One of the objectives of all educational institutions is to nurture and cultivate parents’ engagement in the academic growth of their children. Teachers and administrators in faith-based nonpublic schools must make an added, deliberate effort to engage and support the parent role as the primary educator, especially since these parents have consciously chosen to send their children to a nonpublic school.
Presented by Dr. Ron Valenti
National Manager for Non-Public Schools
Catapult Learning
Personal Resilience in Project Management 2 - TV Edit 1a.pdf
Three Keys to Engaging Parent in Student Learning
1. Three Keys to Engaging Parents in
Student Learning
Presented by Ron Valenti, Ed.D.
January 29, 2014
2. The Added Significance for Nonpublic Schools
Relationship between nonpublic faith based
schools and parents is rooted in the practice of
shared partnership.
This partnership is grounded in shared beliefs and
tenets
Expectations of parents are more demanding
Parents have made a definitive choice both
academically and financially of how their children
are to be educated.
Faith based schools must continually nurture and
cultivate the partnership between parent and
school
3. Know the Barriers
First administrators need to know what could prevent parents
from being engaged in student learning:
Are there language/culture barriers?
Are there community limitations?
What are the outside commitments? Working more than one
job?
Are there negative attitudes about the school?
What is the communication culture of the school?
4. Some Guiding Principles
Recognize that all parents regardless of income,
education level, or cultural background want to be
involved in their children’s education. Parents are
the primary educators.
Develop the capacity of school staff to work with
families
Focus efforts to engage families on developing
trusting and respectful relationships
Embrace a philosophy of partnership and be willing
to share power with families
Children's development is a collaborative
enterprise
5. Three Keys to Engaging Parents
Need to realize that there are other
factors but here are the three that I
feel are the most central:
Effective Two-Way Communication
Curricular Transparency and
Support
Willingness to Share Power
7. Question?
How would parents rate your
institution’s communication efforts?
Good? Average? Fair ?
Are you satisfied with the
communication efforts at your
institution? Yes? No? Could be better?
Does your faculty understand the
importance of communicating with
parents. Yes? No? Could be better?
8. Meaningful Two-Way Communication
Increases trust between school and
parents
Encourages higher and realistic
parental expectations
Serves as the first step to other
types of parental involvement
Actions needed both by parent and
school to accomplish
9. Some Essential Actions of Parents
Embrace the philosophy of partnership with
the teachers and the school
Ask information about how the education
system works
Ask teachers about the curriculum, the
textbooks and other materials.
Get involved with the decision making
process
Ask for information that addresses your
needs and concerns
Share the ways encouragement is given at
home for learning
10. Some Essential Actions for School Personnel
Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!
Create a welcoming environment for families where they feel
comfortable sharing ideas
Stay in touch with parents
Ask families what are their expectations for their children's
education
Meet families face to face
Communicate the positive. Use language that promotes
cooperation
Make home visits to build relationships
12. Questions ?
What is the present attitude of parents
of your school’s curricular program?
Favorable? Unfavorable? Don’t know?
Do parents understand the school’s
curricular program? Yes? Somewhat?
No?
What role does the parent play in
planning the academic program of their
students? Significant? Somewhat?
None?
13. Setting the Stage: Curricular Transparency & Support
Objective is to have a holistic approach
to students’ learning, such involvement
means transparency and openness
The learning process is a full circle it
takes place at home and at school
The partnership between parent and
school has to be defined and the
curricular goals explained and
understood in clear language – no
edubabble--no jargon
14. Actions for Curricular Transparency & Support
Share your expectations and data regarding students’ learning
habits, attitude toward school and academic progress. Be clear
and help to interpret.
Ask about families expectations for their students’ education
Give families information how your class works
Ask parents what they need to help their children to learn at
home. Provide opportunities in a variety of formats. Offer
workshops based on needs.
ASK! LISTEN! PROVIDE!
15. Some Tips
Develop and share a “tool box” for
helping students at home
Provide parents with guidelines that
will help them monitor and supervise
their children's homework
Share effective practices with parents
about involvement
Make “homework” interactive but not
to the point that the parent has to be
the teacher of the learning
Provide a family center in school
building
16. Questions?
Do parents feel empowered to share
ideas and offer suggestions? Yes?
Somewhat? No? Don’t know?
Do parents feel that they are part of
the decision making process? Yes?
Somewhat? No? Don’t know?
Do you see your school as a collegial
community? Yes? Somewhat? No?
Never thought about it?
17. Willingness to Share Power
Does not mean school leadership
forfeits authority
Does mean the school leadership
recognizes the value of a collegial
environment where the common
good is to serve the students well
and all stakeholders are engaged
Empowers the parent to fulfill their
responsibility as the primary
educator
18. Some Basic but Meaningful Tips
Work with families to identify mutually convenient times for
class events and/or meetings
Partner with families to plan academic program of their students
Provide a variety of options for participation of parents, and let
them choose.
Have parents participate as active members of the building’s
leadership team.
Involve the parents in the decision making process as
contributors to the discussion
19. Two Major Key Findings for Engaging Parents
1. Respectful two-way communications which engage parents
as partners in their child’s learning have an impact on
student achievement.
2. Programs and interventions that engage families in
supporting their children's learning at home are linked to
higher education.
20. Research Has Shown
Students with involved parents are more
likely to:
Earn higher grades and test scores
Be promoted, pass their courses and
earn credits
Attend school regularly
Have better social skills and improved
behavior
Graduate and go on to postsecondary
education.