Parent involvement

As a military member whose children were exposed to more then one school district I can tell you that the answers very from school to school. I will choose to be postivie today and tell you about our current district which was a VAST improvement over the last.

1. I feel the majority of the facualty and staff in our current district go out of their way to make parents feel welcome in the school at any time. I have even found them to be open to certian input.

2. No, our current district does not offer workshops. I think the reason for this is because a group of the local districts have a cooperative together and classes are offered through this avenue.

3. The schools put out a monthly school letter. The letter often has a “tip of the month”. For example: How best to help your child with homework, teaching children responsibility, keeping your children safe, what do the grades on the report card mean, ect. These articles are always easy to read and well written.

4. Yes, they are well written.

5. I prefer to talk one on one either on the phone or through the e-mail to the person most directly related to my concern. I have communicatted this year with all my childrens teachers at least once. The best method for them is e-mail with the majority of the teachers answering the same day. All the teachers have been very open to discussing my concerns and listening to my suggestions for improvement. I did have a one on one conference with my freshman sons guidance counselor after he experienced difficulty in his Lit class. She was very open, caring, and helpful in getting what my son and I felt he needed.

6. I prefer meetings and conferences to be in the evening because of my duty schedule. “Uncle Sam” does not always let you off during the day for such things.

7. This depends on the child. For my daughter I usually only have contact twice a year at parent teacher conferences because she is an excellent student and basically takes care of herself. For my oldest son I would say the average is approx. twice a month I talk to one of his six teachers. These communications usually have to do with a concern or to let the teacher know how pleased I am with his progress. For my youngest son who falls on the Autism spectrum we communicatte at least once a week about his progress or behavior this includes both positive and negative.

8. Yes, home activities have been suggested by all the kids teachers. These are usually things like guided reading, practice of social skills through games (for youngest son) or the like.

9. My husband and I aren’t as involved as we would like to be but we do our best. We have been chaperones for field trips, provided snacks and such for parties, and donated books, old computers, supplies, and learning aides to our childrens classroom. I provide the children homework help and try to help remediate their weak areas. I think we have enough involvement that our children have a postitive attitude about school. We have very open discussions about learning styles, teaching techniques, societal attitudes, and the like. I believe that is why my two boys with identified LD’s have not quit on the school system yet.

10. See number 9 above. The reason we don’t get to volunteer in the classroom much is we are both active duyt military members.

11. Yes, the district has a PTO and each school has an individual PTA.

12. Yes, the school and district seek parent input. We will be opening a new elementary school next year and the school sought out parents to form a boundries board and also a board to see what activities will be offered. Parents also sit on the textbook committee and a few others. Teachers have called and asked for advise on how to help my children in certian areas. They are very open when I offer certian programs. I recently donated Ken Campbells GREAT LEAPS to my sons school after his teacher reviewed it and decided she wanted to implament it in her classroom.

13. The schools do not offer these things. However like I stated earlier they are provided by the Special Services Cooperative that the local towns put together. The local community college also offers these services.

14. I have an associattes degree completed through corespondance as a medical assistant. I am a med tech in the military. I am currently enrolled in school to get an associattes degree to go into elementary education. My husband has an associattes degree in forestry management. He is currently enrolled in school to get an associattes degree in bussiness management.

15. Both parents are active duty military so work outside the home.

Hope you find this information helpful. Good luck.

1. When you visit your child’s school, are the faculty, staff, and principal easy to talk to, friendly, and helpful?
For the most part, yes.

2. Does your school provide workshops for parents? What types of workshops? Do a lot of parents attend? What types of workshops would you like to see offered at your school?
Some workshops. I never attended them, either because they didn’t fit my situation, or I was too busy helping my kids with homework! They are offered by the district, not by the individual school.

3. How much information does your school supply to parents regarding: child development/parenting? how to support learning at home? discipline techniques?
We get articles related to these topics in school/district newsletters.

4. Are school newsletters, notices, etc. written clearly?
Yes.

5. What is the best way to communicate with you?
B. A newsletter or letter that comes in the mail, not by backpack.

6. What time of day do you prefer meetings and conferences?
Mornings, but if I have to lose time from work, it really doesn’t matter if it’s morning, or afternoon.

7. How often do you communicate with teachers regarding your child’s performance? Now that they are in middle school: Once per quarter, or less.

8. Are home-learning activities suggested to you by your child’s teacher?
No. Thanks, but homework keeps us plenty busy.

9. How do you feel your involvement in the school affects your child?
My involvement with my child and their work helps my child. Being involved in the school (i.e., PTA) doesn’t much to specifically help my child.

10. What opportunities are you given to volunteer in the school? Do you volunteer? If not, why? (Time conflict, work schedules, child care, etc.)
There are a thousand volunteer opportunties at our schools. I work though, and it is all I can possibly manage to work, make dinner, and then help with endless piles of homework.

11. Does your school have a PTA/PTO?
Yes

12. Does your school seek your opinioin on school-related issues?
Yes

13. What kind of support programs does your school offer, and what would you like to see offered? (For example: Family Literacy, GED, Computer Training, ESL, Other…) Don’t know enough about it to answer this question.

(*** Questions 14 and 15 are strictly for survey purposes, and are optional)

14. What best describes your education level? E
A. Informal Education
B. Elementary Education
C. High School
D. Trade School/Community College
E. College Degree
F. Master’s/Doctorate

15. What best describes your household? A
A. 2 parents - both work outside the home
B. 2 parents - one works outside the home
C. 2 parents - none work outside the home
D. 1 parent - works outside the home
E. 1 parent - doesn’t work outside the home
F. other

Okay,this is in all due respect. It comes from my individual experiences,my individual county school district…

1. When you visit your child’s school, are the faculty, staff, and principal easy to talk to, friendly, and helpful?

oh yes,especially when I had brownies:-)
once I started asking questions like, Gee my kid is having trouble learning,is it possible he needs to be tested? The friendliest got a lot less friendly. Interestingly enough,once I educated myself on what my kids rights and my rights were,I found out that not only should the faculty be friendly,easy to talk to,but I was part of the team! Easy to talk to? Equal participent is the term that comes to mind.

2. Does your school provide workshops for parents? What types of workshops? Do a lot of parents attend? What types of workshops would you like to see offered at your school?

Well,let’s see… The federal laws say the school district MUST provide workshops,they also mandate,that’s right mandate the STATE to provide funding for the workshops.The fliers announcing the workshop,usually come,or came a day in advance. Hard to schedule one’s life a day in advance.. The workshops where I saw most parents, were the ones about,how to get your kid tested,how to get help for your kid.( did this tell anyone, anything?) One very good workshop as a parent, was a weekly math night. You went with your kids to school in the evening and you played games that helped develop math skills,It was enjoyable. I would like to see more workshops offered for parents AND teacher’s on how to and all about different disabilities and how to manage or educated them! You know, more then 30min.

3. How much information does your school supply to parents regarding: child development/parenting? how to support learning at home? discipline techniques?

:-) hmm,do you mean by way of a teacher,with no children of their own,pointing a finger or passing judgment,because basicly they have never been provided with adequate educational knowldege? This kind of information? Or do you mean the well meaning teacher who has five kids of their own who in the olden days did it this way? The they just need adequate discipline,or both parents at home,or being read to,or more sleep,medication,spankings,alternative education,the list goes on. Yeah,we parents are provided with an array of information. Again this comes with all due respect,but to be brutally honest,spend a great deal of time trying to educate the educators. Parents could really use a little respect,and less judgment. So could a few teacher’s.

4. Are school newsletters, notices, etc. written clearly?

Hmm,okay if written by my youngest,no!LOL Via keyboard I suppose it would be legible. I know, you mean easy to understand. I suppose so.

5. What is the best way to communicate with you?
A. school memos
B. PTA newsletters
C. Teachers
D. Counselors
E. Parent Representatives

The best way to communicate with me? I suppose in person,with respect,equality,and adequate information. Listening would also be a good way to communicate with me.

6. What time of day do you prefer meetings and conferences?

I prefer the time of day that is most connvient for both the teacher and I. I want time to discuss my concerns without being told you have no more time.I don’t want to feel rushed,hurried,hassled. I want someone to understand that my time is as valuable as your time! I want you to know the term EQUAL PARTICIPENT.

7. How often do you communicate with teachers regarding your child’s performance?

Everyday. Of course this took a nine hour IEP meeting,aproximately 17 letters,and two state complaints.

8. Are home-learning activities suggested to you by your child’s teacher?

OH my gosh yes! Don’t you know that it is the lack of home learning activities that prevents my kids from learning their multiplication facts? The teacher’s suggested I read to my child everyday. If I did this, he will learn to read:-) Of course I should have video taped reading to them,because I did,but she didn’t believe me. Then there was homework. IN 1st grade. Spent most of our waking hours outside of school doing this. You know the stuff he couldn’t finnish in class,or the stuff the teacher didn’t have time to teach. Is this home learning activities?

9. How do you feel your involvement in the school affects your child?

Absolutely. If they hadn’t had my involvment, they would still be not progressing, and the school would still be telling me they are doing well.,Seriously.

10. What opportunities are you given to volunteer in the school? Do you volunteer? If not, why? (Time conflict, work schedules, child care, etc.)

This is an interesting question, As long as I was making brownies for the PTA meeting,or the class party,I was welcome to volunteer in the school. Once I started questioning what was happening in the classroom,I was asked NOT to volunteer. The mother from hell, the nerve to ask, made me the mother from hell. And believe me when I say,they hate to see me come with, at an IEP meeting. Still can’t seem to understand the meaning of EQUAL PARTICIPENT.

11. Does your school have a PTA/PTO?

YES

12. Does your school seek your opinioin on school-related issues?

HECK NO
They get it anyway.

13. What kind of support programs does your school offer, and what would you like to see offered? (For example: Family Literacy, GED, Computer Training, ESL, Other…)

FAPE especially the A

(*** Questions 14 and 15 are strictly for survey purposes, and are optional)

14. What best describes your education level?
A. Informal Education
B. Elementary Education
C. High School
D. Trade School/Community College
E. College Degree
F. Master’s/Doctorate

E.

15. What best describes your household?
A. 2 parents - both work outside the home
B. 2 parents - one works outside the home
C. 2 parents - none work outside the home
D. 1 parent - works outside the home
E. 1 parent - doesn’t work outside the home
F. other

A.

That made me laugh.

I couldn’t even answer this survey. I was told by the principal that I shouldn’t do so much with my son. Parents are supposed to be fun. Who the heck was she telling me I wasn’t fun?

Then in the next sentence I was told they wouldn’t give my son seeing stars although they agreed he could benefit from it. So, the less than fun mom has to do seeing stars. But, wait, I am supposed to just be fun.

Oh for god sakes. I would ask for that statement in writing. If they think he could benefit from seeing stars then guess what! They are obligated to provide the program. Of course they would never say this at the IEP right? This principal just might need to see a few of his own,stars I mean.

Oops sorry there goes my negativity again.

Socks, I know I could have gotten him seeing stars if I had just used your approach of, putting the request in writing and asking for a response as to why he is not elligible and then of course playing dumb and continuing to request an explanation because, “I just don’t understand why he isn’t qualifying when you said in the meeting it would help.”

Frankly, I got such bad vibes from the very unfun seeing stars teacher that I just wouldn’t trust my kid with her.
I can spot who will work well with this boy from a mile away.

and THAT is NOT fun…

faculty and staff are friendly and easy to talk to—I would rather have law abiding and effective and less friendly.

there are no workshops
3. they send home occasional pre-made flyers about these topics—half a page long
4 newsletters are clearly written
5. school memos
6. conferences about my child at 9 am—the evening meetings I can’t attend because I have to be present for homework to be completed.
7. I talk to people at school weekly, because my daughter’s education is always being compromised—or there is another social disaster to deal with.
8. I am too busy teaching my daughter the curriculum to bother with extra stuff during the school year
9. I was very very involved at the elementary level—so now at middle/high school they aren’t particularly embarassed by me being in the building
10 there are lots of volunteer opportunities at school, however—I don’t do it anymore mostly because I am too bitter about the school experience and I don’t want to be in the building. I also spend a significant amount of time dealing with iep issues
11. yes
12. not really
13. they offer classes through the community college—none of them help me
14. college
15. 1 parent works, one is at home
ps. I have an background in environmental education and have taught my kids for years—much science, social studies, english lit. etc and have taken them on trips all over the states—all the teachers comment what extensive general knowledge my children have—and a school administrator had the nerve to tell me in an iep meeting that the school district expects parents to do their part at home in educating their kids. I taught my kid 6th grade math, paid for tutors to teach 7th grade math and had just gotten finished explaining that I can teach my child math—but I can not teach her writing—which is her most difficult area. I drive my kid to therapy, to tutors and she was implying I wasn’t involved!! how insulting!

1. When you visit your child’s school, are the faculty, staff, and principal easy to talk to, friendly, and helpful?

Sometimes.

2. Does your school provide workshops for parents?
No.
What types of workshops? Do a lot of parents attend? What types of workshops would you like to see offered at your school?

Various methods of reading instruction workshop. Homework workshops.

3. How much information does your school supply to parents regarding: child development/parenting?

None.

how to support learning at home? discipline techniques?
None. None.

4. Are school newsletters, notices, etc. written clearly?
No.

5. What is the best way to communicate with you?
A. school memos = best way if a phone call or e-mail isn’t possible
B. PTA newsletters
C. Teachers
D. Counselors
E. Parent Representatives

6. What time of day do you prefer meetings and conferences?
Saturday when I’m not working.

7. How often do you communicate with teachers regarding your child’s performance?
Impossible to say.

8. Are home-learning activities suggested to you by your child’s teacher?
There are hours of homework assigned if that’s what you mean. There wouldn’t be time for activities as the homework is so extensive.

9. How do you feel your involvement in the school affects your child?
My child would be swamped by school without my support.

10. What opportunities are you given to volunteer in the school? Do you volunteer? If not, why? (Time conflict, work schedules, child care, etc.)
The volunteer work is scut work.

11. Does your school have a PTA/PTO? Yes

12. Does your school seek your opinioin on school-related issues?
Our school never seeks the opinions of parents on school issues.

13. What kind of support programs does your school offer, and what would you like to see offered? (For example: Family Literacy, GED, Computer Training, ESL, Other…)
Our school confines its programs to fundraising. I’d like to see dialogue programs between school and home offered.

(*** Questions 14 and 15 are strictly for survey purposes, and are optional)

14. What best describes your education level?
A. Informal Education
B. Elementary Education
C. High School
D. Trade School/Community College
E. College Degree
F. Master’s/Doctorate = that describes me

15. What best describes your household?
A. 2 parents - both work outside the home = describes us
B. 2 parents - one works outside the home
C. 2 parents - none work outside the home
D. 1 parent - works outside the home
E. 1 parent - doesn’t work outside the home
F. other

Recently my friend spent 4.5 hours at an IEP meeting for her son. She had another one scheduled for the next day b/c they never finished the first.

She told me they wouldn’t add a whole list of accoms. she wanted for him to the IEP. (He’s 9th grade, reading at a 4th grade level)

I drafted a letter for her to take the next day that said:

The following people were at __________’s IEP meeting of November ____, 2002.

__ Susie Smith

___ Arnold Idiot

___ etc.

At the meeting of _____________, 2000, the following services/accoms.. were requested by ___________ parent/guardian of _____________, and were denied by the above referenced ______ County School Board employees:

1
2
(list of services)

Signed:

___________________
Susie Smith

____________________
Arnold Idiot

etc.

Gosh, it was 4 hours into the 2nd meeting and they were at a standoff. She whipped out this form for the attendees to sign. Guess what? All of a sudden they were ready to “re-address” his IEP. They still didn’t finish, but everything she had time to ask for she got. She has another one next week to finish.
She said she wished she had pulled out the old handy dandy form earlier in the meeting!

Urrr. It makes my blood boil!

1. When you visit your child’s school, are the faculty, staff, and principal easy to talk to, friendly, and helpful?

They used to be - until I started confronting them on my child’s needs.

2. Does your school provide workshops for parents?
Yes, they provide them - but you have to find out about them yourself.

What types of workshops? Do a lot of parents attend? What types of workshops would you like to see offered at your school?

School district provides workshops (I was the ONLY parent there) Nothing directly from the school that I’m aware of.

3. How much information does your school supply to parents regarding: child development/parenting?

They send out newsletters about reading to your child, teaching self esteem, and all the general stuff.

how to support learning at home? discipline techniques?
Yes, Yes

4. Are school newsletters, notices, etc. written clearly?
Yes

5. What is the best way to communicate with you?
A. school memos - I like everything in writing Usually I go in and approach them personally.

6. What time of day do you prefer meetings and conferences?
I will be available anytime a teacher needs to see me.

7. How often do you communicate with teachers regarding your child’s performance?
At least 2x wkly.

8. Are home-learning activities suggested to you by your child’s teacher?

No.

9. How do you feel your involvement in the school affects your child?
It has increased her self esteem and it’s teaching her to advocate for herself. (She’s 10 and attends her IEP meetings)

10. What opportunities are you given to volunteer in the school? Do you volunteer? If not, why? (Time conflict, work schedules, child care, etc.)

I attend parties, field trips, when possible. I work most of the time, so I rarely get to volunteer.

11. Does your school have a PTA/PTO? Yes

12. Does your school seek your opinioin on school-related issues?
Some do, some don’t - I’m like Socks, I offer my opinion even when it’s not requested.

13. What kind of support programs does your school offer, and what would you like to see offered? (For example: Family Literacy, GED, Computer Training, ESL, Other…)

Community Education is offered
I would like to see AT training available for kids with special needs.

(*** Questions 14 and 15 are strictly for survey purposes, and are optional)

14. What best describes your education level?
A. Informal Education
B. Elementary Education
C. High School
D. Trade School/Community College
E. College Degree
F. Master’s/Doctorate

Only High School education general BUT an expert on MY child :-)

15. What best describes your household?
A. 2 parents - both work outside the home = I work part time so I can make sure things are going well.
B. 2 parents - one works outside the home
C. 2 parents - none work outside the home
D. 1 parent - works outside the home
E. 1 parent - doesn’t work outside the home
F. other

ahhh the power of DOCUMENTATION!