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The importance of parents involvement in education
What impact does parental involvement have on education
What impact does parental involvement have on education
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As we are introduced to the four key beliefs that form the framework for the MIT program here at City University, (Preparation, Practice, People, and Professionalism) I have chosen to focus first on People, since people are at the core of what we are seeking to become. Obviously there are areas of overlap in the four; like professionalism is going to include preparation, but people are at the heart of it; teachers, parents, children, and administrators working together for the common goal of education.
Unfortunately even though the goal is the same, what route to take in order to achieve that goal is sometime a contentious one. Laws are passed. Curriculums are made with the general population in mind, but not the individual. Teachers have to work with their entire class at the same time. The parent however is often focused on only one thing, the education of their child and that can lead to problems
In “Parents Behaving Badly” by Nancy Gibb (Time, 2005,135,40-49), the author examines how well meaning parents can hinder the educational process by doing things that perhaps are well intentioned, but are quite possibly not for the greater good.
She sites from a 2004 MetLife survey, (Gibb, 2005, p.44) that 90% of new teachers agree that involving parents in their children’s education is a priority, however only 25% described their experience working with parents as “very satisfying”. In fact 31% of the teachers cited involving and communicating with parents as the biggest challenge they face. The vast majority of teachers in the survey felt too many parents treat schools and teachers as adversaries.
Parental induced problems included, but were certainly not limited to: parents doing their children’s homework, blaming teachers for their child’s mistakes, demanding that grades be changed, demanding daily updates on their child’s progress, restricting teacher’s speech (in the context of
Parents + Teachers = Conflicts 3 what can be said to their child), lawsuits, verbally abusing teachers, and at the other end of the spectrum parents that are completely uninvolved. “While it’s the nature of parents to want to smooth out the bumps in the road, it’s the nature of teachers to toss in a few more: sometimes kids have to fail in order to learn.” (Gibbs, 2005, p.44)
“Research show that students benefit modestly from having parents involved at school…but what happens at home matters much more.”, (Gibbs, 2005, p.44). She calls on studies that demonstrate a partnership is required to achieve the best results.
For such families, “sustaining children’s natural growth is viewed as an accomplishment” (Lareau 34). Lareau also reported that many working class and poor parents feel that educators hold the expertise, and usually fear doing the “wrong thing” in school-related matters (Lareau 357). What this usually leads to is trying to maintain a separation between school and home (Lareau 358).
Graham-Clay, S. (2005). Communicating with parents: Strategies for teachers. School Community Journal, 15(1), 117-129. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/195462342?accountid=34899
Parent school involvement in children’s education is associated with positive outcomes, educational and otherwise. Within the last two decades parent involvement has increased in American schools. While initially parents were
The process of getting information to a parent, from a teacher, is an every changing and evolving dilemma. Add to that, the involvement of parents in the classroom, which becomes more and more difficult as students get higher in their education, and you end up with many gaps in the information highway. It is imperative that teachers continuously reach out to the parents in order to keep the communication lines open. In keeping parents up-to-date with the classroom expectations, and curriculum, and in reaching out to the parents to get them involved in the classroom, I feel that a teachers job is made easier, because with open communication, teachers and parents alike feel that they are working as a team to insure the students success.
1. Parents are not involved enough. Of all the things out of the control of teachers, this one is perhaps the most frustrating. Time spent in the classroom is simply not enough for teachers to instruct every student, to teach them what they need to know. There must, inevitably, be
Parental involvement in overseeing their kid’s homework and in activities where the parent has a relationship with the teacher lessens the chance that the student will drop out (Blondal & Adalbjarnardottir, 2009). However, it is important to note that Blondal & Adalbjarnardottir (2009) also found some indication that parental involvement “decreased the likelihood of dropping out within authoritative fami...
...er’s should try to encourage and strengthen parents engagement in their Childs school experience, as the student is more likely to want to come to school and participate in work if they have the encouragement of their family members. Every single student has the ability to learn and reach their full potential if they have the right role models there to help them. All these aspects explain how it can be very challenging for a teacher to try and manage a classroom where every student has different learning abilities.
There are a variety of thoughtful and interesting conversations about everything from resource allocation, to the impact of race on educational achievement, to the most effective uses of technology, to redefining education to meet the needs of the 21st century – topical and relevant discussions that never seem to include parents. Parents aren’t completely ignored, but more often than not, the role they play isn’t a substantive part of the discussion. Their involvement becomes a less than critical part of any proposed solution. I believe we can make the argument that a significant part of the solution to the educational challenges we face requires meaningful parent involvement, not just lip service.
... much from their kids and the child feels they can’t achieve to their parents’ expectation, then it causes them to have a negative look at school, academics and left with no motivation to do well.
As an educator the teachers and administrators have to develop a relationship with the parents and their children, the parents must feel in their heart that they are going to be involved in every process of their child’s learning that will take place in the center and with any concerns they have about their child. It is very important for teachers to sit down and learn as much as they can about the child from the parent so he/she will know what is expected from them and the work place. Since the teacher is the person that will spend the most time with the child he/she needs to know how to form the best relationship possible for the parent and child to feel secure and at ease. Some facts that stood out to me in my reading of chapter one and
Parent involvement is one of the most influential aspects of student motivation. The parents are the initial teachers of the child before the child goes to school and encounters education through a teacher. If a parent is completely engaged in the learning process with a child, there can be growth between the child and the parent simultaneously. The parents set an example for the child, so that the child understands that help is in the classroom and at home. Alma Wright, a first and second grade teacher, believes that parents in the classroom are a good way to stimulate children. She says, “Their active participation is a positive influence. The school is open for parents to share their talents and motivate their children” (Drew, Olds, and Olds, 1974, p. 71).
A lot of children have two main educators in their life; their parents and their teachers. Parents are their first educators, the majority of what a child learns in the first few years of their life is taught by their parents. It is only when the child starts to attend an early years setting that they start to learn from another educator. Both parents and teachers continue being a major influence on their children's learning all throughout school and for the rest of their lives. The parents and the child's school both have important roles to play in the child's education and should therefore work together as a team. Parents can get involved in many different ways such as; getting involved with the school itself by helping in the classroom or supervising lunch and break times, or for those parents who work in the day and cannot find the time to help at the school they can get involved by; reading to their child at home, assisting with homework and other learning activities, teaching them songs or nursery rhymes and letting them help with everyday tasks like cooking, baking and chores. This can be categorised as: Involvement of parents in the school life or involvement of parents in supporting the individual child at home.
Parents are an important ingredient to the perfect education. Parents who aren't involved in their children's education only impede the efforts made by teachers and students to create a good education. These parents are oftentimes uninterested with their children's education as a whole. To achieve perfection in the educational system, parents have to take an active role in that education. Parents who don't include themselves in their children's education aren't always informed about the student's progress, aren't aware of the current curriculum, and don't have any idea of the student's strengths and weaknesses in school. An involved parent is informed and sometimes included in the decision-making process. Parents who take an active role are kept informed of the progress made by their children. The parents know the curriculum and assist the children with their nightly studies, and can discuss their children's feelings about education.
This article states that how a teacher teaches their students affects their abilities in and out of the classroom. The article also gives ideas on how parents can get involved and make sure that the kids are getting the best education that they can.
2005, p. 39). As a teacher leader, I’m obligated to include parents in their children’s education