Schools and families form an important partnership. What do parents/guardians want from schools?
1. Children are well cared for by the adults in the school. They are kept safe in and out of the building. Their educational needs are met whether through remedial assistance or fostering their gifted skills. They want the staff to demonstrate a strong love of learning, that they work to provide an education based the best educational practices available.
2. Families are kept informed about school goals, curriculum, expectations, testing, opportunities and activities through regular newsletters, emails and meetings. Student progress reports are only one small part of school reporting to parents. They want their child’s skills remembered and honored as well.
3. Children’s positive experiences as well as their negative ones brought to their attention. Praise goes a long way to encourage everyone of us. It will remind parents to share their thanks and appreciation for jobs well done by the staff.
4. Families, parents and neighborhood adults want to know how they can be active participants in schools. Volunteers provide almost limit-less ways to support schools and classrooms. They can organize parent groups, fund raise, help as crossing guards on busy streets, read with a child, teach art; and the list goes on and on, only limited by the staff and parents imagination.
5. Parents want ways to support and compliment the school curriculum. When schools provide parent workshops on changes in learning strategies, the direction of education and etc., families can find activities and trips that actively support those goals. Everyone wins.
“The object of teaching (learning)… is to enable a child to get along without his teachers.” (paraphrased from a quote from Elbert Hubbard). Together, the school and parents as teachers of children, create a powerful team to help children grow and learn.