My Statement:

Parent involvement is a vital part of child's success in the classroom. Several studies have shown parent involvement has greatly increased the child's likely hood appreciate life long learning.

Family Involvement:

Family is the very first teachers in a child's life. Therefore when children start school, it is extremely important for parents to become involved with their child(ren)'s education. There are many ways to become involved in the education of your child. Below is an abbreviated list from KidSource (link at the bottom of the Page)

Starting early.

Here are some things you can do when your children are young:
 

  • Let them see you read, and read to them and with them. Visit the library. If they are old enough, make sure they have their own card. Keep books, magazines, and newspapers around the house.

  • Keep pencils and paper, crayons, and washable markers handy for notes, grocery lists, and schoolwork. Writing takes practice, and it starts at home.

  • Teach children to do things for themselves rather than do the work for them. Patience when children are young pays off later.

  • Help children, when needed, to break a job down into small pieces, then do the job one step at a time. This works for everything--getting dressed, a job around the house, or a big homework assignment.

  • Develop, with your child, a reasonable, consistent schedule of jobs around the house. List them on a calendar, day by day.

  • Every home needs consistent rules children can depend on. Put a plan into action, and follow through.

  • Give each child an easy-to-reach place in which to put things away.

  • Set limits on TV viewing so that everyone can get work done with less background noise.

  • Watch TV with your children and talk about what you see.

Handling homework.

These are the messages to get across to your children about homework:
 

  • Education is important. Homework has to be done. Let children know that this is what you value.

  • Try to have a special place where each child can study.

  • Help your children plan how to do all the things they need to do--study, work around the house, play, etc.

  • Let your children know that you have confidence in them. Remind them of specific successes they have had in the past perhaps in swimming, soccer, cooking, or in doing a difficult homework assignment.

  • Don't expect or demand perfection. When children ask you to look at what they've done--from skating a figure 8 to a math assignment--show interest and praise them when they've done something well. If you have criticisms or suggestions, make them in a helpful way.

School

What We Can Do To Help Our Children Learn

  • Listen to them and pay attention to their problems. Read with them.

  • Tell family stories.

  • Limit their television watching.

  • Have books and other reading materials in the house.

  • Look up words in the dictionary with them.

  • Encourage them to use an encyclopedia.

  • Share favorite poems and songs with them.

  • Take them to the library--get them their own library cards.

  • Take them to museums and historical sites, when possible.

  • Discuss the daily news with them.

  • Go exploring with them and learn about plants, animals, and geography.

  • Find a quiet place for them to study

  • Review their homework.

  • Meet with their teachers.

Links for Student Learning

http://kidsdomain.com/

http://www.starfall.com

http://www.brainpop.com/

http://www.yucky.com/

http://www.funbrain.com/

http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/kids/kids.htm

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/

http://www.syvum.com/online/games.html

 

Sources and Helping Sites for Parents

Helping Children Succeed in School: Parent Involvement: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/succeed/01-parental.html

Kids Source Online: Helping Your Succeed In School: http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/succeed.html

Principles of Parenting: http://www.humsci.auburn.edu/parent/learning/

http://www.kidstogether.org/

Helping Your Child Succeed in School: http://www.acrnetwork.org/parents/childsucceed.htm