Ten Ways To Get Involved In Your Child’s Education

Even during the pandemic

As a family engagement influencer, I work to empower parents and educators to build a mutual partnerships with each other to support student learning and development. That is the purpose of this article.

There is one very specific thing that all parents with children and young people enrolled in school have in common. They want them to be successful learners.

Even though we are living during a very challenging and devastating period of time, it is possible for students to have a great learning experience.

• This is very possible if your child is enrolled in a cyber program.
• This is extremely possible if your child is enrolled in a hybrid program where they spend part of their time getting their education at school and the rest of their time at home.
• This is also possible if your child attends a traditional school with all of the safety guidelines in place.

You might be wondering how this is possible. Well, the answer is quite simple. It’s because of you. As a parent, YOU make the difference in your child’s education.

You Can Do It!

There are ten positive steps that you can take to make sure that you are an active participant in your child’s education.

1. Make sure that you meet your child’s teachers and principal. This helps them to connect you to your child. This connection opens the door to improved communications with the school as it specifically relates to your child as a learner.
2. Let these educators and other employees who interact with your child get to know you as an engaged parent. Be sure to let these professionals know that you are committed to supporting your child’s learning. Most significantly, let them know that are an involved parent. Above all, invite them to maintain open lines of communications with you.
3. Make sure that all of your contact information remains current. This includes your : telephone, mobile, and work numbers; emergency contacts; email addresses; home address; and other relevant social media contacts. It is important that the school is able to notify you when they need to.
4. Be sure that you communicate specific information about your child’s needs to the appropriate school employee. Whether there are concerns about your child requiring extra academic support or enrichment opportunities as well as any need for health related modifications and other things relevant to them, the school needs to know.
5. Read all of the communications that the school sends to you. Whether it’s the student and family handbook, letters, postcards, emails, newsletters, text messages, and so much more, read it. This will keep you informed of classroom, school, and district wide happenings that will impact your child and your family.
6. Maintain a specific work space for your child at home. This space should be free of distractions. It should also be filled with all of the supplies, technologies, and electricity required to support their learning at home.
7. Communicate with your child’s teachers when you have questions, concerns, and need clarification. Schedule video conferences, send emails and text messages, and make phone calls. Just keep the lines of communications open as you need to.
8. Safely attend all in-person conferences, meetings, and events as well as those held virtually. Important information pertaining to your child’s development as a learner and their educational program will be shared. So, always make arrangements to attend these important gatherings.
9. Stay focused on all of your child’s learning activities. This includes: making sure their assignments and projects are completed on time; following your child’s curriculum to know what they are learning; monitoring their grades; supervising their homework time; and providing your child with guidance, help, and encouragement at home when they require it. Also included in this is making sure that your child gets enough sleep each night because this is deeply connected to their educational success.
10. Volunteer to lend support at your child’s school whenever it is feasible and safe to do so. This includes but is not limited to attending in-person virtual PTO (Parent and Teacher Organization) meetings. It also includes serving as a classroom parent. This may be done during the pandemic by sharing relevant information and support to other parents online.

Passionately following these ten steps will increase your involvement in your child’s education AND contribute to their overall success at school.

Here is my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.

Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1DPhBeA29UlybU9jzDkdQ .