Presentation Transcript

1. Your thoughts? What defines parental involvement? What is positive parenting?
2. Setting the Stage Parental involvement - partnership among home, school, and community members to support a child’s education process (Perroncel, 1993); active, ongoing participation of a child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) in his or her education (NREL, 1999) Positive parenting - refers not to a particular type of relationship, but rather to the quality of the interactions and actions of adult caregivers who create conditions or contexts for optimal growth of children both within and outside the home (Hutchinson & Baldwin, 2005)
3. Parenting Types Authoritarian – cold; overly demanding; over-controlling; non-responsive; obedience without explanation; drill sergeants/employers Authoritative - firm limits; clear expectations; fair; responsive; warm; said to be single most important family protective factor (Moon, Jackson, & Hecht, 2000) Permissive - little structure; low expectations; best friend parent; may not care Neglectful - not there (work; family problems; health issues); disengaged
4. Why aren’t parents involved? OST Settings Family structure/socioeconomic status Family circumstances Assumptions regarding parents Parent schedule Work Family obligations Educational level of parent regarding activities Expectations of program providers
5. Why aren’t parents involved? Military Settings Role and boundary issues Family roles often shifted due to employment Household management Newfound independence or anxiety Honeymoon effect Reunion is often romanticized; unfamiliarity after Social support Returning personnel may withdraw Parent rejection and anxiety Lack of comfort interacting with child Physical and mental condition Physical injury (limits engagement); mental injury (detachment)
6. Why aren’t parents involved? School Settings School and teacher practices Lack of understanding of how to involve parents Poor communication strategies Lack of interest in involving families Family practices Lack of time, energy, economic resources Lack of knowledge Cultural belief systems Feelings of incompetence Lack of understanding of how to get involved History of negative interactions with school
7. Quotables… When parents are involved in their children’s education, they do better in school, they go farther in school, and the schools they attend get better. Anne T. Henderson Author of The Evidence Continues to Grow The school will teach children how to read, but the environment of the home must teach them what to read. The school can teach them how to think, but the home must teach them what to believe. Charles A. Wells
8. From the Research Why is parental/family involvement in education so important? Programs and interventions that engage families in supporting their children’s learning at home are linked to improved achievement (Epstein, Simon & Salinas, 1997) Families of all cultural backgrounds, education, and income levels can, and often do, have a positive influence on their children’s learning (Clark, 2002)
9. From the Research Parent/family involvement has a significant positive impact on student outcomes throughout the elementary, middle school and secondary years (Simon, 1999) The most promising opportunity for student achievement occurs when families, schools and communities work together (Sanders & Epstein, 2000)
10. What can schools do? Communication is key! School personnel must make contact with parents Consistent, regular contact in varied formats Clear, straightforward methods Avoid educational jargon Be sensitive to language differences Invite ‘two-way’ flow of information In person Home visits Phone calls School visits Community based meetings
11. What can schools do? Communication is key! School personnel must make contact with parents In writing Newsletters Emails Websites Blogs Notes home Handbooks
12. What can schools do? Communication is key! School personnel must make contact with parents Via technology Email Websites Blogs Online programs such as GradeSpeed Parent Connection Social media
13. What can schools do? Accommodation and inclusion are essential! Schools should be sensitive to parent needs Work around parent work schedules Consider language and cultural differences Provide child care and food for meetings Let parents know that involvement does not have to be a complicated process Include parents in decision making process Needs surveys Solicit suggestions Incorporate a ‘parent platform’ at meetings to give parents an opportunity to speak about concerns and ideas Active inclusion on site-based decision making teams
14. What can schools do? Accommodation and inclusion are essential! Make sure parents feel comfortable at school Create a ‘Family Friendly’ school Hold meetings and conferences in non-threatening environments (not the principal’s office!) Give parents specific suggestions on how to become involved Conduct activities in multiple languages if needed Create a room at the school specifically for parents Offer orientation and training activities To solicit parents from diverse cultures, have representatives from each target group serve as parent liaisons
15. Activities Within Schools Create resources for parents A school website Section specifically for parents Opportunities for involvement in campus activities Information on current standing of their student Teacher pages Homework assignments Topics under study Opportunities for parent involvement in lessons Provide workshops on topics of interest Helping kids with homework Single parenting issues Improving grades/study skills Drug and gang awareness Bullying
16. Activities Within Schools Create resources for parents Parenting Resource Center Brochures, articles, magazines Copies of textbooks in use Instructional CDs, videos, tapes Opportunity to serve as resource person to others Information on state standards Information on discipline plan and expectations Information on graduation plans, applying for college Information on special programs Special education Gifted and talented education Bilingual/ESL education
17. Activities Within Schools Reach out through community groups Hold meetings in churches or community centers Involve community and faith-based organizations in school activities Partner with youth service organizations Involve local businesses Involve higher education institutions
18. Activities Within Schools Provide training for teachers Specific strategies for encouraging parent involvement Ways to conduct positive parent conferences Educate on cultural and community values and practices
19. Activities Within Schools Hold specific family involvement events Monday Morning Coffee Drive-Thru Principal’s Perspective Community Days Family Dinner Saturday Success Academy Dad’s Club Family Game Night Family Reading Night Craft Night School Tours Family-Student-Faculty Sports Event Career and Job Fair Freaky Fridays
20. What can teachers do? Provide class newsletters Suggest parent-child activities to reinforce concepts Encourage volunteer activities in the classroom Create a warm atmosphere for parental involvement within the classroom Keep teacher page on school website updated with lessons and activities Provide a ‘what we did in school today’ message to students Positive phone calls home
21. What can parents do? Encourage and value learning at home (but don’t pressure) Discuss child’s progress with teachers and child Check homework every night Read to and with children Limit TV viewing on school nights Volunteer at school Attend child’s school functions
22. What can parents do? Emphasize a regular bed time Emphasize school attendance Model good learning practices through their own continuing education activities Support school rules and goals Call teachers early if there is a problem Provide resources at home for learning
23. What can parents do? Don’t try to be a ‘teacher’, but be a ‘reinforcer’! Learning activities at home: Hidden Letters Sorting and Stacking Writing Instead of Talking Trip to the Grocery Store Family History Time Line Easy Family Essays Managing Money
24. Guiding Principles Positive Youth Development Process that enables youth to move along pathways to adulthood by providing SOPS (supports, opportunities, programs, and services) Addresses broader developmental needs of youth, in contrast to deficit-based models which focus solely on youth problems Ecological Approach Youth develop in multiple contexts Individual (well-developed problem-solving skills and intellectual abilities) Family (close relationship with parent) Peer (close friends) School (positive school climate) Community (nonparent adults)
25. From the Research 40-50% of youth’s time = free/residual(Caldwell & Baldwin, 2003) OST activities have the potential to promote PYD(Mahoney, Larson, & Eccles, 2005) After-school programs and initiatives can make significant social, physical, and/or educational differences(Little & Harris, 2003; Little, Harris & Buffard, 2004) Community characteristics and activity choice have a significant impact on who an adolescent is and who they will become(Luria, 1929; 1978)
26. From the Research Children learn much about the value of civic involvement through parental actions(Almond & Verba, 1963) Variations in ecological contexts greatly influence child development outcomes(Bronfenbrenner 1977, 1986) Parenting style serves as a moderator between parental involvement and developmental competencies(Fletcher, Elder, & Mekos, 2000) While peers become increasingly important, parents are most important influence in adolescents’ lives (Collins, Maccoby, Steinberg, Hetherington, & Bornstein, 2000)
27. Involvement Within EAs Current views of OST activities Extended care provider Means to an end Unique opportunities to foster development Kids do not develop in programs or schools, but in communities Affective and didactic learning
28. Potential Risks Create magical experiences for children Burdensome on women Feeling the need to perform Excessive extracurricular activities Youth sports
29. Increasing Involvement Encourage parents Significant influence on their children Case-by-case approach Find constraints and address gaps Establish a rapport with parents Encourage positive communication with parents about their children Chapter 1 Program Provide both child and adult education Ask parents/children Utilize as partners Remain positive Do not criticize or judge
30. Increasing Involvement Childcare Transportation Meals Quality of instruction Integration with other youth-serving and social service programs Empower parents as change agents Organic strategies Know the pulse of your community Use data to fuel programmatic decisions Be aware of cultural considerations
31. Program Examples Strengthening Families Program - family skills training program targeting substance abuse and other problem behaviors; provides a context to learn and practice skill/strategies Putting Family First - national grassroots organization; promoting family civic engagement (Eat Together Week; TV Turn Off Week; building partnerships with faith-based and other community organizations; family-to-family parent action groups)
32. Program Examples National Fatherhood Initiative - addresses problem of father absence; education media; online discussion forums; National Summit on Fatherhood Time Out! For Better Sports for Kids - collaboration between NRPA and NAYS; changing culture of youth sports; code of conduct for parent behavior; Silent Saturdays; orientation meetings with parents; removal of scoring; team-switch strategies
33. Let’s problem solve… Scenario 1 You are a parent education consultant for a local YMCA Boys and Girls Club. It is located in an midsized urban city with a military base. Identify some strategies for increasing positive parental involvement in club activities. Scenario 2 You are a parent liaison for a small rural elementary school with a high Hispanic population. What are some ways you could promote parental involvement in school activities?
34. Let’s problem solve… Scenario 3 You are a parks and recreation administrator for a midsized suburban city. The parents of the kids involved in youth sports activities tend to view this as a ‘babysitting’ service. How could you promote positive parent participation in youth sports activities? Scenario 4 You are a parent liaison for a large urban high school located in a city with a large military base with a high rate of active deployment. How could you promote parental involvement in school activities?
35. Thank You…Questions? Diane Taylor, PhD Tarleton State University dtaylor@tarleton.edu Chris Harrist, PhD University of New Hampshire chris.harrist@unh.edu