Parent Engagement: To help parents be actively involved in their child’s education, schools can build partnerships with parents by welcoming them into the school, communicating often, explaining their roles, and offering opportunities for parents to develop relationships with the teachers, the principal, and other school staff.
Parent Involvement: Although parent involvement can mean physically showing up at the school or joining a school’s Parent-Teacher organization, parents can also be involved in their children’s education outside of the school. Any parent, even if they never go to their child’s school, is involved when they help their child with homework, ask about what their child is learning every day, read to their child, or communicate with their child’s teacher. An involved parent will find out what their child is learning in school and try to link that learning to what is happening at home. Click here to see some examples of how to be an involved parent.
It can be a challenge for schools to engage every parent in the transition to kindergarten when time and resources for engagement activities are scarce. However, following some basic principles of engagement can be effective under any circumstances.
Engaging parents early in the transition to kindergarten is the best and easiest way for school staff to start a relationship with a parent on a positive note. The more time schools have to build the relationship and define expectations, the better. It’s best if teachers find a way to meet and talk with parents before school is underway.
Regardless of when schools first meet parents, it’s important not to wait to communicate with them until there is a problem in school. If the relationship between teacher and parent begins on a negative note, focused on behavior problems or poor academic performance, then the relationship is likely to remain negative.
Additionally, parents are more engaged when they feel that their time and effort on behalf of their child’s education is appreciated and that they are treated as partners in supporting their children. Although face-to-face contact is ideal, schools can also reinforce these feelings by sending parents a note or encouraging letter.
Decades of literature supports the notion that family educational involvement supports a child’s school success. Data show that positive parent involvement is more powerful than many typical educational barriers such as poverty and lower levels of parent education. As the entry point to K-12 education, the transition to kindergarten is an ideal time to foster relationships with parents and to promote parent involvement.
Research shows that although parents want to be involved in their child’s education, many are unsure of how to be involved or don’t feel that they are welcome participants in their children’s education process. One study found that building a parent’s confidence and skill in participating in their children’s education helps parents become more active participants.
Make an effort to be friendly when you see parents. Welcome parents like you would welcome a friend into your home. If you see parents dropping off or picking up their children, smile and say hello and tell them it is good to see them. Any member of the school’s staff, not only teachers, can welcome parents in this way.
Assure parents that you are supporting their child and want them to succeed in school. Establishing their trust and friendship will ensure a positive relationship even if the child is having difficulty in school.
Clearly explain what is expected of the child. You are the best source of information for the child and parent. As parents navigate the new school environment with their children, it is important that school staff explain information thoroughly and respectfully.
Examine the school entrances and procedures sure they “welcome” parents and that there are no obstacles, physical or otherwise, that parents will encounter when they visit the school or drop off or pick up their child. Click here to learn more about welcoming schools.
If you have any creative ideas about engaging parents that you would like to share, the Ready Freddy team would love to hear from you. Get in touch with us, or visit our Facebook page.
For suggestions and activities that will help your child make a successful transition to kindergarten, visit our Program Materials page.
As your child’s first educator, you play a major role in her early education experience. Here are some of the ways in which you can help your child work toward kindergarten success:
You know your child best. Talking to the school about your child’s strengths and needs is a great way to help her succeed in school.
Read, play, talk with, and encourage your child. You are your child’s first educator. When your child goes to school, your role in your child’s education continues as you partner with his teacher.
Try to maintain frequent contact with your child’s teacher. One way to establish a positive relationship with your child’s teacher is to write a letter to him/her and include “The ABCs of my Child” form and a photo of your child or a drawing that your child made. Any communication is a great first step.
Before school, you can enroll your child for school early and participate in transition activities. Once school starts, you can make sure your child gets enough sleep, is up and ready on time to get to school every day, has a good breakfast (at home or at school), and completes any assigned homework.
Early in your child’s transition to school, gather all of his paperwork and immunization information and enroll him in kindergarten—the earlier the better! Try to find and participate in transition activities at the school that will make your child feel more comfortable with their new school environment. Transition activities include things like visiting the school, touring the classroom, and meeting the teacher.
Try linking learning to the activities you do at home. Ask your child “what did you learn today?” and try to incorporate that learning into your daily routine. For example, you might ask your child to look for letters, colors, shapes, and numbers and tell you when they have found them, make up stories together, ask your child to draw pictures and play school in order to practice good behavior in the classroom before school starts.
Practice good time management with your child. Early in the evening talk to your child about all the things that need to be done to prepare for the next day. If you make a checklist with your child, the two of you can help each other get ready for the next day: doing homework, putting things in your child’s backpack, getting clothes ready for the next day, bathing, reading together before bed, and brushing teeth. This planning can give your child a sense of security and support a smooth morning routine, making it easier to get to school on time and feel prepared in the morning. It might be helpful to practice this routine well before the first day.
Visit the school. You don’t have to attend a meeting to show your child you support his learning, but by being visible in the school building you send a strong message about how important his education is. Seeing you at school can help your child know that you value education enough to make it a priority.
The Ready Freddy Program
University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development
400 North Lexington Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Phone: 412-244-5385 | Email: rfreddy@pitt.edu
