8/6 Self-Reflection

August 7, 2012 at 9:49 pm | Posted in E1, H4 | Leave a comment
Tags: EDU 6134, family involvement, self-reflection

Family involvement is yet another key component
towards impacting student learning. From the article by Joyce Epstein, we know
there are six types of involvement and for those families who have little to no
involvement now, it is crucial that we get them engaged in at least one or two
types right away. One thing we can do as teachers is to send home a brief
newsletter with direct tips like “set aside a time and place to allow your kids
to study and do homework each night”. Another idea could be to invite families
to activity nights where the kids can do fun stuff while the teachers ask
parents what they think would help impact their own kids’ learning the most.
For these parents, it is important to show them just how easy it can be to get
involved. Sending emails to the teacher with questions or concerns is opening
up a line of communication and now they are investing in their child’s
learning. On the other hand though, what do we do when there are parents who
may be over involved? How will we know when their involvement is having a
negative impact on learning? As with many other things we deal with, we must
strive to find a healthy balance of family involvement. Remember, the reason we
want to engage family and community is to have a positive impact on student
learning. Keep this in mind when making decisions regarding family and
community involvement.