- Help your school create a student's rights and responsibilities guide for families.
- Attend PTA, school board, and/or town meetings and speak to issues of concern.
- Learn representative's backgrounds and participate in school board elections.
- Work with teachers and school administrators to develop a parent involvement policy.
- Write, call, or travel to state capitals to support or oppose proposed legislation.
- Participate in petition drives or letter-writing campaigns to Congress on legislation.
- Give testimony at public hearings in support of or opposition to education legislation.
- Vote in local, state, and federal elections for public officials who support education.
Collaborating with Community: Community resources are used to strengthen schools, families, and student learning.
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Help your school develop a directory of social and community services.
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Find out information on community resources and organizations and use them.
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Help develop and/or distribute a community newsletter to local agencies and businesses.
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Help coordinate and participate in an event to raise money for a local charity.
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Talk with employers about holding parent meetings or parenting workshops on-site.
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Advocate for flexible work schedules and leave time to attend school functions.
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Encourage employers and local businesses to make donations and support school programs.
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Help organize and/or participate in community health fairs.
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Help recruit community members (seniors, business people) to volunteer at school.
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Become active in community groups such as YMCA and Boy and Girl Scouts.
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Serve on local community advisory councils and committees.
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Work with local authorities and public officials to sponsor community events.
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Help organize and/or participate in a community "clean up" or "beautification" project.
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Encourage and help facilitate your child's participation in community service.
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Be a role model, be active in community service yourself or together with your child.
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