Family-School
Parnerships
Series 2 Volume2
Serious
work of learning depends on strong family-school partnerships
In
a quiet corner of the kitchen table a child spreads out her homework,
books, and projects. Family life swirls around her. A parent, grandparent,
or uncle close by ready to give an assuring smile, offer a glass of
milk, or answer a question. The serious work of learning is happening
here. It's valued and respected by family members, talked about at
mealtimes, and woven into the rhythms and rituals of daily life.
The
serious work of learning begins early and lasts... well, forever.
When children are very young, it's being held close in a parent's
lap to read a picture book or tell a favorite story, asking each other,
"What's going to happen next?" For toddlers, learning is creative
play; it's exploring the natural world on a walk around the block
with a dad who days, "Look at this leaf!" For adolescents, their families
and communities support the serious work of learning by helping them
to discover their passionate interests and abilities, to preserve
when tasks are difficult or times are trying, and to reach out for
help form teachers and other caring adults.
...continued
Older
kids benefit from parent involvement – whether they invite it
or not
When
sixth graders begin middle school, suddenly it's not cool to have
your parents hanging around the school. "Drop me at the corner," they
plead. "Don't say "hi" to me if you see me in the halls,"
they warn. In what is a normal part of child development, 11- and
12- year-olds begin to pull away from their parents and value their
independence -- particularly at the middle school level.
Barriers
to family involvement must be addressed
Everyone
agrees that the involvement of families in their children's education
is a good idea. But there are many barriers to creating the kinds
of connections that really will improve children's learning by actively
engaging parents, grandparents, and community members.
Communication
is the key
Good
communication between families and school is the foundation of all
family involvement in education, according to University of Minnesota
researcher Dr. Sandra Christenson. Below are some guidelines she recommends
for maintaining effective two-way communication between home and school.
It's
the Law
State
law requires employers to give employees 16 hours of leave during
the school year to attend their child(ren)'s conferences or classroom
activities.
Teachers
play a pivotal role in involving families in learning
A
newsletter describing what students are studying in class this week,
a phone call when something out of the ordinary happens, and welcoming
classroom environment for parents. It's these routine things that
great teachers do that encourage families to be involved in their
children's learning and in their children's classrooms and schools.
Research
proves that family-school connections can improve learing if they're
created with care
To
create the best possible leaning environment for children, schools
and families must chart a common course together. After 30 years of
research in this area, the importance of the family-school relationship
in children's learning can't be ignored. And while schools are depended
upon to play the leadership role in encouraging family involvement,
they can't be successful without gathering and using family input.
Businesses
as partners in education
Business
have much to gain and little to lose encouraging employees to become
active partners in education. In a tight labor market, savvy employers
know that employees with school-aged children are looking for flexible
schedules and a workplace that values parents. Businesses can play
a key role in building strong family-school partnerships.
Getting
connected
Resources
for families and educators
