"Successfully Engaging Georgia's Parents" Parent Engagement Newsletter Fall 2014 "Establish a Routine" It's that time of year again. School is back in session! Whether this is your student's first year attending school or their last, the first few weeks can be a lot to take in. (Especially for us as parents, when we realize how quickly the time is rushing past my daughter just began her freshman year of college!) As your student settles back into his or her routine, or begins a new one, it is equally important for you to establish a routine of a different sort: a routine of communication with your student's teacher. While juggling work, parenting, and all your other obligations, I know it can be difficult to find enough hours in a day. Fortunately, you have an ally in your efforts to remain actively involved in your student's education their teacher. By maintaining open, honest, and regular communication with him or her, you can always play an active role in your student's education. If you feel as though your student needs help grasping a particular topic, express that to their teacher. Likewise, make sure it is easy for them to approach you with any concerns they may have. Listen to your student's teacher, take their suggestions and advice, and expect the same respect in return. As the school year progresses, I encourage you to maintain weekly or monthly communication with your student's teacher and stay up to date on school events. Remember, you do not always have to be present at the school to maintain effective communication. Simply sending a text, making a weekly phone call, or writing a monthly email is an important investment in your student's education. Enjoy the start of the year. I am wishing you and your student the best year yet! -Dr. John D. Barge, State School Superintendent Family Engagement in the FieSltdories of Success This is a series of articles written for parents by parent involvement coordinators. "Listening for Change" Sometimes the most significant With more grandparents playing other grandparents that positively and meaningful family-school an active role in the lives of their impacted the children in their care. partnerships are those sparked by grandchildren, she thought it Therefore, I encourage all parents, a simple thought from a parent or would be helpful to create a group guardians and grandparents guardian. Too often schools focus for grandparents to share ideas and to please remember that your on their own interests instead of experiences in order to learn from suggestions and feedback, big listening to families in order to each other about supporting their or little, are needed to establish understand their needs and develop grandchildren in school. effective, meaningful, rewarding genuine partnerships to support family-school partnerships and student learning. Thanks to her input, a new group produce significant results in our was established at the school, schools! As the parent involvement "Parents Who Are Grand". The specialist at an elementary school, I planned a variety of informational meetings and events for parents and guardians. Among the regular group met regularly to receive information and resources to help grandparents assist their grandchildren's academic success. Karen Aylwin Parent Involvement Specialist Paulding County School District attendees at these events was a Perhaps the most meaningful result grandmother who served as the primary caregiver for her two grandchildren. During a particular meeting held to gather ideas to help parents and guardians support student success, this grandmother of these meetings was the ability for grandparents to connect with each other and provide support and inspiration for one another as they raised their grandchildren. Are you a family engagement professional interested in sharing your story with parents? Please contact Nate Schult, Parent Engagement Specialist, at nschult@doe.k12.ga.us. shared that she would enjoy the One grandparent had an idea, which opportunity to meet with other led to a new opportunity for grandparents from the school. What's Inside How Can I Increase Parent Engagement at My School? 2 Ways Parents Can Help & Support Teachers 3 Five Hot Homework Tips for Parents 3 November is Parent Engagement Month! 4 Save the Dates 4 GaDOEParentEngagement @GaDOEParents gadoeparentengagement. edublogs.org 02 Decades of research show that when parents are involved students have: Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates Better school attendance Increased motivation, better self-esteem Lower rates of suspension How can I increase Parent Engagement at my school? n the animal kingdom, species who might be a good idea to talk with your Iraise their young as a community, such parent liaison or principal. Let them parents to get involved, you have to make as lions, have a stronger survival rate than know that you are available and would sure that they know why they should get species that do not, such as cheetahs. like to help with any parent and family involved. Whether you make a speech at The reason for this is simple: there is engagement initiatives. Not only will back to school night or casually mention strength in numbers - and this is true they be thrilled to have you as an ally, the positive impact that you have seen in for humans as well. they will also most likely be able to point your child since becoming more engaged you in the right direction by telling you - do your best to get the word out as much When parents and families come together when and where your efforts will be as you can. for the betterment of a school, it creates an most effective. environment that is conducive to student Put your talents and skills to work success. Still, successfully engaging all Reach out to parents you already know Do you know how to edit video? Are you parents and families continues to be a and encourage them to start with an excellent seamstress? Are you a great challenge that most educators face. something small public speaker? Whatever your talent or Reach out to parents that you already skill-set is, figure out how you can use it to Although almost every school has a have a relationship with and ask them reach out to other parents and encourage small core group of parents who are if they would mind helping you with them to become more involved. Perhaps actively engaged, it can be a struggle an event or activity. Often, parents are you can film and edit a video on the for teachers and school staff to reach available and willing to help it is just benefits of parent engagement, create out and engage harder to reach parents that no one has ever asked them! It also personalized shirts to promote your and families. However, as a parent, there helps to encourage them to start small. parent group, or help teach a class on how are ways that you can do your part to Lisa Richardson, 2014 State School parents can become empowered and get motivate other parents to get involved. Superintendent Parent Advisory Council involved for the benefit of Title I parental member states, "Start small when you involvement. Whatever your talent is, Here are a few suggestions on ways ask a parent to do something. [Their you have something valuable that you that you can help more parents become engagement] will start to build and then can use to foster parent engagement at involved and engaged this year at they will start to advocate." your school. your school. Collaborate with school staff Before you begin mapping out your Spread the word Just because you know the benefits of parent engagement doesn't mean Do you have a story about how you increased parent or family engagement in your school? Contact Keisha Jeffries, Parent Engagement Communications Specialist, at parent engagement plan of attack, it everyone else does. Before you ask kjeffries@doe.k12.ga.us. Ways Parents Can Help & Support Teachers 03 mathematics, that are filled with lessons and activities that you can do with your child. To download this series and other helpful resources visit www2.ed.gov/parents. Be available One of the biggest ways to support your child's teacher is to simply keep in contact with them. Whether it is via telephone, e-mail, or face-to-face conversation - As the school year begins again it is teachers appreciate when parents care important to remember how much enough to keep in contact. However, be you matter. While making sure your child sure not to overdo it. Your child's teacher has a healthy breakfast and a good night's often has dozens of students and it may be rest are key components of success, your unrealistic for them to touch base with you help and support in their education is just every day. Aim to have a conversation with as important. It has been proven time and them once a month. time again that a parent who takes an active interest in their child's education is one Forget your baggage of the biggest contributors to that child Parents can sometimes carry the negative reaching their full academic potential. experiences they have had with education and unknowingly pass these feelings and attitudes onto their children. Regardless of whether you look back at your school experience fondly or look back and cringe, be sure to impress a positive attitude about school onto your child. For example, instead of saying, "Wake up! You have go to school today," it may be better to say, "Wake up! You get to go to school today." The positive outlook your child has on school and education prompts them to come to school ready and excited to learn. Encourage learning at home Whether learning about different cultures at the grocery store, calculating the tip at a restaurant, or discussing what they are working on in school, make learning a constant part of your child's everyday life. The more your child practices these skills at home the better they will do in school! Parents and teachers are truly partners, and when they work in conjunction with one another, they provide the greatest chance of academic success in a child. Here are four things to keep in mind when thinking about how you can support your child's teacher this year. Educate yourself Learn about your child's school and curriculum. Ask your child's teacher what the students will be learning this year and familiarize yourself with the subject matter. Find out if there is a class website, blog, or Facebook page that you can join to stay up to date. There are also many free resources available online such as The U.S. Department of Education's `Helping Your Child Series' which offers free booklets in different subject areas, such as science and Parents! Have an idea to contribute to the newsletter? Send your parent involvement ideas and articles to us through your parent involvement coordinator or e-mail us directly. If your idea or article is published, your name will appear in the newsletter! Five Hot Homework Tips for Parents via the official blog of the U.S. Department of Education. By Margaret Yau Learning doesn't stop when the last bell rings at school. When students bring work home, it is a great time for parents to play a role in their child's education. Homework has many benefits, such as providing extra time for research or practice, helping students develop study skills and teaching time management skills. Here are five tips to help your child benefit by the time spent on assignments and maximize their learning. 1. Study space: Set up a quiet, well-lit area for your child to complete his or her homework. Try to remove any distractions from the surrounding events, homework, and tasks at home. For instance, after school, set a specific time as "homework time" and for tasks at home give them time limits. area, like televisions, computers (unless used for the assignment) and loud 4. Encourage independence: Some conversations. homework assignments are meant to be done by the student alone, and 2. Imitation: Children imitate their parents. When your child is focusing on homework, join them in a similar, focused activity. Crack open a favorite hovering can take away from the child's learning process. Try to step back, and if intervention is really needed, make sure to provide guidance, not just answers. novel while they complete their reading assignment, or balance your 5. Tackle a challenge: Teach your child checkbook while they work through how to identify the difference between their multiplication tables. the "hard" homework questions and the "easy" ones. Have them set aside the easier 3. Time management: Teach your child how to manage their time. Schedule questions for later and tackle the hard ones first. Don't forget! November is Parent Engagement Month! Every year the state of Georgia recognizes the month of November as Parent Engagement Month, and schools across the state highlight the role parents play in a student's education. Additionally, the third Thursday in November is National Parental Involvement Day. This is a day for all parents to consider how they can get more involved in the education of their children. To assist parents in the process, the Georgia Department of Education provides Get the facts...get connected...GET INVOLVED! resources for parents and schools to encourage parent engagement. Each year, we also release an updated Parent Engagement Month calendar that provides specific activities for parents to do with their children at home each day in November to support learning and academic achievement. While we encourage parents to use these materials particularly during Parent Engagement Month, parents can also utilize them to engage in meaningful conversations and positive interactions with their children throughout the year. Every student in Georgia should have a strong support system that values and encourages educational achievement and there is no one that can support this effort better than parents. Be sure to visit our Parent Engagement Month page (tinyurl.com/nhhzpw6) in midOctober for updated 2014 materials. And check out the Parent Engagement Program's Twitter and Facebook pages every day during November for Parent Engagement facts, activities, and ideas! September 20, 2014 National Family Day This day encourages families to make "family dinner" a regular and important feature in their lives. Save the October23,2014 Lights on Afterschool This day calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families, and communities so children are not left unsupervised at home. November 1, 2014 Family Literacy Day This day calls on families to read with each other in order to showcase Dates the importance of family Program Staff literacy programs. November 20, 2014 National Parental Involvement Day Michelle Sandrock, Parent Engagement Program Manager msandrock@doe.k12.ga.us Vision Statement This day is a call to action for parents to commit to being an active part of their child's education. 404-232-1148 The Parent Engagement Program believes that parents, Nathan Schult, Parent Engagement Specialist nschult@doe.k12.ga.us 404-463-1956 schools, families, and communities working together can create meaningful partnerships that ultimately lead to significant gains across the board in student achievement. Have a Question? Keisha Jeffries, Parent Engagement Communications Specialist kjeffries@doe.k12.ga.us 404-656-2633 AskDOE 404-656-2800 v askdoe@doe.k12.ga.us We're on the Web! facebook.com/GaDOEParentEngagement @GaDOEParents gadoeparentengagement.edublogs.org www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/AskDOE/Pages/Parents.aspx www.gadoe.org/School-Improvement/Federal-Programs/Pages/Parent-Engagement-Program.aspx