Middle School Matinee

S

Middle School Matinee:

Using Media to Involve Parents

Drs. Carl Walley & David KommerAshland University

Ashland, Ohio

http://amleparents.pbworks.com

Types of Involvement (Epstein, Sanders, Simon, Salinas, Jansorn, & Van Voorhis, 2002)

Parenting Skills: assisting parents in

understanding adolescent behavior

and development

Volunteering: involving parents in

school activities

Communities: providing information

and contacts with community resources

and community efforts

Decision-Making: involving parents in school governance through advisory

groups

Communication: contact with families

about school programs and student progress. All efforts

involve communications.

Learning at Home: involving parents in

homework, goal setting, and projects

S

Why Communicate With Parents

•Positive behavior•Improved attendance•Improved self-esteem•Positive achievement•Increased graduation rates•Improvements are across all SES levels

•(V. Anfara, 2008)

Why Communicate?

Parent involvement is a positive initiative that communicates to students that adults care about their well being and school performance. (Fan & Chen, 2001)

Communications between school and home is a facet of school involvement. (Myers & Monson, 1992)

Resistance to Communications

Despite the clearly documented benefits of parent involvement for students’ achievement and attitudes toward school, parent involvement of all types declines progressively during the elementary school years. By middle grade school, the home school connection has been significantly reduced, and some cases is non-existent.

(Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, 1989)

Resistance Points to Communications With Parents

Adolescent Development is associated with a natural tendency to withdraw from parental influence and increase the influence of peers.

Parents may have a personal discomfort with school based on their own school experiences.

Language barriers either from non standard English backgrounds , or Non English speaking/reading parents.

The formal language register used by school personnel and the informal register of low SES parents creates a communications barrier.

Virtual Proximity – Addresses Resistance Points

Adolescents enjoy technology and the personal nature of DVD, Glogster, etc. Parental discomfort with

school.

The virtual nature personal type contact with parents, yet they control their contactVisual nature of some forms facilitates understanding, translations can be made by students as they watch with parents or translated copies can be made.

Language barriers

Tendency for adolescents to withdraw from parents.

Adolescent Development Assignment

Learning at Home

What are some strategies where Virtual Proximity might lead to greater learning at home?

Share ideas you are already using at school that facilitate positive parent involvement.

Problems or concerns related to using any of the ideas we presented in this session.

Suggestions for Communicating with Parents

1. Use the informal language register. Speak as you would with a colleague or friend.

2. Enlist students in the production of the content and product.

3. Use multiple sources to communicate.

4. Put your best foot forward – initiate positive contacts.

5. Work to accommodate parents schedules.

6. Give them information that helps them - not just you and the school.

Thanks

Session # 1442: Middle School Matinee

CEU Code: