Parent involvement is a strong determining factor in the academic performance of almost all students. It refers to a condition where parents are proactively engaged in their children’s education. Several studies have shown how it plays a crucial role in students’ development. Many educational institutions have started using several strategies for greater parent involvement, including school-parent communication apps and home visits.
Some of the benefits of parent involvement in children’s education are:
- Enhanced academic achievement
- Improved child’s personality
- Better classroom behaviour
- Increased involvement in many activities
- Increased teacher morale
- Enhanced quality of education
- Positive school culture
- Improved school-to-parent communication
- Less chance of dropping out
Teachers and administrators can use a wide range of strategies to increase parent involvement in the digital age. They can leverage technology and use effective methods to ensure that parents are actively engaged in their children’s education. Here are nine strategies that can improve parent involvement.
1)Use a school parent communication app
Educational institutions can use a single tool for proactive and persistent communication with parents without using too many communication tools. A school-parent communication app is the best tool that every institute can use to share crucial information with parents. Parents can get all the important and new updates about their children’s educational activities using the app. The app also enables them to personalize their communication. Be it about tuition fees or exam results, they can get all detailed information with a button click.
2)Communicate effectively
Educators, faculty members, and administrators must communicate effectively with parents. Be it using a school parent communication app or an in-person meeting. When parents understand what’s expected from them and what they need to do to boost their children’s academic performance, they will be more willing to take the necessary steps.
3)Build trust with parents
Educational institutions must focus on communicating with parents regularly to build trust. There are many ways to do that. Teachers and faculty members must build a respectful relationship first. They need to communicate effectively and provide all the crucial information. Parent and teacher meetings provide excellent opportunities for educators to build a positive relationship and trust with parents. Apart from the regular meetings, they can hold virtual meetings on weekends or holidays and have relaxed conversations.
4)Treat parents as a partner and the major stakeholder
Parents are the most important stakeholder in the education system. Educational institutions must understand this and treat them as a partner. Parents deserve a lot more respect and amenities to actively participate in their children’s education. Institutes need to ensure that they don’t face any problems while making transactions or seeking information. Educators should invite parents to participate more in their student’s education and ask them to share crucial information.
5)Share accountability
Educational institutions must ensure that all educators and faculty members participate in communication initiatives with parents. Provide clear protocols, tools, and policies to make it achievable. School management and administrators must set a good example and show that they are equally accountable for turning the plan into a reality.
6)Organize volunteer programs
Organize volunteer programs in your institute and invite parents to spend some time in the classroom. It will provide them with the chance to participate in their children’s education in a real academic environment. It will also enable them to see their children’s academic performance first hand and understand their everyday routine.
7)Home visits
Occasional home visits are excellent strategies to establish contact with parents and enhance their involvement. Teachers should visit the home of students at least once every academic year and establish communication with parents. During the visits, teachers get to know their students’ families and environment better. Parents also get to know the educators better and their opinions on and expectations for their children. As per a study, when educators conducted home visits to engage with parents, student absenteeism declined by 20 percent.
8)Provide home activities
It is much like homework, but the only difference is that teachers have designed the activities so that parents and children will need to work together. The activities ideally should be dynamic, engaging, and short. Educators should send home activity packs at regular intervals and give a deadline. The packs must consist of all the materials required to complete the activity and should not be difficult or time-consuming.
9)Share positive news
More often than not, the communication from educational institutions will revolve around homework assignments, daily schedules, attendance and leave reports, marks and grades, behavioral updates, and upcoming events. Such communication may get monotonous for parents, and some may lose interest over a period of time. So, make sure to communicate positive news whenever you get the opportunity and congratulate them for their participation and support.
In closing,
The involvement of parents is extremely important in students’ learning, development, and success in their academic careers and life. The key to positive and productive parent involvement is effective and efficient communication. A comprehensive communication tool such as a school parent communication app can be extremely helpful in bridging the communication between parents, teachers, and administrators. At MyEdu, we know the importance of communication, and our school-parent communication app is designed to provide all communication and updates to parents.
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