My first month teaching, I peeked in on the first parent meeting of the year, and a lone parent sat listening to the presentation. There were over 500 students in the school.
Eight years later, over 300 families attended that meeting. Our biggest challenge had been getting parents—who often didn’t like school themselves—to see us as a loving and supportive community, so we deliberately fostered an environment in which families could feel comfortable. If a serious discussion about a student was needed, it was saved for a different time—the larger gatherings were about community.
Over the course of those eight years, my Title 1 school went from being one of the lowest performing in the state to one of the highest performing in the country. Parent participation led to better attendance, more school-home communication, increased parent-requested meetings about academic support, and more homework completed and returned. Parents became more willing to help their kids read and practice math at home when they felt they understood the content.
The results: 100 percent of third and fourth graders and 98 percent of fifth graders met or exceeded proficiency standards in reading, and 98 percent of each group met or exceeded proficiency standards in math within the first five years that changes were implemented.
Every community is unique, but there are some guiding principles that can help engage families no matter the situation.
Bang for your buck:
Planning:
Timing:
Themes:
Food:
To read more of Meghan Everette's article, please click here.
Comments (0)