How does parent engagement and strong home/school connection positively impact student achievement?

Seminar Title

How does parent engagement and strong home/school connection positively impact student achievement?

Bridging Home and School/Parent Engagement

2nd Grade

Elementary

Other

Special Education

Do you feel frustrated with the level of parent engagement in your classroom? Do you wonder if bridging the gap between home and school is worth the time and effort? You are not alone! The good news is that most parents do want to be more involved in their childs education, but oftentimes they just do not know how. Effective parent engagement has a positive impact on student academic achievement, social-emotional well being, and general attitudes toward school and learning. As we do with our students, we can meet parents where they are in their parenting journey and offer tools and strategies that allow them to build upon their current successes. Please join me for a conversation that is sure to have a positive impact on your students. Not only will you gain insight as an educator, you will walk away with useful parenting strategies as well!

Research shows that effective parent engagement has a direct correlation to student success. Unfortunately, not all parents have the knowledge, resources, time, or confidence to support their children academically and socially. The factors that play into this lack of engagement are not limited to a specific socioeconomic status, and are widespread among all racial groups and family structures. As demands rise for students, parents, and teachers alike, the question that drives my research is: How does parent engagement impact students, and how can educators work to effectively bridge the gap between home and school? My literature review covers research that ties parent engagement to student behavior, academic achievement, and attitudes toward school and learning. Also included are practices that educators and other school staff members have considered to increase engagement and strengthen the connection between home and school. As a result of the literature review, I implemented strategies in my classroom that were designed to increase student achievement through more effective parent engagement. These strategies include: student SUCCESS binders, parent/teacher goal-setting meetings, consistent communication using a variety of methods, and specific parent/child expectations. Through my research, I discovered that my role in supporting parent engagement needed to be equitable, not equal. A major hurdle would be recognizing specific parent needs, and offering varied support depending on each family situation. To begin, I designed some basic expectations that would include parents, but also build student accountability and result in shared parent/child responsibilities. Also, I increased the number of opportunities that parents would have to meet with me outside of our regularly scheduled conference times. My efforts in engaging parents early in the school year were meant to set a tone for the remainder of the year. As I continue to collect data and correlate parent engagement with student achievement, I am finding that the students in my classroom with highly engaged parents do better both academically and socially. Generally, they have fewer barriers standing in the way of their goals, and they tend to receive the supports needed to be successful. Furthermore, these students seem happier and more able to handle the stressors that occur throughout a typical day in second grade. This action research will continue through the remainder of the school year, and at that point I will reflect further on my findings and make adjustments as I plan for my next group of students. My findings will also guide the work that I do to advocate for students and families, and to work alongside our Parent Advisory Council to strengthen our school community.