Parents as Partners in Learning

By: Erin

            They say teaching is a superpower, and while this is incredibly accurate, it cannot be done alone. Parents are the real teachers, not to mention, the child’s first teacher.  They know more about the child than any other and learning cannot thrive without their partnership.  Teachers and parents must join forces to create well rounded learning that is consistent from school to home.  Parent involvement can be defined as many different components. However, for the purpose of this article, parent involvement is defined as continuous communication with the teacher and incorporating learning routines and activities at home with the child that advance upon school instruction. 

            According to the Harvard Family Research Project, family involvement incurs many benefits such as improved grades, increased motivation in school, a more positive attitude toward school and learning, and positive social development.  These benefits span from early childhood education into long term advantages, such as the increased likelihood of the child continuing on to postsecondary education (Weiss, H., Caspe, M., & Lopez, M. 2006). Parent nights, parent teacher conference, open house, direct communication with parents such as notes, phone calls, meetings, and emails are all ways to encourage parent involvement and positive teacher-parent relationships.

            It is unfortunate that some children will not experience the type of family involvement that research shows produces such outstanding effects. I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum. I’ve seen parent involvement that should be envied by all. And yet, I have seen such a lack of parent involvement that I wanted to take the child in as my own.  There is only so much a teacher can do without the help and support from the parents. We, as teachers, have the control within our classroom. We have a maximum of 8 hours a day with our beloved students and we use every ounce of that for learning, love, and fun. Yet, once the end of the day bell rings it is up to the families to reinforce their child’s learning at home.  Parents and teachers need each other. One cannot be successful without the other.  At the end of the day, it’s all about the welfare and success of our children and we are all in it for them. 

References

Weiss, H., Caspe, M., & Lopez, M. (2006). Family Involvement in Early Childhood Education. Family Involvement Makes a Difference, 1. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/publications-series/family-involvement-makes-a-difference/family-involvement-in-early-childhood-education