The Parent’s Role in Positively Impacting Student Achievement

Catholic Community of Caring Culture and Climate:A Parent Resource

Parents: A Catholic Education Perspective

“The role of parents is so vital in the basic education of children that no other agency can adequately replace it.

The Church and school can only assist and support parents in fulfilling their responsibility for developing

moral attitudes and Christian values.”

Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1987

The Parental Role in a Child’s Education - Research

• Family participation in education is TWICE as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status

• 86% of the general public believes that support from parents is the most important way to improve schools

• School age children spend 70% of their waking hours outside of school

Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario

Parents Play an Important Role in Creating a Positive Culture within the School Community:Catholic Community of Caring Culture and Climate is a District-wide

initiative that focuses on creating positive respectful relationships within the school culture.

Parents play a key role in building that positive culture through their parental involvement.

• This involvement is outlined in eight various ways:» Communication» Helping at Home» Attending School Events» Building Parenting Skills» Volunteering» Fundraising» Participating in Decision-Making» Leveraging Community

http://www.schoolcouncils.net/framework

Triangulated Influence

“Where do children learn and grow? At home. At school. In the community. Students develop in all contexts simultaneously and continuously. Thus, the bridges of home, school and community are inevitably interconnected.”

Joyce Epstein, 2001, pg.161

http://www.curriculum.org/leadingandlearning/main.html#Main

Sphere of Influence in a Child’s Education

School

ParentsChurch/Community

Through Communication Parents Can:

• Read monthly school newsletters• Read classroom newsletters (if available)• Visit the school website• Provide your child’s teacher with various contact modes (cell

number, email address, work and home numbers)• Review your child’s agenda nightly• Talk with your child’s teacher about your child• Review child’s work when it is brought home

http://www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#communicating

By Helping at Home Parents Can:

• Be aware of homework assignments• Guide and support the completion of homework• Provide a homework appropriate space for your child• Support preparation and participation in school events,

clubs, teams and special events• Provide a nutritious diet• Ensure the child is appropriately dressed for the weather• Be aware of school and teacher homework policies • Expose your child to the richness of Sunday Mass

Celebrationshttp://

www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#helping%20at%20home

By Attending School Events Parents Can:

• Actively participate in your child’s school events• Stay current regarding upcoming school events• Take advantage of the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher(s)

during parent/teacher interviews• Attend events as a family when possible

http://

www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#attending%20school%20events

By Building Parenting Skills Parents Can:

• Become familiar with any parent resources provided at your child’s school

• Provide suggestions to School Council regarding skills you wish to enhance

• Communicate with other parents regarding common challenges and resources

• Take advantage of opportunities to participate in parent skill sessions

http://www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#building%20parenting%20skills

Through Volunteering Parents Can:The five main types of volunteer activities include: • Traditional volunteering, including assisting individual classroom teachers,

supervising on field trips, or helping librarians or other staff within the school. This often has a direct impact on student learning, as these volunteers extend the supervision or resources available to teaching staff.

• Organizing school events for the benefit of students. These might be special meals or lunches, or events that enrich the learning experience or the school environment for children.

• Organizing school events that bring families to the school. These might include an expanded meet-the-teacher night at the beginning of the school year to introduce parents to the culture of the school, art shows or concerts or guest speakers that will address both children and parents. This is one of the key ways that volunteers engage other school parents.

• Organizing or running fundraising programs to benefit the students within the school.

• Bringing community resources into the school for the benefit of students.

http://www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#volunteering

Through Fundraising Parents Can:

• Support student learning through support of the school plan for continuous improvement

• Provide additional resources and opportunities to assist in all student’s achievement

• Support children and families with programs to enhance a healthy learning environment

• Work in conjunction with School Council and the school Principal to ensure all District policies regarding fundraising are followed

http://www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#fundraising

By Participating in Decision Making Parents Can:

• Stimulate a sense of partnership and ownership in decisions that support students

• Actively play a role in the decisions impacting their child’s education• Establish conditions for an effective school council• Take part in and encourage dialogue about major issues or

decisions facing students or the school with other parents and school-based staff

www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#participating%20in%20decision%20making

By Leveraging Community Parents Can:

• Mobilize community resources to enhance student learning by:• Help address task of teaching all students within the

community environment (i.e. inclusion)• Foster community responsibility, participation and interaction• Embed the school as an increasingly integrated part of the

community

www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#leveraging%20community%20resources

Advice for Parents:

“How can I help my child do better in school this year?”

• Communicate effectively with your child’s teacher to assist in overcoming any challenges or to advise the teacher of any challenges that your child faces outside the classroom

http://

www.parentinvolvement.ca/parents.htm

Advice for School Council:

“How can I help my child do better in school this year?”The purpose of an effective school council is:• Fostering parental and community involvement in education. • Participating in the school improvement planning process • Influencing decisions made by principals, school boards and the

Ministry of Education • However, the larger opportunity for school councils is to take a

clear leadership role in fostering parental and community involvement in education

• To support the parents that wish to simply carry out their role as parents of their children

http://www.parentinvolvement.ca/school_councils.htm

Parental Resource:

http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/tips/index.htm

(Teachers Involve Parents in Schoolwork (TIPS) Interactive Homework)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/index.html

(Tips for parents in helping child in specific subjects K-6)

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/

(Tips in various languages)

References

http://www.cpco.on.ca/ProfessionalDevelopment/LiteracyNumeracy/LiteracyNumeracyInfo.aspxhttp://www.curriculum.org/leadingandlearning/main.html#Mainhttp://www.schoolcouncils.net/frameworkhttp://www.parentinvolvement.ca/eight_strategies.htm#attending

%20school%20eventshttp://www.parentinvolvement.ca/parents.htmhttp://www.parentinvolvement.ca/teachers.htmhttp://www.parentinvolvement.ca/school_councils.htmhttp://www.cpirc.org/vertical/Sites/%7B95025A21-DD4C-45C2-AE37-

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