In my opinion, parental involvement in students’ education is a crucial factor to them succeeding. If a student feels supported and encouraged by a parent at home and recognizes those same feelings from a teacher in the classroom, it seems to me that a student will have a better chance of staying motivated and reaching their full potential. More importantly, if a parent feels included in the education of their student, the parent and the teacher will have a better relationship and strive to help that student achieve all that they are possible of, knowing that the interest of the student is at heart.

Unfortunately, family involvement is not always as abundant as one might hope. Data shows that in 2008, approximately 38% of parents (who responded to the SALT survey) whose children attend Armstrong Elementary participated in the education of their child. The same study showed that a whopping 100% of teachers felt that two-way communication between home and school is essential to effective communication. However, only about 50% of teachers are satisfied with the support of the parents and community to the school and its program.

I’m ashamed to admit that initially, I couldn’t help but feel that if a parent was not involved in their child’s education, they most likely did not care. Over time though, I observed, reevaluated this opinion, and learned to take a second look at the situation. I now realize there are many factors that contribute to parents’ inability to actively participate. Many students at Armstrong Elementary come from low-income families, many speak a language other than English as their primary language, and some simply do not have the resources to do so. In addition, many parents may just not know the steps to take to become involved. It would seem that an effective method to address this would be to give parents a concrete task, rather than just hoping they’ll be involved. For example, instead of encouraging parents to participate in their child’s education, I might ask if they would review their reading assignments with them three times a week. If I were a teacher at this school, I would absolutely feel that these are challenges I would need to strive to overcome.

While these obstacles would be difficult to deal with, I feel every effort to collaborate with parents should be made. Ideally I would begin the school year by having a meeting with each parent to discuss both our goals for the year for their child. An open dialogue throughout the year would assure them that I am committed to helping their child succeed, and would give both myself and the parent insight into the life of their child (their academic capabilities, personal life, past experiences etc.). Also, it may be helpful to have a night where all teachers and students can gather to meet each other and socialize. In addition, they may be able to make connections with others in their community as a support tool.

Armstrong Elementary is a very culturally diverse school, so acknowledging different cultures and letting parents know they are respected may be a way to gain trust between the parents and me as a teacher. Throughout the year, I would give regular reports to parents about their child’s progress/difficulties, and let them know that I am willing to collaborate with them and discuss ways of helping their child grow and learn.

Ultimately, I think that communication is the biggest factor to initially overcome, but in the end would be the key to successfully involving families and helping a child thrive and succeed.