How Can I Be Involved in My Child's Education?

Part 2

By Lynn Liontos

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Contents

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What Should I Do If My Child Isn't Doing Well in School?

Contact your child's teacher. Don't wait for the school to contact you. It's important to resolve problems as soon as possible when they occur. When parents work with teachers, they are often able to improve a child's performance in school. Children also get the sense that education is really important when they see their parents involved with their teachers and their school. Parents feel a sense of accomplishment, too, when they help their children succeed in school. Ask your child's teacher for specific activities you can do at home with your child and help the teacher better understand what works best with your child. Make it clear that if the teacher sees a problem developing, you want to hear about it immediately. Then, meet with your child's teacher frequently until the problem is resolved.

What If My Child Doesn't Like School?

Using your unique knowledge of your child, try to find out why he or she seems unhappy with school. Observe and listen to your child. The problem may not lie with school itself, but with peers or friends. It may also be a family problem or an issue of self- esteem. Arrange for a conference with the teacher or school counselor. Work toward being able to discuss problems with your child openly, and listen carefully to his or her views before you offer any solutions.

Children whose parents are involved in their education have better grades, a more positive attitude toward school, and more appropriate school behavior than those with less involved parents. So don't underestimate what YOU, as a parent, can contribute to your child's learning experiences, no matter how much education you yourself have. Getting involved in your child's education will make a difference.

Resource Organizations for Parental Involvement

Alliance for Parental Involvement in Education
P.O. Box 59
East Chatham, NY 12060-0059
(518) 392-6900

Center for Social Organization of Schools
Johns Hopkins University
3505 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-2498
(410) 516-8800

The Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) operates 16 clearinghouses specializing in education topics. For information call 1-800-LET-ERIC (538-3742).

Sources

Most of the following references--those identified with an ED or EJ number--have been abstracted and are in the ERIC database. Documents with an ED number can be found on microfiche at more than 900 locations or ordered in paper copy from the ERIC Document Reproduction Service at 1-800-443-ERIC. The journal articles can be found at most research libraries. Call 1- 800-LET-ERIC for more details.

American Association of School Administrators (1988). Challenges for School Leaders.Arlington, VA. ED 300 915.

Granowsky, A. (1989). "Can I Guarantee My Child's Love of Learning?" PTA Today, 14 (4), p. 25. EJ 406 241.

National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education (1990). Developing Family/School Partnerships. Washington, D.C.

National Urban League, Inc. (1989). What Students Need to Know. New York. ED 316 636.

Peterson, D. (1989). Parent Involvement in the Educational Process. ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management. ED 312 776.

Seely, D. (1989). "A New Paradigm for Parent Involvement." Educational Leadership, 47 (2), 47-48. EJ 397 741.

Credits

Written by Lynn Liontos, ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management.

PUBLISHED: Summer 1994

This publication was prepared by ACCESS ERIC in association with the ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, with funding from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, under Contract No. RR92024001. The opinions expressed in this brochure do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education.