Goal 7: Collaboration
- Demonstrates extensive knowledge of multiple strategies to promote family involvement
As a teacher and a mother, I realize how important it is to form positive relationships with students and their families. Most, if not all parents, want to be involved in their child’s education. “Whether students are playing a mathematics game with their parents or explaining how to solve a math problem, they like to spend time learning mathematics with their parents. In order for this time to be effective the parents need to be involved in their child’s education,” (Lambries, 2013). There are many ways to effectively involve parents in their child’s education.
Last year I began a research project to explore how I could support parents. The first piece of this project was giving my parents a survey; I asked my students’ parents how I could meet their needs. I discovered that the parents’ needs were just as diverse as the students’ needs in my classroom. In order to effectively support the parents and families I decided to involve my parents in a few different ways: a class website, revamped class newsletters, videos highlighting math instruction from class, and increased communication via phone calls, emails, and offering additional conference times.
I began involving my parents by sending home revised newsletters. Since my focus was on involving parents in mathematics I added additional support for mathematics in each newsletter by providing websites and apps parents could access to support the skill we were covering in class. On occasion, I also provided similar pieces of information for reading and writing. My parents and students appreciated all the websites and apps I included; most of the kids really enjoyed doing activities online and the parents felt more involved.
Last year I began a research project to explore how I could support parents. The first piece of this project was giving my parents a survey; I asked my students’ parents how I could meet their needs. I discovered that the parents’ needs were just as diverse as the students’ needs in my classroom. In order to effectively support the parents and families I decided to involve my parents in a few different ways: a class website, revamped class newsletters, videos highlighting math instruction from class, and increased communication via phone calls, emails, and offering additional conference times.
I began involving my parents by sending home revised newsletters. Since my focus was on involving parents in mathematics I added additional support for mathematics in each newsletter by providing websites and apps parents could access to support the skill we were covering in class. On occasion, I also provided similar pieces of information for reading and writing. My parents and students appreciated all the websites and apps I included; most of the kids really enjoyed doing activities online and the parents felt more involved.
Through the course of my research, I also realized that many parents felt like math was being taught differently. My parents expressed their concerns and mentioned that sometimes they felt like they couldn’t help their children with homework because they didn’t understand it. So, I began providing videos of myself using Educreations. My parents found the videos to be helpful. I also made sure parents could contact me either via phone or email so I could provide additional support on homework if need be.
A third way I try to involve my parents is through the use of a classroom website. I created my classroom website during the course of my master’s program. My parents enjoy being able to use my class website to help with reading and mathematics at home. I provided a repository of websites for students to access on our “Class Websites” page, which links to my Symbaloo page. Symbaloo allows me to create a collection of websites for my students to access.
Class Website
Class Symbaloo
Besides promoting parent involvement through meetings, videos, and my website, I also encourage parents to participate in class field trips and attend any school functions that we offer. Parents and families play a key role in a student’s education. In order for students to be successful in the classroom I understand that my job is to support the parents and families as well as the students. I want my parents to know that we are a team. One of the best ways I have found to help my students be successful in mathematics and school on the whole, is to take the time to establish relationships with my parents and families; and then, to offer support that meets their needs.
Additional Artifacts:
Research Paper on Parental Involvement
Class Website
Class Symbaloo
Besides promoting parent involvement through meetings, videos, and my website, I also encourage parents to participate in class field trips and attend any school functions that we offer. Parents and families play a key role in a student’s education. In order for students to be successful in the classroom I understand that my job is to support the parents and families as well as the students. I want my parents to know that we are a team. One of the best ways I have found to help my students be successful in mathematics and school on the whole, is to take the time to establish relationships with my parents and families; and then, to offer support that meets their needs.
Additional Artifacts:
Research Paper on Parental Involvement