Parental Involvment

Our district finished with Parent/Teacher Conferences a couple of week ago. While this creates long days for me at work, I enjoyed meeting with the parents.  This opportunity allows me time to speak with each family and get to know more about them. It allows me time to brag on their student and tell them all of the amazing things that their child brings to the classroom!

Conferences furthermore give me the opportunity to discuss things with parents that I have seen in the classroom and ask for parent support with or things a student may need additional practice with at home. This maybe me urging parents to read at home with their child for 20 minutes every night, practicing spelling words or helping students with math facts. Regardless, it is a moment for me to talk to the parents about how important their role is in their child's success.

I am learning just how important parent support and involvement is in a child's academic growth. If they are not practicing at home there is a divide in the learning that has taken place at school.  
When a parent ask about the students day and helps with homework or problem areas, it shows students how important their growth is to their parents. It shows children that school is important.

I have seen the impact that parent involvement has on a child's academic growth since conferences. Maybe parents didn't realize what 20 minutes of reading, 10 minutes of spelling or math practice a night can do for a student. Maybe parents don't recognize the importance of their involvement in activities after school or on weekends or maybe they have just been to busy.  Nevertheless  conferences gives me the opportunity to talk to parents and not only urge them to be involved with their child's education, but give suggestions on how they can help. My desire is that when parents hear how beneficial their support is, they will be more likely to get and stay involved! I have had a few students that have already shown some improvement over the last two weeks.  I have communicated this with the parents and hope they will continue to support their student.