EDUCATION

Many of us know that being involved in our children’s education can make a difference to their success in school. But what type of involvement really makes a difference? Are you better off reading to your child before bed, or running off to yet another parent council meeting? When we’re too busy to think straight, and can't “do it all,” it’s hard to know which to choose.

According to a wealth of recent studies, there are three main ways you can get involved and make a difference: at home, at school, and in the wider school community. Your child will see the greatest academic gains from your involvement at home. Next in importance is your participation at school, and working with the teacher. Further down the list – but still important and effective, involves working with the wider school community.

If at all possible, try to do activities from all three categories. For example, if you are strapped for time, you can attend parent council meetings without becoming a member of the Board.

Experts have identified the following as the most effective strategies in each of the three areas of potential family involvement.

At Home:
Students’ greatest and most measurable academic gains come from your involvement at home. You’ll have the largest impact if you:

• Have high expectations for your child – students who have parents who have higher aspirations for them tend to do better in school. They also are more likely to enroll - and succeed – in school programs that lead to post-secondary education.

• Convey the message that education comes first. Limit activities that interfere with homework, reading time, or other educationally-oriented activities.

• In the lower grades, help your child with homework as needed. As they become more independent, make sure you maintain an awareness of their assignments. Asking about their homework tells children that schoolwork is important to you; in turn, it becomes more important to them.

• Read all school bulletins, notes home from the teacher, and your child’s school agenda.

• Read with your child.

At School:
• Stay in regular contact with your child’s teacher.

• Volunteering in-school during preschool and primary grades shows your child that you value school. Even an occasional visit can have a major impact. Keeping tabs on school events into the high school years is also beneficial, but not as powerful a force as it is during the early education years.

• Regularly attend meetings, parent-teacher or curriculum nights, and school concerts. Make sure your child knows about your participation.

In the Community:
• Participate in the parent council.

• Get involved in school fundraising activities, either as an organizer or as a participant. (If you don’t have time to make cookies for the Bake Sale, then go and purchase a dozen.)

• Participate in programs that link the school and the community – for example, go to the school to discuss your career or hobby, help arrange Young Author’s Day and book an author to visit the school, or help out on an environmental clean-up day.

• Take advantage of programs available to the community through the school – for example, attend workshops on parenting or borrow books from the school lending library.

Originally published in Todaysparent.com, December 2006