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Academic Excellence Begins with Parent Involvement
Michigan's Department of Education discusses how parents can increase student achievement.
Where Children Spend Their Time
- School-age children spend 70% of their waking hours (including weekends and holidays) outside of school.
When Parents Should Get Involved
- The earlier in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects.
- The most effective forms of parent involvement are those, which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities at home.
Type Of Involvement
- Although most parents do not know how to help their children with their education, with guidance and support, they may become increasingly involved in home learning activities and find themselves with opportunities to teach, to be models for, and to guide their children.
- When schools encourage children to practice reading at home with parents, the children make significant gains in reading achievement compared to those who only practice at school.
- Parents, who read to their children, have books available, take trips, guide TV watching, and provide stimulating experiences contribute to student achievement.
Things To Do At Home (Families Whose Children Are Doing Well In School Exhibit The Following Characteristics)
- Establish a daily family routine. Examples: Providing time and a quiet place to study, assigning responsibility for household chores, being firm about bedtime, and having dinner together.
- Monitor out-of-school activities. Examples: Setting limits on TV watching, checking up on children when parents are not home, arranging for after-school activities, and supervised care.
- Model the value of learning, self-discipline, and hard work. Examples: Communicating through questioning and conversation, demonstrating that achievement comes from working hard.
- Express high but realistic expectations for achievement. Examples: Setting goals and standards that are appropriate for children's age and maturity, recognizing and encouraging special talents, informing friends and family about successes.
- Encourage children's development/ progress in school. Examples: Maintaining a warm and supportive home, showing interest in children's progress at school, helping with homework, discussing the value of a good education and possible career options, staying in touch with teachers and school staff.
- Encourage reading, writing, and discussions among family members. Examples: Reading, listening to children read, and talking about what is being read.