Can you help me with my homework? How to involve parents – the possibilities and limitations. A course for teachers and student teachers Parents as Learning Aides – Homework Assistance

Introduction Purpose of homeworkPurpose of homework Valuable way to involve parentsValuable way to involve parents Parents need to understand what is expected and how they can helpParents need to understand what is expected and how they can help Considers ways to support and involve parentsConsiders ways to support and involve parents Possible limitations to parental involvementPossible limitations to parental involvement

Aims Look at barriers to parental involvement of ethnic minority parents in their child’s education and the life of the schoolLook at barriers to parental involvement of ethnic minority parents in their child’s education and the life of the school Look at how these parents can support their children’s homeworkLook at how these parents can support their children’s homework Look at the limitations to the support ethnic minority parents can sometimes give to their childrenLook at the limitations to the support ethnic minority parents can sometimes give to their children

Barriers to involvement Group game with “Barriers to Involvement” cardsGroup game with “Barriers to Involvement” cards Groups discuss and identify the main barriers from most to least important then come together to collate theseGroups discuss and identify the main barriers from most to least important then come together to collate these Each student tries to think of one way a school could try to break down one of these barriersEach student tries to think of one way a school could try to break down one of these barriers These are shared and notedThese are shared and noted Watch DVD clip to show good practice/discussWatch DVD clip to show good practice/discuss

How ethnic minority parents can support their child’s homework Small group discussion with leading questions to establish the experiences and issues for bilingual children in our schoolsSmall group discussion with leading questions to establish the experiences and issues for bilingual children in our schools Individual activity linked to school based activities and advice to parents for supporting these at home – activity sheet and videoIndividual activity linked to school based activities and advice to parents for supporting these at home – activity sheet and video Whole group discussion to noteWhole group discussion to note  examples of how parents can help with homework  how / when teachers could give this advice to parents

Case studies to discuss how parents can help with homework and what the limitations are Small group workSmall group work Each group considers a case studyEach group considers a case study On the sheet provided they note how parents can help with homework and the possible limitations for parentsOn the sheet provided they note how parents can help with homework and the possible limitations for parents Each group considers 3 case studiesEach group considers 3 case studies Whole group discussion to establish main points for each case studyWhole group discussion to establish main points for each case study