The Best Resources — Specifically For Parents — On Bullying
I have an extensive “Best” list at my other blog titled A Very, Very Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Bullying. In addition, I’ve published several posts in this blog about bullying resources specifically for parents, and thought bringing them together in one list would be useful. You can find all my parent “Best” lists here. Feel free to make other suggestions… The BBC has published What
What A Shocker: “Poor Rural Parents’ Problems Adversely Affect Their Children, Study Says”
To what I imagine is no one’s surprise, a new study has found that Poor Rural Parents’ Problems Adversely Affect Their Children. Even though it’s obvious to most of us that outside of classroom factors have the greatest impact on student learning, it’s unfortunate that educators seem to be often assigned 100% responsibility and, generally, blame…..
I’ve Heard Of “Helicopter Parents,” But Now There Are “Snowplow Parents”?
The Washington Post writes about a new term called “snowplow parents,” which supposed means: those who not only hover like helicopter parents but also plow ahead to preemptively eliminate any obstacles from their child’s path. It might, or might not, be a useful article to share at some PTA meeting…..
“Modern Families: What Educators Need to Know”
Modern Families: What Educators Need to Know is an article at NEA Today that provides some real-life examples of how today’s families might look a little different from years past. I don’t think many teachers will learn anything they didn’t already know (or should know), but it doesn’t hurt to get a reminder. In a similar vein, the Christian Science Monitor has published Good news for kids: Father
Nice Collection From ASCD: “Family-School Relationships”
ASCD has just published a useful collection of parent engagement resources titled Family-School Relationships. There are many more than these articles and videos, but here’s a sample: Home Visits for Relationships, Relevance, and Results Dynamic home visits help a district build personal connections and culturally responsive curriculum. More How to Guide Parents in Homework Help Parents should be
Video: “Grooming Parents to Take the Lead”
Here’s a video about a parent training program in Kentucky. You can learn more about it in this short piece at Education Week.
More Resources On The “Word Gap”
There has recently been a flurry of media attention to what is called the so-called “word gap.” It’s the term used to describe the difference in vocabulary development of low-income children and middle-and-high-income children during their pre-school years. I’ve brought together a list of resources on the topic, including some that bring different perspectives. You can find them at The Best Resour
“How to Guide Parents in Homework Help”
How to Guide Parents in Homework Help is an article at ASCD Educational Leadership by Cathy Vatterott, who knows more about homework research than just about anyone. It offers some excellent and practical advice. I’m adding it to The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers.
I’d Suggest That Charging PTAs Rent For After-School Activities Will Not Promote Parent Engagement
Prince George’s schools charge PTAs that use buildings is an article in The Washington Post. Here are a couple of excerpts: The John Hanson Montessori Parent Teacher Student Association has offered after-school dance and chess lessons for years, believing that the enrichment programs help engage Prince George’s County students. The group charges a small fee to pay the course instructors, and until
Two Somewhat Interesting Results From PISA Parent Survey
The 2012 Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, test results were releases this past week, and you can read all about it at The Best Posts & Articles On 2012 PISA Test Results. I thought readers of this blog might be particularly interested in a couple of passages from two of their reports related to parents. Their not earth-shattering, but are worth sharing: Parents’ expectati
“Family Literacy Night — Writing Together”
Last week, I shared a post about a teacher who had organizing an innovative “Bedtime Reading At School” night. Now, check out this post from another teacher who held a “Family Literacy Night — Writing Together.”
“Indiana School Earns National PTA’s First School of Excellence Award”
Education reports that an Indiana School Earns National PTA’s First School of Excellence Award. Here’s an excerpt: The National PTA has created a recognition program to highlight and acknowledge outstanding family-school partnerships across America. Northrop High School and the Northrop PTSA in Fort Wayne, Ind., is the first National PTA School of Excellence because of its “leadership and commitme
“Community schools gaining traction under state’s new funding formula” In California
Community schools gaining traction under state’s new funding formula is an article in Ed Source about the growth of community schools in California. It’s a pretty thorough article, and includes a number of useful links. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About Community Schools.
Really Interesting Follow-Up To Yesterday’s Post On Students Knowing Family Stories
Yesterday, I published a post titled The Importance Of Telling “Family Stories.” In it, I discussed an article that reviewed a number of studies that found value in parents telling their children about family stories. Today, The Washington Post wrote a more in-depth piece about one of those studies, and included a pretty useful “Do You Know” series of questions that teachers could easily give to s
The Importance Of Telling “Family Stories”
What Kids Learn From Hearing Family Stories is a very interesting article in The Atlantic about the value of — in addition to reading books with their children — parents telling children about family stories. Here’s an excerpt: Over the last 25 years, a small canon of research on family storytelling shows that when parents share more family stories with their children—especially when they tell tho
“Smarter Schools National Partnership Family–School Partnerships”
Smarter Schools National Partnership Family–School Partnership is an Australian initiative that looks pretty impressive. They have a lot of good resources at their site. I’ve embedded a short animation that’s there, too. I’m adding this info to The Best Resources On Parent Engagement In Countries Other Than The U.S.
Seattle Times Special Feature On Parent Mentor Program
I’ve written several posts about the Parent Mentor Program of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association in Chicago. Today, The Seattle Times published a special feature on the same program: Lessons for locals on power of parents in schools is the headline of their article. Here’s the video they included in the article: And here’s a “sidebar” they published: Roundtable: How schools can work with p
“Home Visits for Relationships, Relevance, and Results”
Home Visits for Relationships, Relevance, and Results is a thoughtful article in ASCD Educational Leadership. It’s by Julia Zigarelli , Rebecca Nilsen , Trise Moore , and Margery Ginsberg. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About Teacher Home Visits.
“Bedtime Reading At School”
Teacher Jenny Orr writes about a fun, creative and successful Bedtime Reading At School event she organized with parents and her colleagues. Here’s an excerpt: We invited families to come in their pajamas and we wore ours too. In the beginning of the evening, as families were arriving, we started together in a resource room. The kids got the chance to stamp bookmarks and I read them a big book. Re
California Survey On Parent Involvement Released
California parents on school participation is a new article in The San Francisco Chronicle. Here are some excerpts on the unsurprising results of a new survey: Wealthy parents are more likely to make cookies for bake sales, volunteer in classrooms and be otherwise involved in their children’s schools than lower-income mothers and fathers. That’s the conclusion of a survey of California public scho