Students whose parents are involved in their schooling are more likely to achieve academic success, according to a study published by the National Center for Education Statistics. However, sometimes lack of involvement does not mean lack of interest. Some parents might feel unwelcome, uncertain or intimidated by the school. To promote parent involvement, welcome parents and incorporate them into their child's academic life.
Communicate
Help parents feel connected to what's happening in their child's life by communicating often and effectively. At the beginning of the school year, host a coffee with the principal or with the teacher to promote communication and help parents feel welcome at the school. Send regular updates about the school in a monthly newsletter, and send weekly updates home with the student. Create a webpage for parents to track class activities and upcoming deadlines, especially if both parents are working and have limited time to connect with the school during working hours.
Be Positive
According to the Education World website, contact with parents, especially first contact, should be positive; welcome parents, and invite their participation. Avoid using educational jargon that might not be familiar to parents and might cause them to feel alienated from the teacher, school or academic project.
Explain Curriculum
Since parents were in school a generation ago, it's critical to explain curriculum requirements and methods clearly. If you are introducing a new academic tool or method, set up a night for parents to come in and learn about it. Teachers or administrators can also set up a "parent university" to cover basic principles of math methods, phonics development or grammar primers; this helps parents feel welcome, competent and capable of working with the material at home.
