Focusing on Helping our Parents in our After School Programs.

Parental Involvement Is Necessary For Your After School Students to Succeed * See Resource Guide for Articles Relating to the Power of a Parents Influence and for Citations of Statistics

*Parent Celebration-appreciation dinners-holiday cards from

child

*Know Your Parents-assign 1

volunteer/staff person to each family

*Parent Meetings-home visits-beginning of the year

planning-end of the year

debriefing*Parent Responsibilities

-snack-field trips-classes (Parent

Classes)-parent/child tutoring projects (Literacy

Bags)-teacher visits-school events

Solid Relationships Between Volunteers/Staff and Families

1. Begin Early *Set clear guidelines for what is expected from a parent before they sign up their childExample: Every Parent is Required to Attend 3 out of 5 Classes Provided *Establish an agenda with all the dates of classes so parents can plan ahead to be there

2. Create a Curriculum for Your Parents: Do Your Research* Meet with teachers, parents, and students before picking topics for each class.*Use the information you gather from prospective students of your program and their parents and

teachers, to plan your topics for the year. *Use the expertise of your instructors to assemble the material for each class.

Example Classes: How to Manage Your Child’s Backpack, Ways to Help your Child with their Homework Even When you Don’t Understand it Yourself

3. Parent Instructors*Ask Parents from Church or Community who have demonstrated a quality of parenting to

teach these classes. *Keep Instructors Consistent*Give Parents a Model Agenda for Each Class

*See Resource Guide for Example Agenda

4. Potluck Community

*Food is a great incentive for parents to come to class, and a great way to get them involved in class.

*Have parents sign up to bring a snack or a meal for each class. Or have people from church or community sign up to bring food for each class.

1. Establish each Students Reading Level*Give Reading Assessment Tests First Week of Program

*See Resource Guide For Assessment Test

2. Fun Reading Activities*Each Activity Should be Fun; Critical Thinking Games, Puzzles, Creating

Stories*Decorate Bags to Keep it Looking Fun*Establish at Least 5 Activities per Reading Level

*See Resource Guide for Fun Activity Ideas and Resources

3. Create a Check In and Check Out System for Each Bag

*Keep Track of All Items in Games and Bags *Check In Bags Only With All Contents

*See Resource Guide for Check In/Out Template

4. Tutorial for Parents and Students on How to Use Bags* Hold an Initial Class for Parents and Students to Explain Purpose of Bags and

Expectations to Use Bags.*Walk Through Specific Activities with Parents and Students *Include Same Activities to Your Tutoring Time: Students will then know how to do

the activities, and the benefits from each activity will be reinforced.