Parental Involvement Key to High Performance

A recent article in the San Jose Mercury News outlined tips on improving school performance.  I personally believe that parental involvement achieves many things, including:

• Parental involvement improves student commitment by communicating to the child that education is important.
• If done on a regular basis, it reinforces that studying needs to be done systematically, every day, even when the child does not feel like it.
• Role modeling proper study techniques can multiply the positive effect of parental involvement if the parent helps the child break down material into study digestible amounts.  An example of this is to help your child create flash cards on the material they learned in school that day.
• A parent can also go through these flash cards with their child daily and provide positive feedback when the cards have been memorized for that day, and negative feedback when the cards have not been memorized.
• Finally, with the utilization of behavioral contracts, parental involvement can be helpful if positive (and negative) consequences are provided.  

In sum, the more structure you can provide for your child the better.  The structure should include a systematic, daily schedule of studying and breaking down assignments into daily tasks.  Positive and negative reinforcers can be very beneficial especially if the behavioral contract is written with the child and all parties are in agreement as to the expectations and rewards for desired behaviors.  

Additional tips on parental involvement taken from the article are posted below.  To read the entire article click here.

1. Get your child to school, prepared to learn.

Less than a month into the school year, Hesperia High School math teacher Kelli Robinson said the biggest problem she's seeing is that students are absent.  "Parents take students out of school for everything," Robinson said.  In addition to making sure your child does not miss class, provide your child with the supplies and tools to keep them organized. If you can't afford supplies, ask your school's teacher or counselor for help.

Teachers recommend purchasing a planner and having students fill it out daily with assignments for every subject. Work with your child to set up a homework routine, including a quiet, comfortable and well-lit work space.  Ensure your child eats a hearty, whole-grain breakfast, avoiding sugary foods that can cause hyperactivity.  And make sure your student gets enough sleep. Preschoolers typically need at least 11 hours of sleep, children ages 5 to 12 need 10 hours and teens need at least nine hours of sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

2. Keep informed.

"They need to know what their student is doing. We have a lot of parents who work down the hill, so I know it's difficult sometimes to be aware of what's happening in their students' lives," said Serrano High School Principal Sharon Schlegel." But if they can keep involved, keep informed, I think that's really important."  The best way to start: Ask questions about what's happening at school every day.  "Ask questions that require answers that are more than just 'yes/no' and 'fine,' " said Ryan Holman, Snowline Joint Unified School District assistant superintendent of curriculum and educational services.

Attend school events such as back-to-school nights and parent conferences, and provide your e-mail address and phone number to your child's teachers. Keep track of your student's monthly progress.  If teachers relay negative information about your child, try not to get defensive. Instead, work with the teacher on problem-solving strategies you might try at home. 

3. Motivate your child to get involved.

The more students feel connected to their school, the greater their chances for success, according to Serrano High School Principal Sharon Schlegel.  She recommends every child gets involved in an extracurricular activity, from athletics to special-interest clubs.

Spend time at family meals seeking out your child's interests, and encourage them to pursue a related activity.

Silverado High School teacher Gary Culbertson said he sometimes surveys whether his students eat at least one family meal a day, and "the ones who are successful almost always eat together." If dinnertime is too hectic for a family gathering, try having a family breakfast.

When she home schooled her two boys, Options for Youth teacher Kendra Park started each day with a morning briefing, where she and her children mapped out the activities, assignments and plans for the day. She set expectations for her children and kept them informed about what was going on in their family.

4. Encourage learning outside the school day.

"Students are in school for 6.5 hours a day," said Hollyvalle Elementary School Principal Matthew Fedders. "Between recess, lunch, and transition time, students have less than 5.5 hours of learning a day. Our students simply require more time at home working on math and reading with their parents to make progress each year."

Take your child to the library, museums and other cultural and educational outings. Limit the amount of TV and video games.  Urge your child to read outside of what's required.  "This is essential at the lower grade levels, but it should never stop," Holman said. "Help your youngest kids learn to read each night, but don't forget to model reading to your older kids. Set aside formal times to read as a family."

5. Access technology.

The Internet can be a powerful educational resource — but spend time showing your student how to recognize the more useful content.  If you're intimidated by the Internet, let your student help you along the way.  "Today's generation of students are native technologists," Holman said. "Take advantage of this ability by seeking their help when accessing school Web sites and other technologies."

Some school-issued textbooks have Web sites with supplemental video tutors and practice quizzes.  And several local school districts also allow parents instant access to their child's grade through an online log-in system.  "By using technology more often," said Holman, "you will stay informed while showing your child that you want to learn more."