Parent desire to get involved may seem unusual and represents an unexpected gift to schools and teachers, but I think parents have always shared an interest in getting involved. The problem is schools have yet to create a school setting for parents. Kind of like, the bleachers, which we as parents know to be the designated spot to watch and cheer on our kids at their sports events.
I believe an essential resource for any school is parent involvement. And when parents express a willingness to get involved, there must be a system that can effectively integrate them.
Creating a “setting” for parents with the goal of sustained parent involvement requires creative thinking and a bit of marketing. Begin by thinking about what gets you excited and motivates you to return for more. Then think about how to reduce and eliminate potential barriers.
Previous blogs talked about the 10-week challenge. It creates an incentive and foundation for parents interested in school involvement and a setting or event where they can get involved. The 10-week activities are flexible in that teachers may introduce topics and concerns consistent with learning goals and objectives.
When parents answer the call to get involved, schools must be prepared to deliver.
