Parental Involvement
I understand that parental involvement has a number of benefits including greater achievement, positive attitudes and behaviour (Henderson & Berla,1994). I encourage parental involvement which can take place through participation, communication or support at home. I believe that communication is crucial in establishing teacher-parent relationships that will help students succeed.
Throughout my practicum, I first began communicating with parents through an introductory letter. I also spoke with many parents informally about the progress of their child when dismissing students. One child especially needed support in the class and was not completing their assignments due to a learning disability they had. I reached out to the parent to establish a way that the student could complete their assignments by giving them more time and the ability to finish their work at home. The student was able to complete his assignments and catch up with the other students as a result. That experience has truly made me realize how crucial it is to communicate with parents and how their support can be necessary for positive student learning outcomes.
I hope to be very proactive in reaching out to parents in the future. I believe that teachers should reach out to parents to share not only concerns but areas of strength and improvement. By working with parents, teachers can help support student academic achievement in school.
Henderson, A. T., Ed, Berla, N., Ed, & National Committee for Citizens in Education, Washington, DC. (1994). A new generation of evidence: The family is critical to student achievement