Term Paper on "What Is the Relationship Between Parental Involvement and School Achievement Among Stoneview Elementary Students?"

Term Paper 4 pages (1393 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

parental involvement and school achievement among Stoneview Elementary students?

Parental Involvement Helps Determine Academic Success in Elementary School Students

Parental involvement is considered by many educators and researchers to be one of the most significant factors contributing to academic achievement among students, especially during the elementary school years. Research has revealed with overwhelming consistency that students with parents that are active in their education are more successful in school.

According to Anne Henderson of the Center for Law and Education in Washington, D.C., parents used to think that they should not be very involved in their children's education because the school professionals are better equipped to handle them. However, today more parents want to be involved in their children's education, and more teachers are welcoming that assistance. Parental involvement was found to be a significant predictor of student achievement and behavior of children from all race and income groups, according to a 1994 study. Many parents do not have time to be involved in school activities, however "a recent study says 42% of third through fifth graders have parents who have attended school functions and volunteered within the past year." (Lord & Wagner 1995) This percentage drops significantly by the high school years. Research has also found that parents are more involved in overall student schooling if teachers are committed to increasing parent involvement. Parents."felt that they should help their children at home;... understood more about what their child was being taught in school;... were more positive about the teacher's interpersonal skills, and rated the teacher higher in overall teaching ability...." when teachers solicited their involvement. (Epstein, 1983) Parents need to be made aware of how important their involvement in the school and in their children's education is for the student and the school as a whole. Parents additionally need to feel welcome to participate in school activities and educational events, and teachers can help guarantee this by communicating with parents and asking for their input.

Lasting Effects

Researchers have found that nearly two-thirds of all students who will attend college first thought about college during the elementary school years, which means that supporting children's education during the early years will have a significant impact on their later academic achievement. Parents should become involved in their children's education and raising awareness of how important education is to their future. Parents should become familiar with academic programs that are geared towards college preparation and become an overall active partner in children's education. "Parents have a legal right to act as a partner with school professionals in making educational decisions about their children. In addition, research results tell us that children do better, enjoy school more, and cause fewer disciplinary problems when their parents are actively involved." (Beale & Ericksen-Radtke 2001) Children will be excited about school if their parents are excited about school. It is also important that parents get to know the teachers and communicate with them, and also that parents be encouraging of the student's education. Helping students prepare a homework schedule, building a study center for homework, reading with them, and talking with them about school will lead to children being enabled to learn.

Decision Making

According to Dick Bennet, a teacher, past president of the Greece Teachers Association, and current NEA Learning Lab facilitator in New York, parents must be as involved as possible in the school decision-making process. Most parents are asked to be involved in student homework, discipline, and motivation, but parents are rarely asked to "help define a school's mission, choose curricular materials, or shape a school's budget." (Bennet 1996) Bennet believes that parents can offer unique viewpoints based on their own experiences in school and professional life, and that by becoming involved in the school community they will be better advocates for their child. At Odyssey school in New York, parents give constant feedback and recommendations, as well as teaching enrichment courses to the school staff and giving input to important school decisions. In Bennet's experience, parents do not want final say in school decisions, but rather the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process in the best interest of the students. Bennet finds that parent… READ MORE

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