The Parent and Community Connection: the Essence of Successful Students Presented by: Dr. Shante’ Moore- Austin

Welcome!  Introduction a. Asst. Prof of Educ. b. former secondary teacher c. former member of the School Improvement Plan Team at the sec. level d. former Yearbook Advisor

Overview  Research in the area of Parental/Community Involvement  Effective Programs  Beneficial Program Features  Promising Approaches  Winning Strategies  For your classroom  For your school

Parental/Community Involvement  Why is this so important? 1.As the old proverb states “it takes a whole village to raise a child.” 2.By incorporating the parents of our students and the community into the overall learning process, we will have successful students.

Research on Parental/Community Involvement

What do the researchers say?  They have agreed that when parents get involved in education, children try harder and they achieve more at school (Epstein, 1995).  Programs that include the following are more effective: 1.Those that focus on parenting skills and the development of home conditions that support learning,

Other Effective Programs  School to home and home to school communication about school programs and children’s progress,  The use of volunteers at the school in the school, and  The participation of families in decision making (Bauch, 1994)

Beneficial Program Features  Parent enrollment in parenting or adult education classes  Efforts to help parents provide learning experiences at home  In class involvement of parents and community leaders, (Bauch, 1994, Davies, 1991).

Promising Approaches  Total Village Project – implemented in West Virginia – parent-teacher action teams, home visits, assistance to teachers, and through mentoring programs there has been an increase in parental involvement.  Even Start- this program was piloted in Montana with a purpose to “ improve the educational opportunities for children and their parents,” (Center for Community Education, 1989, p. 2).

Winning Strategies

Within your classroom  What should you do at the beginning of the school year or at the beginning of each semester?  Contact the parents of your students

Contacting the Parent  Please don’t wait until there are behavior issues.  Call to introduce yourself to the parent and let him/her know that they are welcome to visit your class anytime.

Communication to the Parent  Send a welcome letter to the parents.  Send a welcome to the parent.

Activities for the beginning of the year  Invite the parents of your students to a pizza party, a refreshment social, or some type of welcoming function that includes food.  Pancake Supper or Spaghetti Dinner  Attend sporting events and have the parents of your students sit in a certain section and have t-shirts with the same slogans.  Invite community leaders to talk to your students about their professions.

Activities for the beginning of the year  While you’re at these events talk to the parents about the importance of volunteering.  Set up a volunteer list  Talk to parents about what they can do to help with the overall learning process  Involve everyone- please let all parents know that there is something that they can do.  Invite community leaders to talk to your students about their professions.

Activities for the end of the year  Plan a picnic or barbeque for you and the students of your classes.  Always plan activities that involve everyone.  Recognize all of your students at these events as winners. Make sure that the parents understand how much you care about their children.

Strategies for your school  Fall or Spring Festival  Invite community leaders to your schools for career day or other big days  Special day honoring parents, grandparents and the guardians  Emphasize the importance of everyone working together to ensure that kids are successful  Family Fun Day

School activities  Offer classes to parents and those in the community:  Homework help sessions  Tutoring and GED classes  Discuss what they can do as parents and members of the community  Give parents or people in the community opportunities to teach classes on their field of expertise

Your Ideas

Work with a partner  Discuss one or two different activities that you feel could improve parental/community involvement.  Be prepared to share those thoughts with the group.

Final thoughts  Always involve the parents and the community in the learning process.  There will be times when you encounter those students who have parents who aren’t concerned, please continue to work with the child and continue to make an impact on that child’s life.  When thinking about activities, try to do things that will be fun and entertaining.  Our students need us and they also need others to invest time in their education. We must plant a seed, water it through teaching and involving parents, and then sit back and watch it grow. In other words by doing this we will be able to watch our students become even more successful.

References  Bauch, J. P. (1994). Categories of parent involvement. The School Community Journal, 4(1),  Center for Community Education. (1989). A model for rural schools to involve parents in the education of their children. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ).  Davies, D. (1991). Schools reaching out: Family, school, and community partnerships for student success. Phi Delta Kappan, 72(5),  Epstein, J. L. (1995). School/family/community partnerships: Caring for the children we share. Phi Delta Kappan, 76(9),

Let’s Have a Great Year!

Contact Information: Dr. Shante’ Moore-Austin Assistant Professor of Education Liberty University, 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, VA Office Ph: (434)