2.1 Family Engagement 4.6.1 Describe The Advantages and Importance of Family or Caregiver Involvement in Learner Development

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2.

1 Family Engagement

4.6.1 Describe the advantages and importance of family or caregiver involvement in learner

development

The NEA president Dennis Van Roekel has clear research that suggests that “Parent,

family, and community involvement in education correlates with higher academic performance”

(2.1.1). The community includes teachers and classmates, but the bigger focus here is the parent

and family involvement. As some parents are very active in their kids' school lives, many others

are not. It has been proven that parent involvement in a child’s education is extremely important

and benefits the child, the teacher, and even themselves.

This involvement is crucial and important because of all of the benefits it provides for the

student, teacher, and the parent. Beginning to look at the student’s outcomes, if their parents are

involved in what they are learning, then the kids will be more “relaxed, motivated, willing to

take risks” and overall achieve success (2.1.2). The parents also benefit from this. According to a

seventh grade english teacher named Daniel Wood, parents should be involved because they can

“know what their child is doing, help with homework, and participate at special events” (2.1.3).

Many parents will feel more at ease knowing that they are keeping their kid on track. From this

interaction, the teachers benefit as well because they can build a relationship with the parents and

teachers “acquire a better understanding of students' culture, background, and overall diversity”

(2.1.4). The biggest issue that educators run into today is that it is sometimes difficult to get the

parents engaged.
Although some parents are very involved in their kids' lives, many parents often find

themselves too busy to keep up with every single thing their child is learning in school that week.

But, there are many techniques teachers can use to engage the parents. One example would be a

weekly newsletter that gets emailed to parents. These newsletter will contain information of what

the class is doing that week, important reminders, and maybe even a highlight of last week's

activities in the classroom to keep the parents updated on their child's learning. I have created an

example newsletter that contains all of these elements (1.2.5). The next thing a teacher could do

is create a meet the teacher document and send that out to the families as well. As I have also

created a sample of this, it allows the parents to be introduced to you and develop a sense of

respect and ease toward you and will be more likely to approach you if they have any concerns

(1.2.6). Another example a teacher can make that can directly engage the parents of the students

is holding student led conferences where the student is in charge of presenting their work to their

parents. This allows the student to share their strengths and weaknesses to their parent and allows

the parent to hear more from their child than “school was fine.” I have also created a lesson plan

for this activity (1.2.7).

Overall, students will benefit significantly if their parents are interested in their work and

help them with it, parents benefit by getting to keep up with their kids, and teachers benefit by

having a stronger connection to the parents and understanding their students' home lives as well.

Being a three way interaction, everyone benefits with no cons. Getting all parents involved may

be a struggle, but the educator can do many things to reach out to the families and get them

engaged.

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