| Communicating |
|
1.
|
Give positive
feedback and show appreciation for teachers and the principal. |
|
2.
|
Approach interactions
with school administration and staff with a positive attitude
and an open mind. |
|
3.
|
Listen to
others' viewpoints when having a discussion. |
|
4.
|
Share your
child's strengths, talents, and interests with teachers. |
|
5.
|
Share expectations
and set goals for your child with his or her teacher. |
|
6.
|
Make appointments
as needed to discuss your child's progress or concerns. |
|
7.
|
Attend parent-teacher
conferences with specific questions you want to ask. |
|
8.
|
Decide with
your child's teacher the best way to stay in touch (phone,
e-mail, notes, etc.). |
|
9.
|
Understand
and reinforce school rules and expectations at home. |
|
10.
|
Participate
in informal opportunities to talk with and get to know
school administration, teachers, and other staff. |
|
11.
|
Address concerns
or questions honestly, openly, and early on. |
|
12.
|
Attend PTA
or parent meetings regularly. |
|
13.
|
Read classroom
and/or school newsletters. |
|
14.
|
Visit your
school's Web page. |
|
15.
|
Know the names
of your child's teacher(s), school principal, and school
nurse. |
|
16.
|
Read and know
your school's handbook. |
|
17.
|
Request that
information be available in all languages spoken by school
families. |
|
18.
|
Share your
family's practices related to culture, values, and parenting
with your child's school. |
|
19.
|
Communicate
your perceptions of how parents are treated and, when
necessary, work with school staff to improve perceptions
and school climate. |
|
20.
|
Notify teachers
of any significant changes that have taken place in a
child's life (such as death of a pet, family move, loss
of income, family member illness, divorce). |
|
|
| Parenting |
|
21.
|
Meet your
child's friends and get to know their parents. |
|
22.
|
Take advantage
of family programs and resources offered at the school. |
|
23.
|
Work with
others to establish a parent resource center at the school.
|
|
24.
|
Help create
a school toy/book lending library and visit it regularly. |
|
25.
|
Assist in
developing parent support programs/groups. |
|
26.
|
Arrange to
visit your child's classroom or have lunch with your child
at the school. |
|
27.
|
Seek out classes
or information on child development, learning styles,
discipline, etc. |
|
28.
|
Attend parent
education fairs and other special events at school. |
|
29.
|
Start a parent
book club to discuss current publications. |
|
30.
|
Help create
and/or contribute to a school newsletter on parenting. |
|
31.
|
Promote and
volunteer for before- and after-school programs. |
|
32.
|
Build an at-home
child I.D. file including items such as medical records,
pictures, and fingerprints. |
|
33.
|
Make donations
and/or offer to work at clothing drives and food banks
to benefit economically-disadvantaged families in the
community. |
|
34.
|
Ask teachers
or school counselors about how to talk with your children
about tough topics. |
|
|
| Student Learning |
|
35.
|
Discuss your
child's school day and homework daily. |
|
36.
|
Know your
child's academic strengths and weaknesses. |
|
37.
|
Provide a
quiet, well-lighted place with basic school supplies for
studying/homework. |
|
38.
|
Help your
children break down big homework projects into smaller,
more manageable steps. |
|
39.
|
Develop a
consistent daily routine and time for studying and homework. |
|
40.
|
Provide encouragement
and praise for your child's efforts. |
|
41.
|
Share your
interests, hobbies, and talents with your children. |
|
42.
|
Provide children
with books, magazines, newspapers, and other materials,
and encourage regular reading. |
|
43.
|
View selected
TV programs together and then discuss them. |
|
44.
|
Make family
trips to the library, zoo, museum, or park a fun learning
experience. |
|
45.
|
Talk with
your child's teacher about creating home learning games
and activities. |
|
46.
|
Assist with
homework, but avoid doing it for your child. |
|
47.
|
Attend school
meetings on learning expectations, assessment, and grading
procedures. |
|
48.
|
Help set goals
and develop a personalized education plan for your child. |
|
49.
|
Participate
in activities that help you understand school technology. |
|
50.
|
Help plan
and attend family nights on improving study habits, doing
homework, etc. |
|
51.
|
Help develop,
visit, or offer services to your school's study/tutor
center. |
|
52.
|
Participate
in academic fairs as a family. |
|
|
| Volunteering |
|
53.
|
Respond to
school surveys on your interests, talents, and skills.
|
|
54.
|
Let school
staff know your availability to volunteer (days, times,
and how often). |
|
55.
|
Coordinate
and participate in evening and weekend volunteer activities
at school. |
|
56.
|
Assist your
child's teacher in the classroom or on field trips when
you are able. |
|
57.
|
Work with
school staff and teachers to develop volunteer activities
you can do from home. |
|
58.
|
Assist school
staff and educators in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere
for parents. |
|
59.
|
Help provide
child care and/or transportation for volunteering parents. |
|
60.
|
Collaborate
to develop creative ways to use volunteers at school. |
|
61.
|
Work with
others to develop volunteer job descriptions and evaluations. |
|
62.
|
Assist school
staff in recruiting parents and community members as volunteers. |
|
63.
|
Attend training
and orientation on how to be an effective volunteer. |
|
64.
|
Learn and
uphold school discipline, confidentiality, and other policies
as a volunteer. |
|
65.
|
Set a time
to talk regularly with school staff and educators with
whom you are working. |
|
66.
|
Participate
in organizing and planning ways to recognize and appreciate
volunteers. |
|
67.
|
Respond to
school surveys/questionnaires on the effectiveness of
volunteer programs. |
|
68.
|
Help develop
and distribute a volunteer directory to parents, school
staff, and teachers. |
|
69.
|
Volunteer
your consulting services in your areas of expertise to
school staff or educators. |
|
|
| Partnering
with the School |
|
70.
|
Learn of school
and district policies and practices that affect children. |
|
71.
|
Voice your
support or concerns on any issue that will affect your
family. |
|
72.
|
Serve on school
task forces that examine such things as school dress codes
or bully prevention policies. |
|
73.
|
Participate
in meetings to determine special educational needs and
services. |
|
74.
|
Attend workshops
on problem solving, conflict resolution, and public speaking
to develop your advocacy skills. |
|
75.
|
Serve on school
advisory councils or committees on curriculum, discipline,
and so forth. |
|
76.
|
Become part
of a school-based management team with teachers and the
principal. |
|
77.
|
Encourage
and support children to serve in student leadership positions. |
|
78.
|
Help your
school create a student's rights and responsibilities
guide for families. |
|
79.
|
Attend PTA,
school board, and/or town meetings and speak to issues
of concern. |
|
80.
|
Learn candidates'
positions and participate in school board elections. |
|
81.
|
Work with
teachers and school administrators to develop a parent
involvement policy. |
|
82.
|
Write, call,
or visit local or state decision makers to support or
oppose proposed education legislation. |
|
83.
|
Participate
in petition drives or letter-writing campaigns to Congress
on legislation affecting public schools and other child-related
issues. |
|
84.
|
Give testimony
at public hearings in support of or in opposition to proposed
education legislation. |
|
85.
|
Vote in local,
state, and federal elections for public officials who
support education. |
|
|
| Collaborating
with the Community |
|
86.
|
Find out about
and use information on community resources and organizations. |
|
87.
|
Help your
school develop a directory of social and community services.
|
|
88.
|
Make local
agencies and businesses aware of what's happening at your
school. |
|
89.
|
Help coordinate
and participate in events that support community groups. |
|
90.
|
Talk with
employers about holding parent meetings or parenting workshops
on-site. |
|
91.
|
Encourage
employers to adopt flexible work schedules and time off
so that employees might attend school functions. |
|
92.
|
Ask employers
and local businesses to make donations and support school
programs. |
|
93.
|
Help organize
and/or participate in community health fairs. |
|
94.
|
Recruit community
members (seniors, business people) to volunteer at school. |
|
95.
|
Become active
in community groups such as YMCA and Boy and Girl Scouts. |
|
96.
|
Serve on local
community advisory councils and committees. |
|
97.
|
Work with
local authorities and public officials to sponsor community
events. |
|
98.
|
Help organize
and/or participate in a community "clean up"
or "beautification" project. |
|
99.
|
Encourage
and help facilitate your child's participation in community
service. |
|
100.
|
Be a role
model; be active in community service yourself or together
with your child. |
