Joining the PTA, chaperoning field trips, and running school bake sales can come to mind when picturing parental engagement. But is that what parental engagement is really about? Not necessarily.
These types of activities are parental involvement. They are incredibly important for supporting the school, teachers, and students’ attitudes about education. Parental engagement, on the other hand, has the potential to deepen the trust that you are invested in your child’s education and also improve their educational achievement [1]. Parental engagement is defined as “parents and teachers sharing a responsibility to help their children learn and meet educational goals” [2]. Parents can help by assisting with homework and encouraging fun, educational activities during a child’s free time [1]. To put in plainly, parent involvement is “doing to.” Engagement is “doing with.”
Schools that have adopted a parental engagement program have shown a significant increase in test scores and overall grades. These students also have improved graduation rates, social skills, and confidence in educational settings. When a parent and teacher interact to cultivate a child’s learning experience, there is a 20% decrease in student absences from school.
Increased engagement from parents allows teachers to feel more respected, supported, and motivated – all which positively impact their effectiveness as an educator! When a teacher or parent can learn more about a student on a deeper educational level, they are able to better understand their learning needs. Parents also benefit from this participation because they feel inspired and personally included in their child’s learning [2].
Whether you are a parent, teacher, or administrator, take some time to think about how you can build a strong connection within your school community. If you are a principal, this might mean adding more parent events. If you are parent, try setting aside a certain amount of time each day to help with homework. Parental engagement can make a huge difference in a child’s education. Let’s work towards increasing engagement every day!
Check out our post, “Fun Ways To Get You and Your Child Excited About Learning” for Parent Engagement ideas!
[1] Finn, Jeremy D. Parental Engagement That Makes a Difference
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